Abel Akara Ticha Email & Phone Number

Washington, District Of Columbia, United States

Summary:As the Associate Director of Communications for Health System Strengthening at the Global Health Advocacy Incubator (GHAI), I partner closely with civil society organizations in target countries to develop and implement communications strategies and campaigns to advance policy objectives and program goals. This involves collaborating with the GHAI HSS team, core communications team, and global partners. I specialize in advocacy communications strategies, encompassing media, influencer, and digital advocacy, in partnership with NGOs and NGO networks in low-and middle-income countries. Additionally, I enhance the capacity of civil society organizations through training and capacity-building programs in earned and digital media advocacy. I also develop methods to strengthen media capacity in reporting on public health issues. My role involves overseeing communication material production, managing relationships with communication agencies and consultants, and evaluating country-specific communications and media advocacy programs. I contribute regularly to the GHAI blog and social media channels, develop case studies and publications, and advise on communications aspects of budget advocacy curriculum. I track content related to global health security and work to elevate GHAI’s profile in discussions on Prevent Epidemics, Data for Health, and other HSS programs within global health security contexts.

• Developed and executed a comprehensive communications strategy described as “very carefully thought of” by the Africa Program leader • Increased outreach to African media by 50% and maintained global media outreach• Secured partnership with Jambo! Radio Scotland which increased monthly online listening of “The Horn” podcast by 17,000 – an additional 226.6% • Engineered more engagement with social media audiences through systematic content creation for Crisis Group’s central social channels (X - Twitter, LinkedIn and Facebook) and for leaders’ and analysts’ Twitter handles • Co-designed and promoted high-impact online and physical events to distill the messages of Crisis Group Africa research work

Yaounde, Cameroon

• Spearheaded communication and advocacy strategy for the Office, overseeing strategic project management across 11 ECCAS countries, and drove consensus among governments, policymakers, private sector leaders, and experts on economic diversification, trade, and digital transition.• Developed a comprehensive strategy for the 2021-2030 Decade of Economic Diversification in Central Africa, aligning economic diversification initiatives with the UN's Agenda 2030 and SDGs and creating a roadmap for future initiatives.• Successfully created and obtained approval for the Made in Central Africa Label from the CEMAC and ECCAS commissions, incentivizing regional private sector production for intra-African trade.• Led the design and distribution of multimedia content and coordinated online communication campaigns.• Managed a Social Media team, overseeing a $20,000 targeted visual campaign that led to a 23% engagement increase on social media within two years.• Developed a concept note and coordinated the 37th session of the Intergovernmental Committee of Senior Officials and Experts for Central Africa. It included over 120 officials and resulted in an intergovernmental endorsement for ECA to develop a toolkit to measure transformational leadership-for-development practices in the subregion.• Designed and executed communication campaigns for continental development initiatives, such as the DRC-Africa Business Forum of 2021, aiming to manufacture electric vehicle battery precursors in DRC, leading to government uptake of structural transformation programs.• Directed animated/creation explainer videos, including http://bit.ly/23hKn6u.• Coordinated high-level events, including the intergovernmental meeting at https://bit.ly/ice-ca-2021 and the DRC-Africa Presidential Forum.• Designed and created HTML and PDF mailshots and e-newsletters for the company, including https://bit.ly/diversify-06-20.

Harare, Zimbabwe

● Developed and executed comprehensive communication strategies that played a vital role in positioning the organization as a leader in capacity development, resulting in ACBF's nomination as the African Union's independent specialized agency in 2017.● Provided support across internal and external channels to promote strategic initiatives and programs, resulting in the successful execution of over 100 events and campaigns.● Facilitated effective communication and collaboration among a team of 40+ employees across six departments, resulting in increased productivity and streamlined operations.● Produced and voiced a video story on turbo-charging Africa's STEM education.● Designed and created HTML and PDF mailshots and e-newsletters for the company, including http://bit.ly/AC-No-13.

● Designed economic development policy strategies for Central African countries and researched economic country profiles of the Subregion, resulting in the authorship of Chapter 5 of UN ECA's 2015 Country Profile for the Central African Republic. ● Co-authored a UN ECA pamphlet on gender and education for peace and development. ● Organized launch events for the UN ECA's Economic Report for Africa series, UN ECA's African Governance Report series, and for UNCTAD's Economic Development in Africa Report series, promoting the ideal of structural transformation in Central Africa.● Distilled messages and promoted UN ECA's African Social Development Index (ASDI) to governments and the wider public of Central Africa. (https://knowledge.uneca.org/asdi/asdi) ● Created and managed the UN ECA's African Social Development Index (ASDI) page: https://archive.uneca.org/stories/eca-praised-developing-unique-social-index.● Proposed and produced a documentary on Made in Central Africa: https://youtu.be/Zw-xhoV5etY.

Cameroon, Uk

• Developed and implemented The Cameroon Climate Roadshow project with a budget of £200,000 (reduced to £50,000 due to funding issues from the British Foreign Office).• Mobilized local councils to actively prepare and budget for climate change adaptation through The Cameroon Climate Roadshow project.• Designed and executed a climate change reporting competition for journalists in Cameroon, with a team of the best professors in journalism and climate change experts to review and grade the entries.• Organized a public event where the British High Commissioner awarded prizes to the winners of the climate change reporting competition.• Arranged a learning trip to the UK for the journalists through collaboration with Reuters Newsroom in London.• Co-developed a project to train Cameroonian journalists on avoiding inflammatory reporting to promote a healthy press in Cameroon.• As Chevening Officer, recruited promising candidates into both Chevening scholarship and fellowship programs in the UK – many of them now leaders across domains and in government.

National Station - Yaounde

● Produced and presented over 1000 newscasts and reports for CRTV Radio and Television, ensuring accuracy, clarity, and adherence to industry standards.● Edited and proofread material for airing, including scripts, news stories, and reports, to ensure they met quality standards and guidelines.● Coached and mentored a team of at least 20 staff members, providing guidance and feedback on their performance to improve their skills and knowledge.● Conducted live sports commentaries, including serving as an impresario in English during the 2006 Football Cup of Cameroon finals officiated by the country's Head of State.● Scripted and narrated various special radio and TV reports and documentaries, demonstrating excellent storytelling skills and attention to detail.● Finalist for the Kaiser Family Foundation award for best African journalist reporting on HIV/AIDS in 2008, highlighting exceptional journalism skills and knowledge on critical issues.● Produced a post-conflict documentary on the Bakassi Peninsula after decades of tension between Cameroon and Nigeria, a crisis report on Cameroon-Equatorial Guinea tensions in 2007, and a report on climate change in Far-Northern Cameroon in 2008, all of which showcased excellent research, writing, and reporting skills. (You can view samples of my work here: i) https://bit.ly/Bakassi-by-Akara; ii) http://bit.ly/Cmr-EG; iii) http://bit.ly/akara-wood-story)

Cameroon

● Edited an award-winning people magazine, overseeing multiple feature stories covering leadership, development, sports, culture, and other notable figures.● Coordinated a team of writers to ensure the timely delivery of high-quality articles and adherence to editorial guidelines.

Johannesburg Area, South Africa

● Conducted extensive research and analysis of the political landscape in West and Central Africa as the correspondent for SABC Radio.● Provided consistently accurate and impartial reporting, informing strategic management decisions through in-depth coverage of regional political developments.● Demonstrated strong editing skills and attention to detail while volunteering to edit scripts at SABC Radio's Johannesburg studios in 2006.● Maintained up-to-date knowledge of the political climate in the region, offering strategic insights to inform decision-making processes.

Master Of Science (With Distinction), International Development, Distinction (1St Class)

Master Of Arts (M.A.), Journalism And Media Studies

Activities and Societies: Fitness ClubFortified my aptitude and methods of inquiry, analysis, probing into the interaction between media.

Bsc (Hons), Journalism And Mass Communication With Minor In Political Science

Activities and Societies: Association of Student Journalists in the University of BueaMaster of Arts in Journalism and Media Studies.