Thomas Bezabih Email & Phone Number

Silver Spring, Maryland, United States

• Leads all aspects of planning and managing convenings, including securing a site or platform, inviting and communicating with USAID stakeholders and participants, monitoring RSVPs, designing the agenda, preparing materials, and coordinating all logistics before, during, and after the activity.• Generates reports on analytics for engagement, mailing list/audience growth in coordination with other workstream leads• Manages the DRG Bureau’s contact lists by periodically updating them with new contacts from trainings, retreats, meetings, conferences, etc.• Works with GROWTH’s facilitators and USAID subject-matter experts to explore ideas, determine objectives and intended outcomes• Contributes to the development of dynamic, experiential learning and participant engagement session designs, including macro and micro designs based on client content• Facilitates meetings, retreats, and other learning sessions for a variety of clients, including international organizations, U.S. government agencies, and private and public-sector organizations• Prepares after-action reviews and reports and shares information with clients• Contributes expertise and innovative methodologies and approaches to reaching broader audiences• Develops and maintains positive and productive relationships with all project stakeholders• Works effectively with GROWTH team members, embraces participatory approaches, and builds team capacity.• Works with GROWTH team to identify opportunities for integrating innovative uses of technology in events and convenings• Works with the GROWTH team to integrate diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) in all events and convene design• Serves as a resource to Business Development teams by contributing to proposal development processes, including developing LOE estimates and writing technical approaches• Engages fully as a member of the EnCompass staff team, including participating in staff meetings and other EnCompass activities

Washington, District Of Columbia, United States

• Internal Communications Channels: I led the development and dissemination of internal communications through a mix of internal mediums, including iShare - SharePoint-based intranet, newsletter, and virtual town halls. It included working closely and coordinating with a vast network of Pathfinders to source content, tailoring content for each medium using creative writing, and creating internal communications products.• Communication Strategy: I created, deployed, and implemented a global internal communication strategy that supported the organization's global strategic priorities. I increased employee engagement, understanding, and awareness and inspired multidirectional communication across multiple channels. I also supported change-management initiatives and planned and executed internal communications activities and strategies across regions, countries, and languages.• Processes: I created and centralized a Lexicon and consistent messaging. I assisted staff in curating materials for internal events that align with the brand, mission, and messaging. I also drafted and deployed standard operating procedures and guidelines for internal communication.• I led an in-depth metrics analysis across internal channels, using data to evaluate current systems and propose and test new solutions.

Washington Dc-Baltimore Area

• Developed and rolled out key messages and talking points, updated core website content as the new strategic plan progressed, and supported global staff with messaging training.• Managed digital, email, and offline campaigns with the Advocacy and Business Development Team using MailChimp and Hootsuite tools.• Supported departments across Living Goods to create and aggregate strategic communications materials that provided key audiences with timely and accessible information about Living Goods' work in existing and new countries and advocacy priorities. It included developing content for quarterly stakeholder reports, case studies, newsletters, blogs, external advocacy campaigns, and more.• Executed a strategic outreach plan for all Living Goods' electronic communications platforms. It included balancing the supply and demand for content development and a strategic outreach schedule that maximizes vital inflection points.• Led social media and digital communications, being the primary voice for Living Goods' social media platforms, regularly updated the website using creative writing with the latest content, and oversaw monthly internal and external e-newsletters.• Developed concrete measurement goals and analytics to elevate the strategic goals while gathering insights that will inform priorities for future content creation.• Built the brand through videos, blogs, photographs, stories, infographics, policy briefs, and presentations and coordinated the development of graphics, fact sheets, reports, and videos for social media.• Promoted Living Goods through global health conferences and other events, helping develop tools, graphics, and materials to promote Living Goods, ensuring robust participation in virtual campaigns, and identifying potential public engagement to showcase Living Goods' work.

Addis Ababa

• Developed and implemented advocacy and communications strategies through media engagement, robust social media, online presence, and high-profile events; developed and implemented stakeholder relations strategy, emphasizing strengthening government partnerships and building and maintaining relationships with other external partners.• Managed digital communications campaigns and social media accounts, including social media content and deliverables and paid digital campaigns.• Developed advocacy strategy and coordinated the execution of the advocacy priorities.• Delivered expertise and advice on branding, ensuring the implementation of the MSI branding guidelines across the board.• Coordinated marketing activities in all channels and followed up with service uptake.• Delivered technical support and coaching to field office managers to carry out a strategic partnership with the respective regional and zonal government representatives.• Compiled and implemented a knowledge management strategy.• Ensured robust online presence through tailored messaging on social media channels using creative writing and the MSI Ethiopia website.• Consistently updated the Marie Stopes International Ethiopia SharePoint intranet page.• Reviewed and verified all communication products and ensured that all digital, publication, audiovisual, and promotional materials had the right messaging, tone, and visual branding.

Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

• Developed integrated communication strategy, ensured implementation, and managed subordinates to build the capacity of communications focal points in more than 40 offices across the country.• Served as acting Head of the Campaign and Communications Department for six months, managing the EVERYONE Campaign and the organization's communications activities.• Managed external communications through media engagement, success stories, social media, online communication platforms, and outreach events.• Developed a content plan for the targeted audience and channel, producing communications materials, including social toolkits, talking points, and op-eds.• Developed TOR and managed consultancy work to produce videos and publications to promote Save the Children's work.• The organization's online presence was transformed by establishing the first website, Facebook, and Twitter pages.• Continuously revamped the website and social media pages to ensure vital messages were consistently communicated to targeted and broader audiences.• Drafted public remarks, press releases, key messages, and talking points.• Distilled complex project information into simple messages and essential facts to support outreach to targeted audiences.• Produced a bi-monthly newsletter, including creative writing and editing stories and gathering stories from across the organization.• Rolled out new communications, branding, media guidelines, and tools after the merger of Save the Children's member organizations.• Managed the content of the Save the Children in Ethiopia ONENET page - SharePoint intranet.• Worked as a vital change management task force member, communicating to internal staff and the external public regarding the merger.• Commissioned and managed the external production of over 50 communication products, including publications and videos.• Developed plans, communications packs, and materials to support global and high-level events.

Stockholm, Stockholm County, Sweden

• I delivered the Sweden—East African Music Network (SEAMN) cultural exchange project, which included a music festival, music workshop, training, and the production of an Ethiopian Folklore music album.• Executed a two-day international music festival in Addis Ababa, attended by around 10,000 people and with a budget of approximately 4 million ETB, funded by the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (SIDA).• Developed the festival activity and financial plan as a planning committee member.• Coordinated project evaluation activity.• Prepared financial and narrative report.

Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

• Initiated and produced the first SABA Newsletter, handling all tasks leading up to the release, including taking photographs, developing content, designing the layout, and handling publishing work.• Coordinated the first participation of SABA in the country's annual trade fair to raise public awareness.• Developed and established international partnerships with firms and governments throughout Europe, East Asia, North America, and Africa• Facilitated various workshops, symposiums, events, and meetings that helped sell the image of the company face-to-face• I pioneered a corporate social responsibility initiative that offered financial assistance to exceptional students at a local high school, making a significant difference in their lives. By providing monthly stipends throughout their college tenure, we alleviated financial barriers hindering their educational pursuits and inspired them to dream bigger. Additionally, we offered these bright minds summer apprenticeships within the company, fostering their professional growth and community engagement.

Zwedru, Grand Gedeh County, Liberia

• Coordinated major events, attending to the needs and itineraries of visiting dignitaries and other guests, the needs of the U.N., the IMF, the World Bank, and many countries and international organizations involved in the peacekeeping effort.• Prepared presentations, briefings, and debriefings associated with this constant flow of guests and visiting officials.• Translated and interpreted the daily situation reports submitted to UNMIL headquarters in Monrovia and U.N. headquarters in New York.• Conducted interpretation from English to Amharic and vice versa.

Certificate In Afp Smart Advocacy Approach, Community Organization And Advocacy

Leadership In Strategic Health Communication, Communication

Strategic Behaviour Change Communication (SBCC)

Certificate In Managing For High Performance, Human Resources Management/Personnel Administration, General

Master'S Degree In Global Journalism, Communication And Media Studies

Courses: Development Communication, Global Journalism, Media Studies, Online Investigative Journalism, War and Peace Journalism.

Certificate In Graphics Design, Adobe Photoshop, Illusrator And Indesign

Certificate In A+ Operating System And A+ Core Hardware, Computer Hardware, Operating System Maintenance & Troubleshooting

Bachelor Of Arts In Foreign Languages And Literature, Foreign Languages, Literatures, And Linguistics

Courses: Communication skill, Public relations, Editing, Journalism, Literature