Mekki ELMOGRABI

Summary

Media consultant and a professional journalist who has spent 24 years in the field with a focus on politics, economics and civil society in sub-Saharan Africa. He has worked at a management level within the fields of civil society, trade unionism, advocacy, training, diplomacy and regional international relations. He is a fluent speaker of both English and Arabic, with a fair level in French and some African languages. He has delivered lectures, training, TV comments, press briefings and speeches in both languages to diverse audiences. In these roles and others, he has worked in Washington DC, New York and at international summits and conferences throughout Africa. He possesses good experience in planning events and networking with partners for improved outcomes and deliverables in international development projects. He has good skills in solving problems within social approach and African local context.

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Current Jobs and main responsibilities.

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● Chairman, Editor of Mekki Center for Media Services (MCMS), Khartoum – Sudan. mekkicenter.com

- Leading the editorial team and working with center’s partners and networks in advocating human rights with more focus on economic liberty and the free economy in Africa.

- Planning media events with the goal of advancing democratic transformation and free economy in Africa.

● Press writer, Columnist at the Brown Land Newspaper BLNEWS.net and several African and Arabic papers and websites.

- Writing opinion articles, participating in the policy-making of media houses by collecting and analyzing information and linking media with official and private sources of news.

- Advocating good governance at all levels from regional economic blocs (RECs) and governments to NGOs and domestic leagues.

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Work Experiences and responsibilities

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1. National Consultant at National Council for Children Welfare

- Sudan (NCCW) for the National Media Campaign on Children Protection from Armed Conflicts (Funded by UNICEF - Sudan). 15th December 2018 – 15th June 2019.

- Organizing events and high-level meetings and collecting data, carrying out surveys, monitoring, evaluating for the plan of the Campaign on Children Protection from Armed Conflicts.

- Storing, maintaining, cleaning and analyzing data and providing monitoring and evaluating training to assistants and field monitors in West Kurdufan – Sudan.

2. Media and Information Attaché at Sudan Embassy – Washington DC: 3rd March 2016 – 30th June 2018.

- Media coordination, drafting statements and press releases, organizing press conferences and sideline meetings for building relations and supporting the high level diplomatic negotiations, supervising diverse activities with different deadlines.

- Drafting administrative weekly, quarterly reports and on annual basis and providing analysis and recommendations.

- Monitoring and evaluating the implementation of the media plan of developing better visibility for business and investment opportunities in Sudan.

3. President of Sudan Press Freedom Organization – SPF, and member for several civil society alliances: 1st September 2012 to 31st December 2015.

- Liaising with Press Freedom international organizations and media houses on Sudan news related to press freedom, as needed or requested by organizations.

- Verifying information on media in Sudan.

- Training staff on MEL elements: indicators and matrices chapter.

- Preparing reports based on qualitative and quantitative data analysis for the annual meeting of SPF board. 4. Media Advisor on Safety and Public Health, Al-Zubair Charity Foundation: 1st April 2009 to 23rd June 2015.

- Training and capacity building to Al-Zubair and health partners on Public Response and Results; how the level of public response to the program captures results toward its objectives.

- Monitoring and reporting during the phases of implementation to the closing of health campaign. - Member of the committee of evaluating field reports.

5. Mekki Center for Media Services (MCMS), establishing the center as a private media outlet in September 2011.

- Editing and publishing news on politics and economics of sub-Saharan Africa with more focus on development and stability.

- Building and leading the team and creating partner networks for advocating economic liberty and free economy in Africa.

- Planning with partners citizen-responsive campaigns on elections with the support of civil society and media.

6. Editor-in-Chief, the Democrat daily English and Arabic: 23rd January 2008 to 31st December 2011.

- Supervising and leading the editorial team of the paper.

- Training journalists on speaking and writing skills in Arabic and English.

- Training journalists on how to paraphrase quotes said in Sudanese Arabic local dialects to standard Arabic then translated into English.

7. East Africa Journalists Association (EAJA) National Coordinator for Human Rights, Press Freedom and Work Environment 1st March 2010 to 31st December 2014 (funded by EU)

- Coordinating for all reports from Sudan to partners and funders.

- Liaising, coordinating and engaging with EAJA staff in Djibouti, International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) Africa office in Dakar and IFJ headquarters in Brussels on Press Freedom issues.

8. Trade Unionist in Sudan – Sudanese Journalists Union (SJU): 12th February 2006 to 31st July 2014, as follows: SJU Foreign Affairs Secretary 12th February 2006 to 23rd June 2009. SJU Human Rights Secretary, 25th June 2009 to 31st July 2014.

- Organizing media and human rights campaigns, representing SJU in international events and campaigns.

- Carrying out assignments of SJU in supporting its members and working to achieve that independently or as a member of a group.

- Mediating and solving problems among SJU membership with attention to social detail required in the process in a very sensitive community.

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Media Career summary 1996 up to the date of CV

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• Journalist and Press Writer for Sudanese and African newspapers and websites, TV commentator and analyst:

• Working at different levels, from editing news to managing newspapers and media houses to making editorial policies.

•  Elected on 19th May, 2015 in Accra Ghana as PIDA Journalists Network Coordinator, serving in the position up to the date of this CV and the admin of PIDA Journalists Network Group. Throughout this period attended and participated in organizing several events for PIDA and acquired good knowledge about GIZ’s Results-based Monitoring.

•  Working in Addis Ababa, Nairobi and other cities that hosting Sudanese negotiations and African events. Two years with media accreditation to the African Union and Ethiopian government with residence and work permits in Addis Ababa

 

Academic Qualifications

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• Masters of Translation (English, Arabic) – OIC - ISLAMIC INSTITUTE OF TRANSLATION – KHARTOUM – SUDAN: 1st December 2008 to 22nd December 2011.

• Post Graduate Diploma of Translation (English, Arabic) - OIC - ISLAMIC INSTITUTE FOR TRANSLATION – KHARTOUM – SUDAN: 1st April 2003 to 13th April 2006.

• Bachelor of Law, NEALAIN UNIVERSITY – KHARTOUM – SUDAN: 1st June 1997 to 13th June 2001.

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IT Skills

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• Microsoft Office, with excellent command in: Word, PowerPoint, Access, Excel, Publisher, Live Movie Maker and Photo Editor.

•  Designing and managing websites and blogs via WordPress and Joomla.

•  Founder and Admin of several groups and networks on Facebook: African Journalists for Human and Peoples’ Rights (MCMS Program), PIDA Journalists Network (AU with GIZ Program).

 

Languages

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• Arabic: Excellent (mother tongue).

•  English: V. Good.

•  French: Fair.

•  Amharic, Swahili, Somali and other: Social user.

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