Ms. Lilah El Sayed

Program Associate, Dialogue and Communication Department, Hedayah, UAE

Lilah joined Hedayah in February 2013 and has worked across several departments beginning by supporting the Executive Director Office in addition to all the translation work for the Center in her capacity as an Arabic- English legal translator - certified by the U.A.E Ministry of Justice. In November 2015, Lilah switched to the Department of Research and Analysis as a Research Associate and was managing Hedayah’s Counter-Narrative Library and FTFs Programs Catalogue. She transitioned to Research and Analysis as a Program Officer and in January 2020 transitioned to the Dialogue & Communications Department as a Program Officer.

Lilah focuses on counter-messaging through strategic communications for the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region. Her recent publications include a contributed chapter titled “MENA Governments’ Efforts for Alternative and Counter-Narratives: Religious and Gender Lens” to the DPT – German Prevention Congress PV&E International Conference 2018 Edited Volume titled “International Perspectives of Crime Prevention 11” (December 2020). In addition to, her first co-authored Journal Article titled “Linkages as a Lens: An Exploration of Strategic Communications in P/CVE” published at “The Journal of Deradicalisation” in September 2019. Lilah was also a Co-editor and Contributing Author to Volume 144 of “NATO Science for Peace and Security Series - E: Human and Societal Dynamics” titled “Enhancing Women’s Roles in Preventing and Countering Violent Extremism (P/CVE)” [ISBN print 978-1-61499-946-1 ISBN online 978-1-61499-947-8] (February 2019) and the co-editor and contributing author for “Contemporary P/CVE Research and Practice”. Furthermore, Lilah is the main author for “Undermining Violent Extremist Narratives in the Middle East and North Africa: A How-To Guide”, a 9-step framework for developing alternative and counter-narratives, available in English and Arabic and French is forthcoming.

Prior to joining Hedayah, Lilah served as a military field interpreter providing optimal interpretation and translation support to the Military personnel especially female soldiers of U.A.E Armed Forces & Presidential Guard Command. Lilah conducted language training programs in Arabic and English at the U.S. Naval Medical Research Unit #3, American University and U.S. Embassy in Cairo, and was contracted by the Foreign Service Institute in Arlington, VA.

Lilah has two Master’s degrees, the most recent one is in “Religion, Politics and Citizenship” from University Of Eastern Piedmont Amedeo Avogadro and University of Padua in 2020. Her first M.A. is in “International Law, Diplomacy and International Relations” from Paris-Sorbonne University Abu Dhabi in 2016.