After a series of meetings in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia and elsewhere, Unitas Communications has agreed to provide media support services, strategic networking and consulting to the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), the world’s second largest inter-governmental organisation after the United Nations.

“The OIC’s role on the world stage is a timely one given the increasingly pivotal role the Islamic world plays on the world stage,” said Unitas Communications CEO Muddassar Ahmed. “Unitas, like the OIC, are keen to ensure this role is supported through effective communications.”

Unitas Communications has won a contract to provide training and consulting to Pakistan’s largest rural development NGO, the Rural Support Programmes Network (RSPN). Unitas remit includes media training, media outreach, workshop delivery and strategic advice. RSPN is led by Shoaib Sultan Khan, a 60-year veteran of rural development work in South Asia whose efforts have been recognised by the United Nations (in two addresses to the General Assembly) and as a Nobel Peace Prize nominee.

Ahmed recently returned from a tour of Pakistani villages where RSPN’s rural development work has been most effective. “RSPN carries out transformational work in some of Pakistan’s most impoverished regions,” says Unitas Communications CEO Muddassar Ahmed. ”I am proud and delighted for Unitas be supporting that work through our media and strategy arms”.

Unitas Communications have delivered an exclusive thought-leadership event on behalf of Barclays Wealth in London. For this event, Unitas secured Pakistani Presidential candidate Imran Khan as the event’s keynote speaker, shortly before he returned to Lahore, Pakistan to address a record crowd of over 100,000 people. The rally positioned Khan’s political party, Pakistan Tehrik-i-Insaaf (Movement for Justice), or PTI, as a major player in elections scheduled for 2013.

“It was a pleasure working with Imran Khan and Barclays Wealth to deliver this high-level discussion event themed on South Asia affairs,” said Unitas CEO, Muddassar Ahmed. The event was attended by over 30 influential British Pakistanis and high net worth individuals, eager to learn about the growing influence of Khan and PTI in the Pakistani landscape, along with the connections between PTI and the Pakistani diaspora.

The Concordia Forum this year bought together leaders from corporate, political, media, academic and non-profit backgrounds. Delegates included UK and European Parliamentarians, senior White House representatives, US State Department officials, senior professionals, partners and directors of major Fortune 100 corporations, media commentators and civil society activists from the USA, Europe and the Middle East.

“The Concordia Forum is a unique independent, self-financing platform that enables Forum delegates to build trust and foster strategic thinking and synergies,” said Unitas Communications CEO Muddassar Ahmed. “It has grown from strength to strength over the previous three years and has developed a vibrant network of politicians, business people, civil society activists and media professionals who care about making a difference to society at large.”

“It’s great to have a new member of the team that is able to take Unitas’ already extensive media engagement work to the next level,” said Unitas CEO Muddassar Ahmed said “Zahed’s track record in media work spanning Muslim and Western communities makes him an natural fit here at Unitas.”

One of the foundation’s flagship programmes is the Ariane de Rothschild Fellowship. The AdR Fellowship, based this year at Cambridge University’s Judge Business School, is the world’s only programme that creates a Muslim-Jewish social entrepreneurship network designed to build bridges between the two communities.

“It is a honour to work with one of the world’s oldest philanthropic foundations,” said Unitas CEO Muddassar Ahmed. “We really hope to see this partnership flourish.”

Unitas CEO Muddassar Ahmed said, “we are delighted to have found such strong synergy between Unitas’ service offerings and Barclays Wealth’s future goals and aspirations.”

Unitas’ extensive pre and post launch remit includes managing the D’GAF launch event, an online social media campaign,  press positioning, stakeholder management with prospective local partner organisations and securing international performing artists and speakers.

D’GAF founder, Saddiq Khan said, “I’m thrilled to be creating a progressive hub for creative expression and am delighted that Unitas will be communicating D’GAF’s unique brand to London’s various vibrant communities, organisations and ethnic and mainstream media outlets.’

The Unitas Executive team engaged with a number of civil society organisations, academic bodies, online social activists and community representatives for the purpose of promoting democracy and political innovation in Tunisian politics.

Unitas CEO, Muddassar Ahmed said, ‘this visit has been a great opportunity to exchange important information and experience with regional players dedicated to the development of a strong and transparent democracy in Tunisia. I feel sure this visit will constitute a good start to much longer term cooperation.’

Cat has previously worked in the Prime Minister’s Strategy Unit, developing domestic policy and strategic capability, including a strategic audit of the UK and for the UN Deputy Secretary General’s office on the UN reform process and with the World Bank in Geneva.

Unitas CEO, Muddassar Ahmed, said, ‘we are delighted to have Cat join Unitas’ team of Associates. Cat’s expertise in the field of Government strategy naturally compliments Unitas’ communications strategy work. I foresee a fruitful and long term working relationship.