Altug Akin

Dr. Altug Akin is an Associate Professor of Communication Sciences and a seasoned field practitioner with over two decades of experience in communication for development, behaviour and social change (SBC/C4D), and risk communication and community engagement (RCCE). He has led multi-country, multi-stakeholder teams with UNICEF, WHO, and other UN agencies at national, regional, and global levels.

At UNICEF Türkiye, Dr. Akin established and led the Communication for Development Unit, guiding responses during the Syrian refugee influx and throughout the first phase of the COVID-19 pandemic. He later served at the WHO Regional Office for Europe and WHO Headquarters as Technical Officer and RCCE focal point for humanitarian emergencies, contributing to responses to the Middle East crisis, mpox, and other global health emergencies.

His expertise spans SBC systems design, emergency response, knowledge management, and capacity strengthening, with a strong record of supporting governments, UN agencies, and civil society in building communication systems that serve people well. Combining academic rigour with practical insight, he designs and facilitates capacity-building initiatives and contributes to leading journals including the Journal of Health Communication, International Journal of Communication, and Journalism.