Meet Myriam Andaloro, a NATO cultural expert on the Middle East and Africa

Connecting cultures for a better understanding: Myriam’s impactful role

“If I were to leave a footprint in the world, it would be to raise cultural awareness and avoid misunderstandings that can lead to conflicts.”

Myriam Andaloro

Born and raised in Lebanon and having lived in Nigeria and now in Italy, Myriam has a natural ability to engage with people from different cultures and religions. Her international background and fascination with multiculturalism, identity and language made her interested in pursuing a career in the area of cultural consultancy and digital communications, which she currently carries out at the NATO Strategic Direction-South Hub, located within the Allied Joint Force Command Naples.

Myriam’s background and linguistic expertise are a valuable asset for the Hub’s mission to foster constructive relations between NATO and partners from the Middle East, North Africa, the Sahel, Sub-Sahara and adjacent areas. Myriam and her colleagues work to create a welcoming environment, where local experts share their unique perspectives in domains ranging from conflict prevention and security over countering terrorism, socio-economic developments and the Women, Peace and Security agenda to technology and innovation.

A few examples of roots of instability, which can spill over to NATO territory, are terrorism, radicalisation, human trafficking, crime, migration and environmental problems. Once a comprehensive picture of these security challenges is formed, the Alliance can better anticipate and, where possible, address challenging issues for the benefit of all.

Myriam Andaloro representing the Hub during a video conference on the Perception of NATO in Africa and the Middle East. Then Supreme Allied Commander Europe (SACEUR) General Tod D. Wolters speaks with experts from Africa. June 2020.

Bridging NATO and its partners in the South through communication

As a cultural consultant for the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region, Myriam’s role is to identify and respect regional sensitivities. Myriam and her colleagues work to develop a deep understanding of the traditions of these countries, as well as their populations’ perceptions of NATO, to ensure that what is communicated on NATO’s behalf is understood.

When Myriam first joined the Hub, her work focused on French and Arabic translations, and on the cultural overview of the Hub’s media products. Her responsibility was to help dispel misconceptions about NATO and appropriately communicate with external key audiences in the Middle East, Africa, and Allied countries, such as military organisations, regional and international experts.  Over time, Myriam started to take on more multifaceted and dynamic responsibilities, and began working on digital content production, focusing on bolstering mutual understanding and respect.

 “Every day looks slightly different. Some days I am busy translating our reports and updating our website, and on other days I am working hard on creating products for our online or in-person events. I often participate in conferences, which is very enlightening because I get to meet all the impressive experts from the Middle East and Africa.”

Myriam (second from left) working as an Arabic interpreter during the “Libya and Tunisia: Female Leaders and Female Role Models, to increase stability and security in the region” live webinar of the Women, Peace and Security workshop. March 2023.

2023 Conference in Naples on Artificial Intelligence in Africa and the Middle East - with key regional experts.

A logo produced by Myriam for the “Southern Talks, a live webinar with regional experts on various topics pertaining to the South. A Q&A session is dedicated to the audience.

A visual created by Myriam for the upcoming Study day on Information Dynamics in the Sahel

While it takes years to positively impact people’s perceptions, Myriam argues that the work of the Hub has been continuously improving the relationship between the Alliance and experts in the South. Knowledge-sharing among them has increased, widening mutual understanding and the scope of future cooperation.

Storytelling for understanding: NATO’s commitment to accurate cultural representation

Recently, Myriam assisted NATO’s Allied Command Transformation in the production of a graphic novella titled “How we see the darkness”. The novella – which is based on the paper “Complex Conflicts in Africa” by Assistant Professor of Political Science at the University of Cincinnati Dr Alexander Thurston – underlines the necessity for external actors, including NATO, to exercise caution while seeking to build peace in Africa.

Myriam’s role in the project was to ensure that the fictional story depicted an accurate representation of its chosen setting. From examining if the characters were dressed appropriately, to checking whether the architectural style of the region was authentic and religious symbols were accurate, Myriam provided cultural guidance to the graphic contractors to avoid misrepresentations.

Additionally, Myriam translated the novella into both French and Arabic – making it available to non-English speaking audiences.

A page from “How we see the darkness”, the graphic novella produced by NATO’s Allied Command Transformation.

For Myriam, NATO “means the preservation of human rights and security”, two values that the Alliance has always defended. She aims to contribute to that mission by serving as one of NATO’s cultural experts for the South and is willing to help other Alliance bodies improve their knowledge of Middle Eastern and African countries, while promoting accurate and respectful communication.