Kyiv, 29 September 2023 – The Ministry of Culture and Information Policy of Ukraine, together with the Centre for Strategic Communications and Information Security and with the support of the UN Development Programme (UNDP) in Ukraine, has conducted strategic communications training for employees of ministries and central executive bodies.  

During the two-day training session, experts discussed the harmonization of state communications for the development and implementation of a "single voice" in the field of state communications, a communications strategy for European integration, combatting misinformation, ensuring inclusive communications, and maintaining mental health during the war. 

Commenting on the training, State Secretary of the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine Oleksandr Yarema said it was essential to build the media literacy and media culture of civil servants, especially in wartime, and to constantly improve their qualifications.   

“What the state says really matters,” Yarema said. “You have to think and analyse carefully first, provide clear information, explain decisions, politics, and strategies, reforms in various fields, and it’s important that this information is from a genuine source, from public authorities, so that people won't become victims of misinformation and manipulation.” 

The UNDP in Ukraine Democratic Governance Team Leader Olena Ursu stressed that thanks to the state communication experts who participated in this training, the trainees had learned about crucial issues of state policy development, and that they will now have the chance to respond to these issues and feel involved in the overall development of the country.  

“We’re always impressed by the professionalism of public authorities' communications at all levels, and it is obvious that state communications have changed positively in recent years,” Ursu said. 

“They’ve become faster, more interesting, more creative and, of course, more honest in many cases. Today, the issue is not just about announcing political meetings or events, but also about discussing important public issues, considering the public's opinion, and responding to this opinion.” 

Rostyslav Karandieiev, the acting Minister of Culture and Information Policy of Ukraine, said that it was great that the activities of information institutions in Ukraine are being supported by the country’s foreign partners.  

“Our goals coincide: we want to generate and communicate to people truthful information that will guarantee the security of Ukrainian society, as well as ensure the coherent and systematic functioning of state institutions,” Karandieiev said.  

Deputy Minister of Culture and Information Policy on European Integration Taras Shevchenko added that the establishment of strategic communications was one of the key areas of work of each and every executive authority of Ukraine within the framework of the state’s general information security strategy. 

“This training is aimed at increasing the ability of state authorities to involve society in the restoration and development of Ukraine,” Shevchenko said. 

“This can only be done through timely and truthful communication that allows citizens to feel safe, receiving up-to-date information about key processes in the country.” 

More than 60 people – communications specialists from the central executive bodies and ministries – participated in the training. The trainers were leading communications specialists, media experts, and foreign media representatives.  

The strategic communications training session was supported by UNDP and funded by the Government of Japan. 

Media enquiries: Yuliia Samus, Head of Communications at UNDP Ukraine; e-mail: yuliia.samus@undp.org