Global Reporting has been engaged by Sida to assist in developing the dialogue between the State and the public in Ukraine. The project focuses on one of the key functions in developing democracy: improving Government frameworks, strategies and communication methods in order for people to understand the political processes and decisions. Cooperation partners are the Cabinet of Ministers, the Parliament Verkhovna Rada and the Secretariat of the President.

During study visits to Sweden and Estonia, the Ukrainian partners participate in meetings, workshops and conferences with experts in public communications, legislation and public relations. During these meetings and workshops, the participants exchange knowledge and experiences about efficient concrete methods as well as possible legal frameworks. The Ukrainian partners gain experiences from other countries, which can stimulate the development of the public dialogue in Ukraine, thereby strengthening the democratic reform process. Themes of the project are legislation, ICT, communication methodology, public communication in practice in a democratic market economy, education and training.

After each study visit, Global Reporting provides the Ukrainian partners with follow-up studies on requested subjects to facilitate the reform process.

Lessons learnt from the study visits will be documented in order to serve as a starting point for a Resource Book for Public Communications. In this book, lessons learnt are adapted to the Ukrainian context and disseminated to broader groups of public communicators in Ukraine, primarily within the Government Sector. The results can also be useful to Civil Society and the Media Sector.

Read the presentation here. Read more about the programme here.