Press release
30 Ukrainian Municipalities to Create Communication Strategies
In April 2024, the USAID HOVERLA Activity and Internews Ukraine launched the Communication Strategies for Communities program. Within this program, experts will assist 30 communities in developing communication strategies aligned with their development strategies till 2027.
As of early 2024, only 43.2% of Ukrainians trusted local councils at all levels, according to a Razumkov Centre survey conducted in January 2024. This trust level represents a decline from 47.3% in December 2023 and 51.4% in July-August 2021. One of the most effective tools for building trust is high-quality communication and the active engagement of citizens in local government. This is particularly crucial in the context of a full-scale war, where information can become a powerful weapon for societal destabilization.
In response to these challenges, the USAID HOVERLA Activity initiated a 10-month Communication Strategies for Territorial Communities program. The goal is to enhance the communication competencies of local government bodies to effectively interact with residents, businesses, and partners. Thirty communities from 10 regions — Lviv, Volyn, Poltava, Rivne, Odesa, Zhytomyr, Sumy, Chernihiv, Mykolaiv, and Zakarpattia — were selected to participate in the program. The NGO Internews Ukraine has partnered with the USAID HOVERLA Activity to implement this initiative. Its experts will collaborate with the communities to develop comprehensive communication strategies.
The project plans the following activities: a communication audit and analysis of community development strategies, strategic sessions to develop key elements of the communication strategy, preparation of a communication strategy valid through 2027 for 30 communities, as well as a plan for the strategy's first year of implementation, development of a manual and templates for daily operations, and support for communities during the initial stages of strategy implementation.
The development of effective communications in local self-government bodies is one of the strategic priorities of Internews Ukraine. We are thrilled to share the organization's 28 years of expertise with Ukrainian communities and to amplify their voices and influence. Trust in local authorities is the cornerstone of the unity and cohesion of Ukrainian society. Without these components, it is impossible to effectively counteract the enemy, commented Diana Ishchenko, Creative Director of Internews Ukraine.
The Communications Strategies for Communities project is implemented by Internews Ukraine and was made possible by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and the generous support of the American people through USAID HOVERLA Activity. The contents of this project do not necessarily reflect the views of USAID or the United States Government.