On October 31, the Minister of Culture and Strategic Communications of Ukraine, Mykola Tochytskyi held a meeting in Ukraine with Jaco Cilliers, the Resident Representative of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).
Mykola Tochytskyi expressed his gratitude for the ongoing support provided by UNDP to Ukraine, particularly during the current full-scale invasion.
“I am grateful for our collaboration. Your understanding and support enable us to protect not only our territory but also our national identity. This struggle is our historical mission. We stand for democratic values and the future of our country together with the international community,” said Mykola Tochytskyi.
“We recognize the importance of supporting Ukraine. You can rely on us, as the information sphere is vital. Without access to truthful information, people cannot fully comprehend the reality of the situation. Ukraine’s message is essential for the global community,” stated Jaco Cilliers.
During the discussions, the Minister underscored three key areas of cooperation between the MCSC and UNDP: countering disinformation, enhancing media literacy among the population, and promoting inclusive, accessible media.
“In the past two years, we have implemented several joint projects with the Ministry and are committed to continuing to support your strategic initiatives in communications. Together, we can effectively counter disinformation. You can rely on our assistance in this critical issue,” emphasized the UNDP Resident Representative.
In 2023-2024, the Center for Strategic Communications and Information Security, in partnership with the MCSC and with the support of UNDP, conducted three-day regional training sessions for specialists from 13 regions of Ukraine.
Moreover, UNDP actively supports Ukrainian media literacy initiatives, including the All-Ukrainian Media Literacy Lesson, the National Media Literacy Test, the National Student Video Contest “Reporter”, and others. Additionally, experts from the Program have been involved in developing the Media Literacy Development Strategy for the period up to 2026, which was formulated and approved in June this year.
The MSCS is actively collaborating with UNDP on strategic state policies aimed at achieving media accessibility, as part of the Barrier-Free Initiative led by First Lady of Ukraine, Olena Zelenska.
“We will continue to align our efforts with democratic society in the struggle for our nation’s survival. This struggle is not merely for our territory; a nation is defined by the identity of each individual. The crimes committed by russia during this war reveal their lack of both morality and self-identity,” stated Mykola Tochytskyi.
