On 4^th June training “Decentralization reforms in media” for mass media representatives from Poltava, Sumy and Kharkiv Oblasts took place in Poltava. It was organized by Swiss-Ukrainian project “Decentralization support in Ukraine” (DESPRO) in cooperation with Association of small towns of Ukraine and All-Ukrainian association of village councils.

The event was devoted to the Concept of local self-governance and territorial power reforming in Ukraine, recently approved by the Government.

More than 70 media representatives have obtained detailed explanation about the very nature of the Concept. They had an opportunity to communicate both with the Concept’s authors and decentralization reforms as a whole. Anatoliy Tkachuk (Research and development director, Civil Seciety Institute, Advisor to Vice-Prime Minister and Minister of regional development, construction, housing and communal services of Ukraine Volodymyr Groisman) destroyed the major myths associated with the reform, explained the reform’s very nature and its expected results and appealed the “fourth power” to be alert, attentive and responsible while highlighting such important, for the country, transformations.

Trainers also included: Yuriy Hanushchak, Director, Territorial Development Institute and ideologist of administration and territorial reform and Ihor Abramyuk, expert of EU project “Support to regional development in Ukraine” in the sphere of institutional capacity and best practices of local self-governance strengthening. 

Practical training aspect “Journalist workshop” was covered by host of political talk show “Freedom of Speech” on ICTV Andriy Kulykov. Pavlo Kozyriev, mayor of Ukrayinka, took part in a practical training session. He conducted press-conference for journalists, after which trainers analysed the mistakes of both mass media representatives and speaker. Master-class was lively and pretty useful for participants.

Film “On decentralization and federalization” was presented to the audience. Film was made in the technique of drawn infographic.

 

In the nearest future, DESPRO plans to conduct similar trainings all over Ukraine. “We will continue to raise awareness of local self-governiong representatives in the sphere of decentralization reforms”, - said Oksana Garnets, Project Senior Coordinator in Ukraine.

 

Reference:   
On 1 April 2014 Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine approved the Concept of Local Self-Governance and Territorial Power Reforming in Ukraine. Main Concept idea concerns power decentralization in the Country and significant empowerment of local communities. It is at community able we can maximum possibly provide qualitative and affordable public, social and other services, establishment of democratic institutes, meeting the interests of our citizens in all living spheres and on relevant territories as well as  coordination of interests of the state and territorial communities. The Concept presupposes that in 2014 all necessary legislative documents will be developed and adopted. Following year they will allow to start practical implementation of decentralization reforms.