Municipality officers gain skills to communicate with their communities

October 10, 2019

Communication officers of Abu Salim, Sawani, Tripoli Center, Kufra, Kikla, Janzour, Garaboulli, Souk Jomaa, Hai -Andalus, Ubari, Benghazi and Ghat Municipalities pose with UNDP Team. Photo: ©UNDP Libya/ Fathiya Elazomi

The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Stabilization Facility for Libya (SFL) organized a three-day workshop with the communication officers of municipalities to support local efforts towards stability. The activity aims to equip the participants with the needed skills to communicate strategically with their communities about the work of SFL, as well as municipal and ministerial activities.

The workshop included sessions on strategic communication, social media, conflict sensitive communication, hate speech, media relations, photography and videography.

“We have learned a lot in this workshop. We will use all this knowledge in our media offices, especially to interact with our audiences on social media. It is also very important to get to know communications colleagues from other municipalities to support each other and work together for a common goal,” said one of the participants, Ms Marwa Ali, Communication Officer of Janzour Municipality.

The participants created a communication support network to share experiences about SFL results and impact, and about communication improvement between local authorities and communities in Abu Salim, Sawani, Tripoli Center, Kufra, Kikla, Janzour, Garaboulli, Souk Jomaa, Hai -Andalus, Ubari, Benghazi and Ghat.

“Providing communities with the information they need is essential to build stability in Libya. People need to know how to have access to basic services, the role of the municipality, and the programmes and activities of the local authorities, which aim to improve living conditions, among them, work with the Stabilization Facility,” said UNDP Resident Representative, Mr. Gerardo Noto.

Led by local and national institutions and implemented by UNDP, in coordination with the Ministry of Planning, and with support from 13 donors and the Government of Libya, the SFL aims to bridge the critical period of transition from initial period of humanitarian relief towards mid- and long-term structural and sector-specific support. It includes interventions at the municipal level that seek to strengthen national unity and reinforce state authorities for all Libyans.

For more information, or media interviews please contact: media.ly@undp.org