With the introduction of the martial law in Ukraine, many questions have arisen for local self-government bodies as information managers: How to properly ensure access to public information during the war? Is it possible to delay responding to requests? What exactly should be published on websites? Does the martial law expands the list of grounds for restricting access to public information?
Answers to these and many other questions will be provided by the U-LEAD initiative "Steps for specialists. Ensuring access to public information in local self-government bodies".
What is it?
A comprehensive training programme aimed at improving the professional competencies of local self-government officials in the field of ensuring access to public information. Upon successful completion, participants will receive certificates.
Benefits for the participants
As part of the Training Programme, the Participants will:
- understand how ensuring access to public information affects residents’ trust in officials and local self-government bodies;
- become aware of the challenges posed by the full-scale invasion in the sphere of information management and learn how to overcome them;
- understand which local acts regulating access to public information in local self-government bodies should be adopted or updated;
- be able to apply the provisions of the Law of Ukraine On access to public information and harmonise its requirements with other laws and international standards;
- develop skills in applying the three-part test when restricting access to public information;
- develop skills in building effective communication with residents by publishing public information through official channels of dissemination;
- understand how to build effective models of interaction between local self-government bodies and officials to ensure the right to information.
Who can participate in the programme?
One hundred local self-government officials will be selected – one representative from each municipality with a population of up to 50,000 residents that is not located in a temporarily occupied territory.
Participants must, within their official duties, be responsible for ensuring access to public information in local self-government bodies or coordinate the activities of other officials responsible for this. They may be represented at the level of:
- secretary of a rural, settlement, or urban council;
- administrative manager (secretary) of the executive committee;
- head or specialist of the executive body responsible for ensuring access to public information.
Preference will be given to participants who have been working in this field for less than 3 years.
Those who took part in the 2024 training programme on this topic cannot reapply.
All participants must also guarantee adequate technical equipment to connect to online events.
When?
The training will take place from 6 November to 9 December 2025 on Tuesdays and Thursdays. All events will be held online and are free of charge for participants.
How to participate?
To participate in the selection process, please fill out the attached application form in MS Excel format and send it to: regops.u-lead@giz.de by 18:00 on 15 October 2025, indicating in the subject line: Access to information_Name of municipality_Oblast.
You can learn more about the training programme at the promotional event, which will take place on 8 October 2025 at 14:00. Follow this link: Join the meeting
Let’s move forward together towards success!
U-LEAD with Europe team
