As part of its efforts to promote fair and inclusive communication within Palestinian local government units (LGUs), the Association of Palestinian Local Authorities (APLA) held an interactive training session on Gender-Responsive Communication and Inclusion. Organized on Zoom, the training event brought together 23 staff members representing LGU members of the Taskforce for the Inclusion of Marginalized Groups as well as LGU public relations officers. The training aimed at enabling participants to develop more inclusive and equitable communication strategies, guaranteeing universal access to information and services across all societal groups and promoting transparency and community participation at the local level.
Moderated by Trainer Jihad Shuja’iyyah, Communication and Outreach Expert, the training equipped participants with practical knowledge and tools that would enhance their ability to interact consciously and responsibly with community diversity. It placed a focus on building transparent and inclusive communication environments. The training also highlighted the importance of enhancing effective communication skills to bolster trust between LGUs and citizens. To this avail, interactive channels can be created to promote social cohesion and support integration among different groups. The training programme also featured extensive practical exercises to consolidate the concepts of gender-responsive communication and inclusion, in light of mounting political and economic challenges that widen social gaps.
With support from the GIZ Local Governance Reform Programme, the training is one activity of the Taskforce for the Inclusion Marginalized Groups in Palestinian LGUs. Seeking to mainstream gender and inclusion in the LGU operations, this initiative encourages experience sharing and develops inclusive plans to be embraced relevant bodies to ensure engaging all groups in the local development process.