Public Speaking and Social Media Skills Strengthened Through Communication Trainings in Petrovac

Petrovac, 10–13 June 2025 – To support awareness raising efforts in the SALW-related context by enhancing the effectiveness of the institutional public outreach, and deepening communication flow between relevant institutions and the public UNDP SEESAC organized two specialized trainings for representatives of Montenegro’s Ministry of Interior and Police Administration.

Designed in response to specific needs identified at meetings of the Regional Awareness-raising Task Force, the trainings were tailored to fit the working structures, existing and needed skill-sets of the Ministry and Police Administration in Montenegro, thus ensuring the outmost relevance for the beneficiaries. The first training, held on 10–11 June, focused on bolstering of public speaking skills. Through a series of interactive sessions, simulations and on-camera practices, participants refined their skills in delivering statements, media interviews, and managing press conferences. Realistic crisis scenarios allowed them to refine both verbal and non-verbal communication, message development, and on-camera performance, while building confidence to speak publicly on behalf of their institution. Participants received tailored feedback to help improve their individual deliveries and grow confidence when speaking.

Later that week, on 12–13 June, a second group of the Ministry’s and Police representatives discussed the role of social media in institutional communication and how it can be used in more diverse and effective ways. Participants explored ways to craft more impactful messages for digital platforms, identify more narrow target audiences, and develop creative content aligned with needs and interests of the public when it comes to the issues of arms control. Responding to real, current events, they used selected tools and digital platforms to create engaging visuals and short videos for institutional social media channels.

These trainings built upon the skills developed during the previous two trainings held in Podgorica in April 2025, with the representatives of the MOI and Police Administration in Montenegro, which focused on 1) planning, design and implementation of awareness raising campaigns, and 2) Crisis Communication in situations involving firearms.

Beneficiaries of this training will, in the course of the year, also have at their disposal a knowledge product focused on how to better utilize social media tools in awareness raising efforts in the context of SALW control, which SEESAC is currently developing.

All of these efforts are a part of SEESAC’s wider work to strengthen the response to factors fueling the demand for and misuse of firearms in the Western Balkans, done under the project Support for Enhancing the Fight Against the Illegal Possession, Misuse, and Trafficking of Small Arms and Light Weapons (SALW) in the Western Balkans project, funded by the European Union through the Instrument for Pre-Accession Assistance (IPA II) (2021/425-067).