Organisational culture plays a fundamental role in ensuring effective governance and shaping the positive image of public authorities. Senior officials who understand its essence and key concepts are able to unite people and use their strengths. After all, it is not just an abstract concept, but a key to making effective decisions, communicating, motivating employees, creating cohesive teams, resolving conflicts, adapting to changes and building a positive image. These and other concepts were discussed by senior government officials during the training seminar “Human-centred values in shaping organisational culture in the public service” held on 12 June at the High School. The training was attended by 29 civil servants of category A.

The event was organised by the National Training Centre for Prevention and Combating Gender-Based Violence of the High School jointly with the National Agency on Civil Service and with the support of the Presidential Commissioner for Barrier-Free Access, the National Social Service of Ukraine, the United Nations Population Fund in Ukraine (UNFPA), UNDP, and the Charitable Foundation Volunteer Association VESTA.

The seminar was opened by Nataliia Aliushyna, Head of the National Agency of Ukraine on Civil Service, Maksym Kushnir, Deputy Minister of Veterans Affairs of Ukraine, Vasyl Lutsyk, Head of the National Social Service of Ukraine, and Nadiya Prokopenko, Programme Analyst at the United Nations Population Fund in Ukraine (UNFPA Ukraine).

The training was divided into thematic blocks. In particular, the place and role of organisational culture in the processes of modernising the civil service, the culture of interaction and communication with veterans, its importance for the implementation of effective activities to prevent and combat gender-based violence, including domestic violence, and the creation of a barrier-free space in the public authority were discussed.

War is not only a time of destruction, but also a time for change and transformation. The introduction of a human-centred organisational culture in the public service can be a powerful tool for overcoming the challenges of war and building a better future for Ukraine.