As communicators, we are trained to speak clearly, write persuasively, and tell stories that resonate. We often pride ourselves on our ability to engage audiences, simplify complex issues, and mobilize support through words and visuals. But in the rush to meet deadlines and reach targets, we sometimes forget one fundamental thing: communication is not just about what we say, it’s about who hears it, who sees it, and whether they truly feel seen. 

Behind every piece of content we create, there is a responsibility to understand that not everyone experiences information the same way. Not everyone can read small text. Not everyone can see the images we post. Not everyone speaks the dominant language or relates to the jargons we use to frame development. Yet we so often assume they do. 

This realization became especially clear during our recent Gender Equality and Social Inclusion (GESI)-Sensitive Storytelling & Photography Training, held in June and July 2025. Organized by UNDP Indonesia in collaboration with Project Multatuli, the training was designed to strengthen our internal capacity in creating communications that are not only ethical and accurate, but also inclusive, respectful, and representative of the diverse communities we serve. 

Seeing Our Own Blind Spots 

The first part of the training focused on storytelling and quickly challenged many of our assumptions. We explored how bias can show up not only in what we say, but in what we leave out. How certain voices, especially those of women, people from customary groups, and persons with disabilities, often appear in our stories only in relation to their struggles, and rarely in their full, complex humanity. Through group discussions and peer reflection, we began to unlearn habits we didn’t even know we had. 

One participant shared their reflection, “I’ve always thought of myself as a people-centered communicator. But this session made me realize I haven’t always considered who might be left out of my narratives.” That kind of honesty and vulnerability shaped the spirit of the training, not as a critique, but as an invitation to do better. 

The second session, held in collaboration with Silang.id and Sabda Bumi, turned our attention to visuals. We learned how photos can either empower or erase. How image captions can reinforce dignity or strip it away. How social media, for all its reach, is still not a safe or accessible space for everyone. We realized that by not providing alternative text, or by using overly complex visual layouts, we were excluding people without meaning to. 

Many of us had never really stopped to think: what does a photo look like to someone with low vision? What does a video feel like to someone who cannot hear? These are basic, yet often ignored, questions in our line of work, especially when production schedules are tight and the pressure to perform online is high. But they matter. Deeply. 

The most powerful moments of the training came when we heard directly from people with lived experience, from disability advocates, storytellers of customary groups, and activists who reminded us that being represented is not enough. True inclusion means participation. It means asking, listening, collaborating, and most importantly, sharing power over how stories are told and by whom. 

One participant noted, “Thank you for bringing in speakers from the disability community. It changed the way I think about everything, from how I take photos to how I write reports.” These are the kinds of shifts that can’t be taught through a manual. They require lived connection. They require space for reflection. They require humility. 

Strengthening Our Commitment to Inclusive Storytelling 

This training reminded us that inclusive communication is not a checkbox, but a continuous practice. One that requires us to pause, reflect, and realign our intentions with the realities faced by the people we work with. It must be embedded in every step of what we do: planning, writing, interviewing, photographing, editing, and publishing. It must begin with empathy and end with impact, and with meaningful representation. 

At UNDP Indonesia, this reflection comes at a crucial moment. As a proud holder of the Gold UNDP Gender Equality Seal, we are committed to translating principles into action, not only internally, but in the way we engage with our partners, communities, and the broader public. This means ensuring that the stories we tell uplift all voices, especially those long unheard.  

We are optimistic, because change is already happening. From more inclusive language in our reports, to better image curation, to internal conversations that ask, “who’s missing from this story?”, we are moving forward, together. 

Because when we tell fairer stories, we don’t just become better communicators. We become better allies, better partners, and better champions for the people and communities at the heart of development. 

And that is a story worth telling.