LocationsThe 5-day workshop focuses on the language of leadership
UNDP Supports High-Level Interactive Sessions on Strategic Communication in Mauritius
September 16, 2025
Delegates attending the 5-Day High-Level Workshop on Strategic Communication.
Stephane Bellerose @ UNDP Mauritius
A five-day high-level interactive workshop on Strategic Communication was launched on 15 September by the Ministry of Financial Services and Economic Planning, in partnership with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). The sessions offer Ministers, Junior Ministers, Members of Parliament, and senior government officials the opportunity to sharpen their messaging, build narratives that resonate with citizens, and deliver speeches that inspire, influence, and energize change. The training is being led by Simon Lancaster, a world-renowned speechwriting and communication expert who has worked with Cabinet Ministers and leading corporate CEOs in the United Kingdom.
Connecting Vision to Action
Mauritius has embarked on a series of ambitious reforms, and strategic communication is key to mobilizing citizens, maintaining public confidence, and advancing national goals. Around the world, effective communication has been shown to transform governments into partners with their citizens, making policies not just announcements but lived experiences.
In his opening remarks, honourable Reza Uteem, Minister of Labour and Industrial Relations and Acting Minister of Financial Services and Economic Planning, underscored that strategic communication ensures that reforms are not only technically sound but also widely understood and supported by citizens.
Amanda K. Serumaga, UNDP Resident Representative, emphasized the importance of communication in fostering trust between leaders and communities: “Development is not only about economic growth but also about strengthening the social contract between citizens and institutions. Communication allows leaders to shape narratives that make reforms meaningful, counter misinformation with clarity, build consensus across divides, and inspire confidence in times of uncertainty.”
The Language of Leadership in Action
Over the next five days, participants will engage in interactive sessions, case studies, and practical exercises to sharpen their skills. They will learn how to:
- Shape narratives that make reforms meaningful for citizens.
- Address misinformation with clarity and authority.
- Build broad-based consensus across divides.
- Inspire confidence in times of uncertainty and change.
This hands-on approach will ensure that leaders across government can translate vision and leadership into messages that connect with people and drive meaningful change.
Partnerships to Build a Shared Future
By promoting transparency, inclusivity, and accountability, this workshop underscores the power of words to inspire, unite, and transform. It also reflects UNDP’s continued partnership with the Government of Mauritius to advance sustainable and inclusive development—ensuring that the national development agenda is not only understood but embraced; not only announced but lived.