On 30 October 2025, Almaty hosted the regional forum “MIL Bridge Central Asia: Regional Solutions for Global Challenges in Media and Information Literacy”, organized by UNESCO Regional Office in Almaty and MediaNet International Center for Journalism.
The event was held in conjunction with the Global Media and Information Literacy Week, celebrated worldwide at the end of October each year.

The forum brought together 35 experts, researchers, journalists, and media trainers from Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Pakistan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan to exchange experiences, present national initiatives, and discuss ways to promote Media and information literacy (MIL) across the region.

Opening remarks were delivered by 

• Amir Piric, Director of UNESCO Regional Office in Almaty; 
• Adeline Hulin, Head of MIL Unit at UNESCO Headquarters; and 
• Adil Jalilov, Director of MediaNet International Center for Journalism.

Speakers emphasized the importance of strengthening regional cooperation in Central Asia to build a sustainable digital ecosystem grounded in ethics, critical thinking, and responsibility.

Forum Sessions: From Experience to Joint Solutions

The first session, moderated by Igor Brattsev (Kazakhstan), focused on sustainable approaches to MIL development. Speakers from Uzbekistan, Pakistan, Turkmenistan, Kyrgyzstan, and Kazakhstan presented national programs and strategies integrating MIL into educational and governmental frameworks.

The second session, moderated by Rustam Gulov (Tajikistan), explored contemporary challenges in promoting MIL among youth and combating disinformation on social media. Highlighted initiatives included Social Media 4 Peace, fact-checking development, and the introduction of MIL as a cross-cutting competence in education standards.

The third session, moderated by Dilfuza Mirzakhmedova (Uzbekistan), showcased innovative tools and projects advancing MIL, such as the MILEE App, the Mediamap.kg interactive platform, the RasInfo analytical project, and a study of Uzbekistan’s digital environment.
Participants also noted with interest Alton Grizzle’s (UNESCO) presentation on the “MIL Cities” initiative aimed at developing local MIL ecosystems.

Recommendations of the MIL Bridge Central Asia Forum

During the final group session, facilitated by Alyona Blinova (Kazakhstan), participants developed joint recommendations to enhance regional cooperation and strengthen media and information literacy across Central Asia.

1. Building a Regional MIL and AI Ecosystem
– Develop a joint strategy on MIL, digital ethics, and artificial intelligence;
– Promote a shared understanding of MIL and AI as interconnected pillars of digital competence.

2. Regional Network and Continuous Dialogue
– Establish a regional chapter of the Global Media and Information Literacy Alliance and a professional network of experts;
– Hold annual MIL Bridge Forums and thematic meetings;
– Create an online platform for sharing resources, research, and data.

3. Institutionalizing Cooperation
– Conclude a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the countries of the region;
– Designate national coordinators for MIL within government structures and establish a system for regular monitoring of progress and implementation of decisions.

4. Cross-Sectoral Coordination
– Strengthen cooperation among governments, media, educational institutions, and NGOs;
– Create intersectoral councils, working groups, and research laboratories on MIL and digital ethics.

5. Education and Capacity Building
– Integrate MIL and AI literacy into educational standards;
– Train teachers as mediators of digital culture;
– Foster international exchanges and new professions that combine technology, ethics, and critical thinking.

6. National and Regional Initiatives
– Develop a regional catalog of MIL and digital ethics projects;
– Expand youth, journalist, and content creator exchange programs;
– Support grant and fellowship schemes with international partners and donors.

7. Responsible Digital Development
– Encourage fact-checking across all formats, including AI-generated content;
– Promote awareness campaigns, festivals, and digital literacy hubs;
– Advance a human-centered and inclusive approach to technology.

In closing, participants emphasized the need to develop a regional MIL strategy uniting governments, educational institutions, media, and civil society.
Organizers noted that MIL Bridge Central Asia became not only a platform for sharing experiences but also an important step toward building a unified regional space for responsible digital development.

The forum was organized by the UNESCO Regional Office in Almaty and the International Center for Journalism MediaNet as part of the Global Media and Information Literacy Week (Global MIL Week 2025).