Application Categories

• Best Public Communication by a Government Agency – Emirate of Sharjah

  The award is given to a government service agency that has responded to the public's demands, improved public communication practices and brought about a qualitative change in the work mechanism based on the views and needs of the public, resulting in these being met by the government.

  General Criteria:

  • Speed and transparency in providing the public with data and information.
  • Creating an updated mechanism for identifying the views and needs of the public.
  • Achieving tangible results for the initiative.

  Evaluation:

  • Methodology: The strategy adopted for implementing the initiative and the clarity of its aims and general vision. (20 marks)
  • Measurement: The initiative's outcome and society's need for it. (30 marks)
  • Tools: The use of all forms of media and technology to produce the best results. (25 marks)
  • Innovation: Creativity in the mechanism for designing and implementing the idea. (25 marks)

• Government Communication Model Employee – United Arab Emirates

  The award honours employees of governmental and quasi-governmental bodies who have submitted ideas for improved government communication practices, displaying exceptional approaches of professionalism to achieve customer happiness and enhancing the organisation's reputation on the national, regional and global level.

  General Criteria:

  • Submitting an idea that is innovative and has already been put into practice.
  • The idea has had a positive impact on the organisation’s communications both internally and externally.
  • It is not a requirement that the employee works for a government communication department.

  Evaluation:

  • Methodology: The steps for implementing the idea are based on clear goals. (20 marks)
  • Innovation: The proposal of a new idea founded on creativity and ease of implementation. (25 marks)
  • Continuity: The mechanisms that ensure the idea's continuity and ongoing development. (25 marks)
  • Impact: The positive changes brought about by implementing the idea and the results achieved. (30 marks)

• Best Crisis Response – United Arab Emirates

  To be awarded to a governmental, quasi-governmental or private body that has responded to crises and achieved effective communication with the public during and after the crisis by adopting an idea that produced tangible results.

  General Criteria:

  • Having plans for responding to and handling crises (before, during and after the crisis).
  • Rapid response and handling of the crisis.
  • The range of powers and extent of team cooperation that contribute towards rapid crisis response.
  • Providing information to media outlets in a specific time-frame during and after the crisis.

  Evaluation:

  • Plans: The plan's effectiveness in dealing with the variety of challenges created by crises. (20 marks)
  • Response: The organisation's speed of response to the crisis, and the taking of necessary decisions and actions. (20 marks)
  • Information: The transparency of information and it being made available to the public in a timely and accurate manner to limit the spread of rumours. (30 marks)
  • Future Visions: Developing future plans and making positive use of the crisis. (30 marks)

• Best Government Communication Systems – Arab World

  This category consists of four awards for governmental, quasi-governmental or non-government organisations:

  • Practices: The first award is for the body, which has created an impact through effective practices and tools, adopting best communication methods and contributing towards improving the image of the organisation on the local, regional and global level.
  • Training and education activities or academic programmes in support of the aims of government communication: To be awarded to a body which has participated in training, education or academic activities to improve its employees' competence in government communication and to bolster effective communication with the public, the media and digital platforms.
  • A system for persons with disabilities: To be awarded to a body presenting original ideas, initiatives and services based on the methods, aims and strategies of government communication, and which assists persons with disabilities to communicate effectively and easily whether as employees or as customers.
  • A system for the elderly: To be awarded to an organisation that improves the quality of services for the elderly using innovative approaches, integrating them with the youth and encouraging future generations to support them. It employs novel methods to support the elderly while advancing government communication principles according to plans and strategies that ensure the well-being of the elderly and help them keep up with the changes of a modern life.

  General Criteria:

  • The impact of the communication practices or activities for the organisation.
  • The clarity of the initiative's plans, aims and methodologies.
  • The adoption of tools to measure the initiative's results.
  • A future vision for developing the initiative based on the use of technology.
  • The effectiveness of the practices or training and education programmes implemented by the organisation for the purpose of mass communication over the course of the year.
  • The impact of effective communication by the employees on the organisation's results and output.
  • Adopting strategies for communicating with people taking into account individual differences.

  Evaluation Criteria for Practices:

  • Methodology: Formulating goals and a general vision within a strategic framework that is consistent with the organisation's goals. (20 marks)
  • Measurement: Illustrating the results and impact of the initiative on the work environment. (30 marks)
  • Tools: Using technology and the media to serve the initiative's goals. (25 marks)
  • Innovation: Creating a mechanism for implementing the idea that expedites the addressing of society’s needs. (25 marks)

  Evaluation Criteria for Training and Education:

  • Training Plans: Having an annual training, education or academic plan based on the organisation's needs in the area of government communication. (10 marks)
  • Impact: The influence of the training or education programmes on the employees and the development of skills through the use of modern equipment and technology (30 marks).
  • Means: The variety of government communication means used by the organisation to increase the awareness and competence of its employees, particularly digital means. (20 marks)
  • Support: The space occupied by government communication within the organisation's structure and the extent to which the senior management support it. (20 marks)
  • Innovation: Providing trainees with the tools to create a positive impact on the workplace. (20 marks)

  EVALUATION CRITERIA FOR SYSTEMS FOR PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES:

  • Strategy: Developing a plan and strategy for boosting constructive communication with persons with disabilities. (20 marks)
  • Innovation: Proposing a new idea or service founded on creating methods of communication that suit the needs of persons with disabilities. (25 marks)
  • Continuity: Adopting mechanisms that are open to development and that make use of modern technology. (25 marks)
  • Impact: Measuring the level of positive change resulting from the application of the idea with employees and customers with disabilities. (30 marks)

  EVALUATION CRITERIA FOR SYSTEMS FOR PERSONS WITH THE ELDERLY:

  • Strategy: Developing a plan and strategy for boosting constructive communication with persons with the elderly. (20 marks)
  • Innovation: Proposing a new idea or service founded on creating methods of communication that suit the needs of persons with the elderly. (25 marks)
  • Continuity: Adopting mechanisms that are open to development and that make use of modern technology. (25 marks)
  • Impact: Measuring the level of positive change resulting from the application of the idea with customers with the elderly. (30 marks)

• Best Government Communication in Digital Media – Arab World

  This award is given to a governmental or private body in the Arab World which has produced digital media content consistent with the principles of government communication, and has achieved successful engagement and communication with the public via social media and smartphone applications.

  General Criteria:

  • Adopting a media identity for the organisation on social media and smartphone applications.
  • Answering queries from the public.
  • Carrying out campaigns to promote good communication with the public.
  • Creating meaningful and carefully considered messages on social media and smartphone applications that set out the organisation's services and activities.

  Evaluation:

  • Identity: The clarity of the organisation's media identity on social media and smartphone applications. (20 marks)
  • Content: The quality of the content published on social media and smartphone applications. (25 marks)
  • Communication: Building continuous engagement with the public and responding quickly to queries. (25 marks)
  • Use of Technology: Harnessing social media and smartphone applications to support the organisation, achieve its goals, launch initiatives and measure their results. (30 marks)

• Best Environmental Policies and Practices – Arab World

  The award this year is for programmes that draw on government communication strategies and methods to combat climate change and its impact. It is to be given to governmental, quasi-governmental or non-government organisations that have implemented practical programmes for protecting the environment from the negative effects of climate change, and that establish partnerships to care for the environment in order to improve people's quality of life now and for future generations.

  General Criteria:

  • The programme is based on laws and policies that protect countries from exposure to serious environmental damage.
  • Adopting the concept from environmental policy and political ecology of advocating sustainability and reducing environmental migration.
  • Taking feasible steps that allow for individual members of the public to follow and implement them easily.
  • The programme should encourage environmental activism and raise society's awareness of environmental issues.
  • Using reliable, modern environmental technology, renewable energy, and achieving an ecological balance.
  • Supporting scientific research that contributes towards finding solutions for environmental problems and their impacts and which is consistent with the needs of peoples.

  Evaluation:

  • Methodology: Following a strategy that makes the programme sustainable and open to development in accordance with advanced environment management that promotes effective government communication. (25 marks)
  • Measurement: Reports and statistics on the programme's environmental impact, the level of public interaction and response, and the public's use of the programme in their lives. (25 marks)
  • Tools: Using all forms of media and technology to achieve the programme's goals and to bolster environmental education. (25 marks)
  • Innovation: Developing new ideas and approaches for implementing the programme that save time and effort and that encourage individual initiatives. (25 marks)

• Best Applied Scientific Research in Government Communication - Global

  This category is aimed at entities that have submitted research on topics related to government communication, the results of which have contributed to improving work systems across all levels of administration and communication. Applications for the award may be submitted in person or through a research centre. The award is in partnership with the Chartered Institute of Public Relations. The category comprises two awards:

  • Best Individual or Collective Research
  • Best Institutional Research by Governmental, Quasi-Governmental or Private Organisations in the Arab World

  General Criteria:

  • Top-quality scientific study that has either been published in a local, regional or global scientific journal or book or was presented at a scientific conference.
  • Written in either Arabic or English.
  • Studies that were undertaken by more than one researcher are eligible for participation.
  • The research deals with issues centred around the visions, principles, concepts and standards of government communication.

  Evaluation:

  • Research Topic: The importance of the research topic and the clarity of its objectives. (15 marks)
  • Research Standards: The study's commitment to the standards of scientific research and methodology. (25marks)
  • Framework: The study presents a new conceptual and theoretical framework. (20 marks)
  • Results: The study presents results and recommendations for improving the professional and applied aspects of government communication. (25 marks)
  • Publisher: The academic and scientific reputation of the body where the study was published or presented. (15 marks)