Sharjah Government Communication Award Goes Global with Eight New Categories

The SGCA opens registration for the prestigious award from November 6 to December 5, 2019

The International Government Communication Centre (IGCC), an initiative of Sharjah Government Media Bureau (SGMB), has announced the addition of eight new categories in the 8th edition of the Sharjah Government Communication Award (SGCA). This step aims to expand the scope of its strategic national and regional focus and to position it as an international award with a more global outlook and reach.

The Centre announced that registration would be open for the 7th edition of the Award from November 6 to December 5, in 16 categories distributed across four sections - Sharjah, UAE, Arab region, and Global. The Award aims to highlight and recognise the outstanding global success stories in government communication. The jury members will select a shortlist of the registered candidates, who will then be required to submit their supporting files, starting from December 8.

The Award is organised by IGCC in cooperation with the 9th International Government Communication Forum, to be held on March 4-5, 2020, at Sharjah Expo Centre under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Dr. Sultan bin Mohamed Al Qasimi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Sharjah.

New categories created

The 8th edition of the Award will include the following new categories: ‘The Voice of the People’ – UAE, which will be presented to an entity that has made the biggest impact on its audience; and ‘Best Media Programme that Made a Difference’, awarded to an entity in the Arab world that made a positive social impact through social media or traditional media.

Under the Global section, the ‘Best Press Photo on Government Communication’ is a new category that will be presented to a media professional or institution whose photograph or cartoon created a public impact or changed their behaviour towards a certain issue; while the ‘Best Use of New Technology’ Award is for government organisations or bodies that have launched a smart application/video, or used new technology that helps support government communication and facilitates interacting with the target audience.

The ‘Best Use of Data’ will be awarded to an entity that has demonstrated the best use of data and data visualisation to convey information; the ‘Best Idea to Increase Engagements (Influence) of Future Generations’ Award will go to an entity or campaign team that demonstrated increase in engagement by audiences of Gen Z and younger generations; the ‘Best Use of Partnerships’ Award to an entity that demonstrated the success of a campaign based on an innovative partnership between two parties or more; while the ‘Best initiative to Manage Fake News’ is awarded to entities that has successfully developed tools to analyse data and check fake news.

Three existing categories updated
These include the ‘Best Government Social Media Engagement’ in the Arab region, which previously covered the GCC region only; the ‘Best Government Communication Campaign’ which had been open only to campaigns in the UAE and goes international this year; and ‘Best Influential Personality through Social Media’, which was previously open to the GCC region but is now limited to the UAE; and Best Support System for Government Communication Staff-UAE, which was limited to official spokesperson.

Four categories remain unchanged
The Award categories, ‘Best Practices in Government Communication (Sharjah)’; ‘Best Government Communication Coordinator (UAE)’; ‘Best Media Crisis Management (UAE)’; and ‘Best Youth Initiative in Government Communication (Arab World)’, have been retained.

Globally pioneering government communication
Jawaher Al Naqbi, Manager of the International Government Communication Centre (IGCC), said that the Award is looking to expand its geographical reach to achieve the Centre’s strategic objectives in refocusing of the Award to spread its impact across the world, as well as in positioning Sharjah as the regional and global hub of futuristic thinking in government communication.

“The Award aligns with the vision and directives of HH Sheikh Dr Sultan bin Mohamed Al Qasimi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Sharjah, in enhancing the relationship between society and government entities, promoting efficient communication and engaging all members and entities in the development process," she added.

She emphasised that the Award seeks to raise the youth’s awareness of the importance of government communication and encourage them to engage in the sector, while recognising their outstanding achievements.

The Award categories include Best Practices in Government Communication (Sharjah); Best Government Website (Sharjah); Best Practice in Social Responsibility (UAE); Best Media Crisis Management (UAE); Best Government Communication Campaign outside UAE (UAE); Best Behavioural Change Campaign/Initiative (UAE); Best Government Application (GCC); Best Youth Initiative in Government Communication (GCC); Best Media Initiative in Government Communication (GCC); Best Government Intercommunication Practice (UAE); Best Government Communication Strategy (UAE); Best Government Communication Campaign (UAE); and Best Government Social Media Engagement (GCC).

Since its launch in 2012, the Award has attracted a total of 756 entries, of which 337 are from Sharjah, 255 from other emirates and 164 from across the GCC.