The 13th International Government Communication Forum (IGCF 2024) is set to spotlight successful global practices and emerging trends in government communication.
IGCF 2024, organized by Sharjah Government Media Bureau, will be held on 4th-5th September at Expo Centre Sharjah. The forum will feature case studies and experiences from Jordan, Nigeria, and Tuvalu, three governments shortlisted for the prestigious Sharjah Government Communication Award.
There will be 28 panel discussions and speeches under ‘Gov Talks’ and ‘Gov Dialogues’, centering on innovation in communication. The Ministry of Community Development, Mohammed Bin Rashid School of Government, Sharjah Youth Council, and Sharjah Entrepreneurship Centre (Sheraa) will be the key participants.
Jordan will showcase its innovative ‘For a Drop of Water’ campaign, nominated for the ‘Best Innovative and Resilient Communication Initiatives’, with an aim to promote efficient water use and consumption behavior change. Tuvalu’s ‘World’s First Digital Nation’ project, nominated in the same category, aims to secure the island nation’s identity and rights by transforming into a digital nation.
Nigeria will highlight the ‘Citifeed App: Eyes and Ears on Government Performance’, nominated for the ‘Best Innovation in Government Communication’ award. The app, launched by Kaduna State, intends to empower public to monitor infrastructure projects and assess government performance.
The forum will include speeches by nominees for the ‘Best Communication Practices for Dealing with Developmental Changes’ category, featuring innovative initiatives such as ‘Mega Green Accelerators’ by PepsiCo, ‘Sustainability at the Heart of Al-Futtaim’s Strategy’ by Al-Futtaim Group, and ‘Emirates Nature-WWF (World Wildlife Fund).’
The lineup of discussions also include ‘New Generation and Content Creation’ by Moataz Al-Demerdash, ‘The Power of Habits as a Driver of Real Sustainability Transformation’ by Wael Ismail and Dr. Yasar Jarrar, ‘Perception of the Youth on Openness to Cultures’ by Amani Al Matroushi and Ibrahim Alblooshi, ‘How Ageing Becomes the Essence of the “Silver Economy”?’ by Hessa Bint Essa Buhumaid, and ‘The Creative Frontier: Can AI Redefine Media Campaigns?’ by Dr. Suheil Dahdal.
The session ‘The Role of Communication in Strengthening National Industry’ will be led by Ghannam Al Mazrouei, Ammar Al Aleeli, and Salama Al Awadhi, while Khalifa Musabeh Al Alteneiji, Ahmed Obaid Al Qaseer, and Majid Al Hammadi will explore ‘Marketing Incentives to Attract Investors to Sustainability Sectors.’
‘Gov Dialogues’ will highlight the role of women and youth in shaping the future. The Ministry of Community Development will host success stories and promote inclusivity. Sessions organized by Sheraa will delve into innovate solutions for security and sustainable development. The Sharjah Youth Council will discuss ‘The Latent Ideas of Youth and the Fuel of Scientific Research in Government Communication.’
In addition, the forum will feature the following sessions: “Digital Government Communication – Between Empowering and Benefiting from the Youth”, “Changing the Narrative – Empowering Refugees as a Path to Breaking Stereotypes”, “Future Skills in the Era of AI and Innovative Communication”, “The UAE Government as a Model of Resilient Governance”, and “Setting Guardrails for an AI-Enabled World”, led by experts from various fields.
