Organised by the United Nations, Session Draws Participation of Government Communication Specialists 

Sharjah, UAE: March 24, 2017:  Held under the partronage of His Highness Sheikh Dr Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Sharjah, the 6th edition of the International Government Communication Forum (IGCF 2017) hosted a specialised workshop on ‘Global Media Trends in Coverage of Sustainable Development’ for government communication specialists on day one of the Forum.

Organised by the United Nations, the workshop attracted government communication specialists from different public sector entities across the UAE. Two main objectives were set for the workshop - the first being to create awareness for the global Sustainable Development Goals outlined by the United Nations for 2030, and the second to interpret those goals into economic outcomes to benefit human beings and achieve greater levels of development locally (drawing on the UAE perspective) and for the planet at large.

During the workshop delivered and moderated by Dr Najla Al Omari, media advisor and trainer, participants examined the latest mechanisms and best international practices used by government communication departments in conveying the right messages to their audience to positively contribute to achieving the goals of sustainable development. The workshop further discussed the rising role of new media in reaching broader segments and promoting positive messages on such development around the world.

IGCF 2017 discusses at length the 17 Sustainable Development Goals that were agreed upon in 2015 by world leaders as part of the SDG Agenda 2030, including protecting the environment, empowering women, as well as combating poverty, disease, and illiteracy.

Dr Najla Al Omary, who also lectures at the British University in Egypt as well as the Jordan Media Institute, highlighted the importance of such workshops in unifying media messages for government organisations to achieve sustainable development and contextualise those messages globally to attain their ambitious outcomes.

Dr Al Omary added that the interaction of the participants was remarkable in their attention to detail and a keenness to identify the latest successful trends in government communication. She reiterated the importance of creativity in planning and producing messages that can effectively achieve results and speak to larger segments of audience. She concluded by commending the high standards observed in organising the landmark Forum.

The sixth edition of the International Government Communication Forum (IGCF 2017) runs from 22 to 23 March at Expo Centre Sharjah. Themed ‘Societal Participation…Comprehensive Development’, IGCF 2017 examines how the world’s nations can leverage effective government communication to achieve the United Nations’ sustainable development goals (SDGs) that have become the top priority of government programmes, international institutions, media organisations and civil society.

Offering a transparent platform to examine current issues and formulate recommendations to help governments optimise the impact of their communication, IGCF 2017 convenes more than 2,500 local and international personalities from the ranks of government officials, experts, thought leaders, and government communication professionals.