Partner Awards

• Best Innovation Award in Government Communications

  In cooperation with "A Political", the Best Innovation in Government Communication Award shall be given to government, private, or international organisations that are distinguished by their presentation of creative initiatives in the field of government communications.

  These initiatives shall be directed towards achieving several main goals:

  • Develop and enhance the institutional capabilities and skills necessary to adapt and respond to sudden and unexpected changes.
  • Prepare and develop advanced scenarios for future planning in order to help organisations predict and prepare for potential changes.
  • Innovate and provide practical and effective solutions to meet local challenges, taking into account the needs and values of the surrounding environment.
  • Success in meeting and understanding the aspirations and needs of the target audience in the communication process in order to enhance the effectiveness and efficiency of government communications.

  Examples of innovations that can be presented within the framework of the award include:

  • Development of smart phone applications aimed at facilitating communication between government institutions and citizens.
  • Creation of electronic platforms that allow the effective participation of citizens in government decision-making.
  • Development of advanced systems using artificial intelligence and information technology to improve government agencies' response to emergency situations.
  • Launch government awareness campaigns through digital media using innovative methods, such as augmented reality or electronic games.
  • Development of systems using graphical analytics to understand and analyse public opinion and its trends in order to enhance the effectiveness of government policies and programmes.
  • Create electronic training programmes for government employees to develop their skills in the field of government communications and citizen interaction.

  General Criteria:

  • The submitted idea or project must demonstrate a high degree of modernity, excellence, innovation, and originality.
  • The idea or project must be scalable in practical application and demonstrate effectiveness in achieving government communication objectives.
  • The initiative must demonstrate sustainability in its impact and its capacity for continuation and development over the long term.
  • The idea or project must contribute to achieving a tangible positive impact on society and address a social issue or challenge.
  • The idea or project must use technology and modern means effectively to enhance government communication.
  • The project must demonstrate a high degree of quality and professionalism in its presentation and implementation while also ensuring attention to detail and accuracy.
  • The idea or project must be comprehensive and integrated, taking into account various aspects of government communications.
  • The initiative must have had an effective impact on achieving government communication goals in a way that contributes to building institutional capabilities and competencies, absorbing sudden changes, formulating future scenarios, proposing solutions to deal with challenges, and achieving the public’s aspirations in the communication process.

  Special criteria for the jury:

  • Vision - 25% - The extent to which innovative strategies in government communications are adopted and implemented, and how this vision has contributed to achieving the objectives of the entity.This includes:
    
    • The clarity and distinctiveness of the idea and the extent of its contribution to achieving government communication goals.
    • The clarity and distinctiveness of the idea and the extent of its contribution to achieving government communication goals.
    • The extent of the idea's integration with other government communication strategies.
    
    
  • Measurement - 25% - The extent to which statistics demonstrate the impact of innovation in developing the working environment, solving problems, and saving time and effort, including:
    
    • The extent to which innovation contributes to increasing public awareness of the applicant and its goals.
    • The extent to which innovation contributes to building a positive relationship with the target audience.
    • The extent to which innovation contributes to achieving specific objectives for the entity.
    
    
  • Tools - 25% - The extent to which evidence is provided on the application of future skills and knowledge, the use of technology, and the harnessing of media and communication in order to achieve innovative goals, including:
    
    • The extent of creativity and innovation of the tools used in innovation.
    • The extent to which tools keep pace with modern technological developments.
    • The effectiveness of the tools in achieving innovation goals.
    
    
  • Sustainability - 25% - The extent to which the innovative idea and its implementation are able to generalise, develop, and achieve cooperation between people and machines in a way that is appropriate for future governments, including:
    
    • The extent to which the innovation can be applied in other areas.
    • The extent to which innovation can be developed and improved.
    • The extent to which innovation contributes to achieving cooperation between people and machines.
    
    

• Award for Best Communication Practices Dealing With Development Advances

  This award comes in partnership with CSO NETWORK and shall be given to governmental, private or international organisations that have adopted and implemented innovative and effective communication strategies in dealing with development and environmental challenges. This award shall include communication practices that address issues such as sustainable development, environmental awareness, and food security in ways that contribute to achieving tangible and positive results.

  Among the target groups include media campaigns and initiatives that focus on:

  • Supporting small and medium enterprises, encouraging environmentally friendly practices, and enhancing food security through sustainability and innovation.
  • Promoting environmental awareness among communities through influential media programmes targeting issues such as climate change, waste management, and natural resource conservation.
  • Supporting food security programmes by identifying challenges.
  • Spreading awareness about responsible consumption.
  • Mobilising support for initiatives aimed at ensuring food is available and sustainable for all.

  General Criteria:

  • Communication practices should address specific issues relevant to sustainable development and environmental conservation, such as food security, environmental awareness, and other development challenges.
  • Evaluate the extent of innovation and creativity in communication strategies, design, and the presentation of proposed solutions, including the use of modern technology and digital platforms.
  • Evidence must be provided of that communication practices have achieved their objective to create a positive impact including improving awareness and changing behaviours.
  • Providing comprehensive solutions that target a broad audience and ensure a sustainable impact on society, emphasising the ability to continue and expand such.
  • Communication practices must demonstrate their ability to reach the target audience and stimulate interaction and participation.
  • Commitment to providing accurate and reliable information based on documented data and research.
  • Emphasising adherence to professional ethics and legal standards in developing and implementing communication practices.
  • Provide clear mechanisms to evaluate the effectiveness of communication practices and document results while identifying opportunities for continuous improvement.
  • Encourage cooperation between various actors, including government institutions, private sector, and civil society organisations in order enhance joint efforts in confronting development and environmental challenges.

  Jury criteria:

  • Innovation and creativity in communication - 20% - Evaluate the extent to which new and innovative ideas are used to develop and implement communication campaigns to deal with development and environmental challenges.
  • Effective Communication - 20% - Evaluate the effectiveness of the communication campaign in achieving its development and environmental goals and the extent of its impact on the target audience.
  • Development and Environmental Impact - 20% - Evaluate the extent to which communication practices contribute to achieving development and environmental challenges and their positive impact on society.
  • Inclusion and Diversity - 15% - Evaluate the ability of campaigns to target and include and meet the needs of diverse audience groups.
  • Transparency and Reliability - 15% - Evaluate the transparency of the communication campaign and the credibility of the information provided.
  • Sustainability and Continuous Development - 10% - Evaluate the campaign’s capacity for continuation and development, as well as and its long term impact.

• Award for Best Innovative and Resilient Communication Initiatives

  This award shall be granted by the International Government Communication Forum with technical support from the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs and the United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR) to pioneering and globally influential government projects that seek to create a strong and flexible economy, as well as to distinguished government communication initiatives that reflect flexibility, aim to empower government agencies, and promote a culture of excellence in the quality of services they provide. The awardee shall also demonstrate exceptional innovation and significant societal impact.
  
  This award shall be given in line with the standards of the United Nations Public Service Award, focusing on communication initiatives aimed at enhancing flexibility and accelerating economic development and growth. The winner must show flexibility in dealing with general changes, whether economic, social, environmental, or institutional, and push towards positive change in order to create a sustainable impact on the lives of individuals and be capable of adapting and thriving in the face of ongoing challenges. The award aims to motivate government institutions to innovate solutions that meet immediate needs and develop long-term resilience and sustainability within their communities.

  The award categories include the following areas:

  • The Economic Resilience Award shall be given to initiatives that contribute to building a resilient and strong economy, whether through promoting innovative economic models such as the silver economy, or committed to enhancing economic resilience and sustainability in the face of economic uncertainties and turmoil.
  • The Institutional Resilience Award shall be given to initiatives launched by government institutions that are characterised by flexibility and possess the ability to adapt, innovate, and respond effectively to emerging challenges and crises.
  • The Environmental Resilience Award shall be given to initiatives and efforts aimed at mitigating and adapting to the effects of climate change and environmental degradation. Environmental sustainability constitutes an essential pillar of resilience.

  The award winner selection process and general criteria

  • Invite government institutions and relevant stakeholders globally to submit their nominations for the award categories.
  • Governmental institutions may be nominated in one or more award categories.
  • A detailed description of the initiative should be provided and its impacts explained.
  • Nominated initiatives shall be evaluated based on specific criteria consistent with each award category.
  • The jury shall select the finalists for each award category based on their merit and overall scores.
  • The winners will be honoured during the Sharjah Government Communication Award ceremony within the framework of the ongoing activities of the International Government Communication Forum.