Sharjah: The sixth edition of the International Government Communication Forum (IGCF), scheduled for March 2017 at Expo Centre Sharjah, will highlight the role government communication can play in achieving the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Organised by Sharjah Media Centre (SMC), the event will be held under the theme of ‘Societal Participation … Comprehensive Development’.
Designed to tackle some of the world’s most pressing problems by 2030, the 17 SDGs address challenges such as poverty, climate change, hunger, illiteracy, gender inequality, unemployment, injustice and international conflict.
In September 2015, world leaders who convened at the UN Sustainable Development Summit to form a consensus on achieving the SDGs, agreed the SDGs cannot be achieved without first strengthening the partnership between governments and members of the community.
IGCF 2017 will underline the responsibility on governments to create carefully planned and targeted communication campaigns that can instill a culture conducive to achieving the SDGs.
Shaikh Sultan Bin Ahmad Al Qasimi, chairman of SMC, said: “Strategic communication has time after time proven to be a crucial tool in achieving positive social and behavioural change — not only in the nation, but around the globe. The IGCF presents a unique opportunity to convene the world’s leaders and top professionals on one platform and get a sense of what has been achieved and what is left to achieve in order to realise the SDGs.”
He added: “The purpose of the IGCF is to bring new means of communication that leverage cutting-edge tools and best practices to bridge the gap between policy experts, campaigners and communication specialists.”
SDGs and the UAE
A year after the UAE ratified the SDGs, the nation remains committed to achieving these goals, as evidenced by several initiatives and policies that have been launched or are in the pipeline.
Commenting on the relevance of the SDGs as the core theme of IGCF 2017, Tariq Saeed Allay, director of SMC, said: “In today’s information-focused world, governments globally need to understand that effective communication of their policies to the public is a critical part of their operations. One year after the UAE signed the SDGs, it is now essential to communicate with citizens and let them know what the government has signed up for. This will give them a greater sense of engagement and allow them to support the government in realising these goals.”
He added: “With its innovation-driven mandate, the emirate of Sharjah — and the wider UAE — is an ideal place to host international experts and enable them to examine crucial global issues relevant to government communication.”
In Sharjah, where the IGCF has been held since inception, the government is taking strides to reach SDG number 12 to “ensure sustainable consumption and production patterns”.
With the collaboration of the local environment company, Bee’ah, the emirate has set new records in waste management. In 10 years, Sharjah has achieved a 70 per cent recycling rate and will most likely be the first city in the Mena region to achieve the target of zero-waste sent to landfill, SMC said.
