Sharjah Showcases 22 Interactive Platforms at the International Government Communication Forum

Sharjah's Global Forum Positions Government Communication as Key Driver for Food Security and Quality of Life

The UAE's Sharjah emirate is preparing to host a pivotal international forum that redefines government communication as a strategic tool for addressing global crises. The 14th International Government Communication Forum, scheduled for September 10-11, will bring together policymakers and experts to explore how strategic messaging can tackle food insecurity, climate change, and sustainable development—issues that collectively affect billions worldwide.

Beyond Traditional Messaging: Communication as Crisis Management

This year's forum, organized by Sharjah's Government Media Office, represents a significant evolution in how governments view public communication. Rather than focusing solely on information dissemination, the event positions communication as an active intervention tool for food security, public health, education, environmental sustainability, and green economy initiatives.

The timing is critical. UN reports indicate that over 670 million people may face malnutrition by 2030, while approximately 258 million currently experience acute food insecurity. These stark figures underscore the urgent need for communication strategies that bridge community awareness with sovereign decision-making, transforming messages into genuine agents of change.

The Food Security Communication Challenge

The forum will examine how government communication can build sustainable food awareness and encourage adoption of modern agricultural systems that optimize resource use while preserving biodiversity. This approach recognizes that food security serves as a cornerstone of social and economic stability—a principle that requires sophisticated messaging to translate into public action.

The World Health Organization's finding that 45% of deaths among children under five are linked to malnutrition adds urgency to developing communication strategies that can effectively address nutritional gaps and their underlying economic and social causes.

Strategic Narrative Building for Behavioral Change

Alia Al Suwaidi, Director of Sharjah's Government Media Office, emphasized that this year's forum continues the evolution of communication as a core element in strategy engineering and positive change leadership. The focus extends beyond traditional transparency and trust-building to active community empowerment through strategic messaging.

The forum introduces the concept of government storytelling as a primary influence tool that goes beyond information delivery to shape new consciousness. This represents a shift from policy promotion to addressing human needs through accessible language that translates environmental or food challenges into relatable individual stories.

From Information to Transformation

The strategic approach addresses a critical global waste problem: humanity annually discards approximately 1.3 billion tons of food—equivalent to 31% of global production—while millions suffer from hunger. This paradox highlights the importance of building government narratives that change behavior rather than merely conveying information.

The forum will showcase models for developing educational curricula linked to future skills such as sustainable agriculture and modern technology, enabling young people to provide practical solutions to agricultural and climate challenges while contributing to long-term food security.

Green Economy Integration and Future Urban Living

The event will explore how government communication can reshape urban behavior and lifestyle patterns in future cities through awareness campaigns that promote waste reduction, recycling, and environmentally responsible living. This aligns with broader green economy initiatives that could create over 24 million jobs globally by 2030, according to UN studies.

The forum emphasizes the economic returns of sustainable investment, citing research showing that every dollar invested in sustainable agriculture yields 2.5 times the economic and social benefits. Government partnerships with private sector entities could adopt agricultural practices and technologies that reduce carbon emissions by up to 30% by 2050.

A Decade of Influence and Future Impact

Since its launch in 2012, the forum has established itself as an influential intellectual platform at regional and international levels, bringing together decision-makers, thinkers, and experts in multidisciplinary dialogue to address global challenges through communication perspectives.

This year's iteration, featuring over 22 interactive platforms at Sharjah Expo Centre, represents a maturation of government communication theory into practical crisis management methodology. The focus on quality of life as a unifying theme reflects growing recognition that effective governance requires sophisticated public engagement strategies that address interconnected global challenges through coordinated messaging and behavioral intervention.