Sharjah Accredits 3 Global Partners For SGCA 2025

Photo: Sharjah Government Media Bureau

The Sharjah Government Media Bureau (SGMB) has shared exciting news about the upcoming Sharjah Government Communication Award (SGCA) 2025. It has announced that three respected international institutions will now be official partners under the ‘Partner Awards’ categories. These new categories focus on how communication can support important global goals, like ending hunger and protecting the environment.

The three international partners are the Chief Sustainability Officers Network (CSO Network), Asia House, and the Alliance for African Partnership (AAP). These partners will help SGCA choose the best communication initiatives that bring real change to people’s lives worldwide.

Stay informed with the latest news. Follow DXB News Network on WhatsApp Channel 

Who Are The New Partners?

1. Chief Sustainability Officers Network (CSO Network)

The CSO Network is a group that brings together leaders who work on making businesses more sustainable and environmentally friendly. They focus on topics like climate change, food security, and corporate responsibility. For SGCA 2025, they will partner with SGMB to award the best communication campaigns that support development and sustainability.

2. Asia House

Asia House is a well-known think tank. It works to build strong connections between Asia, the Middle East, and Europe. Asia House supports trade, culture, and policies that improve people’s lives across these regions. Their involvement in SGCA 2025 will ensure that communication projects from Southeast Asia get the recognition they deserve.

3. Alliance for African Partnership (AAP)

AAP is a group led by Michigan State University, working with African universities and organisations. They focus on development across Africa by supporting education, agriculture, food systems, and health. Their partnership with SGCA will help honour projects that are changing lives in African countries.

Why These Partnerships Matter

With these three new partners, SGCA 2025 is creating special categories. Each partner will nominate campaigns, projects, or organisations they think deserve to win. The SGCA team and these partners will select the winners based on strict criteria focusing on positive change and communication impact.

New Specialised Award Categories

Best Communication Practices Dealing With Development Advances

This category is presented with CSO Network. It will honour the most creative and impactful communication strategies used by governments, private companies, or international organisations to tackle big issues like environmental damage, food security, and sustainable development.

For example, a campaign that uses artificial intelligence, data, and social media to teach people about saving water or reducing plastic waste can win this award. The main idea is to reward campaigns that use technology in smart ways to change behaviour and bring real, lasting results to communities.

Outstanding Development & Cultural Communication

This award has two subcategories and is presented with Asia House and AAP:

a) Excellence in Communication for Sustainable Development (Asia House)

This subcategory will honour communication-driven projects from Southeast Asia. Projects can focus on improving:

• Education

• Healthcare

• Environment

• Culture

• Community resilience

To win, the project must show clear results. For example, a school campaign that helps students understand climate change better or a healthcare awareness programme that improves local health outcomes. Judges will look for teamwork, collaboration, and how creatively traditional and digital media were used to unite people.

b) Excellence in Communication for Food Security and Quality of Life (AAP)

This award, in partnership with AAP and its African academic partners, focuses on Africa. It will honour projects that:

• Improve food security

• Develop agriculture

• Enhance rural livelihoods

• Empower farmers and youth

For example, if a radio campaign teaches farmers new farming methods or a social media campaign spreads knowledge about nutrition, it can win. The main goal is to find projects that bring real, measurable improvement in people’s lives and create a strong, lasting impact.

Why Is Communication Important For Development?

Her Excellency Alia Al Suwaidi, Director of SGMB, shared that communication today is more than just sending messages. It is a powerful tool to bring change, connect people, and solve problems like hunger, pollution, and cultural misunderstanding. She believes these new awards will give more visibility to communication models that tackle global challenges effectively.

What Do The Partners Say?

CSO Network

Dr. Yasar Jarrar, Secretary General of CSO Network, said they are proud to be part of SGCA 2025. He explained that strong, strategic communication can speed up sustainability and innovation. According to him, storytelling has the power to transform development and create a better future.

Asia House

Michael Lawrence OBE, Chief Executive at Asia House, also shared his thoughts. He said Asia House is happy to partner with SGCA 2025 because it is important to show how communication helps create inclusive and sustainable development in Southeast Asia. Their goal is to inspire innovation and teamwork to solve challenges like poverty, lack of education, and pollution in the region.

Alliance for African Partnership (AAP)

Titus Awokuse, Vice Provost and Dean of International Studies and Programmes at Michigan State University, spoke about their role. He said that during SGCA 2025, AAP will highlight how communication plays an important role in improving food security and quality of life in Africa. Effective communication empowers communities, spreads knowledge, and supports development in rural areas. It can help farmers learn new techniques, encourage youth to join agriculture, and bring lasting benefits to communities.

A Strong Message For The World

The SGCA 2025, with its new international partners, is showing the world that Sharjah believes in the power of communication to change lives. By awarding the best initiatives, SGCA is encouraging governments, companies, and organisations to use communication in smart and creative ways to make the world a better place.

These awards are not just trophies; they are a sign that with the right words, stories, and media, people can come together to solve even the biggest problems humanity faces today.

News Source: Sharjah Government Media Bureau