About the Awards

Encouraging Sustainability: These awards encourage organizations to prioritize sustainability and ESG in their business strategies, fostering a strong network of sustainability and ESG champions in Africa. Additionally, they promote a sense of community and camaraderie among organizations.

Background: Launched in 2022 on World Safety Day as the Global HSE Contest and Awards, the Africa ESG and Sustainability Awards highlight best practices in sustainability and environmental, social, and governance (ESG) initiatives across the continent. The awards are made possible by a team of passionate and experienced professionals dedicated to making a positive difference in Africa. Learn more at gna.org.gh.

Mission and Purpose: The Africa ESG and Sustainability Awards aim to recognize, celebrate, and inspire organizations contributing significantly to sustainability and ESG in Africa. The awards serve as a platform for knowledge sharing and best practice exchange, raising awareness of sustainability and ESG issues among the public and policymakers in Africa.

Nominations and Evaluation: Nominations for the Africa ESG and Sustainability Awards are open to any organization operating in Africa. Accepting nominations from February, the winners are announced in April. A panel of sustainability and ESG experts evaluates each nominee based on criteria such as impact, innovation, and commitment to sustainability and ESG.

Winners Announcement: The judges shortlist finalists, and winners are chosen from the shortlist. The award ceremony, taking place in Ghana, Africa this year, will coincide with World Safety Day 2024.

Application Process: Organizations aiming for an award must submit an application outlining their sustainability and ESG efforts, along with the appropriate entry fees. The panel of experts evaluates organizations' performances in environmental protection, social responsibility, and corporate governance. The best-performing organizations are shortlisted and further evaluated, with final winners chosen by the panel of experts. Winning organizations will be recognized at the awards ceremony for their outstanding achievements.

Benefits of winning an award. For organizations, winning an award will provide them with recognition and validation of their sustainability and ESG efforts. This can help to improve their reputation, attract new customers and investors, and increase their competitiveness. It can also help to attract and retain talent. For the individuals who work at the winning organizations, they will gain increased visibility and recognition, which can lead to new opportunities and career advancement. It can also increase their sense of pride and loyalty to their organization.

Impact of the awards The awards will help to promote sustainability and ESG best practices in Africa, which can lead to improved environmental protection, social development, and economic growth. The awards will also help to build a community of sustainability and ESG champions in Africa, who can inspire and motivate others to take action. Finally, the awards will raise awareness of sustainability and ESG issues among the public, which can lead to greater demand for sustainable products and services, and more pressure on organizations to prioritize sustainability and ESG. It is important to emphasize that the awards are not just about recognizing and rewarding the best performers, but about encouraging continuous improvement and innovation. Even if an organization does not win an award, they can still learn from the best practices and experiences of the winning organizations. The awards also help to identify areas where more work is needed, and highlight opportunities for collaboration and partnerships.

To apply for the awards, organizations should review the eligibility criteria, ensure qualification, collect necessary documentation and data, and fill out the application form. The form requests information such as the organization's mission and vision, sustainability and ESG initiatives, and quantitative data on their performance.