Africa Responsibility Awards (ARA)

RECOGNISING LEADERS IN SERVICE EXCELLENCE

As part of our mandate to institutionalize a strong culture of ethical compliance across sectors, organizations, government department, and community groups in Africa, we will annually identify, verify, assess and recognize individuals, organizations, and public servants that have distinguished themselves as persons or organizations with exemplary ethical practice. This is aimed and encouraging others to change and challenging the status quo to change. All awards are mainly based upon, verification of the recipient’s ethical compliance in their respective sectors and activities.

Award Categories

1. Excellent Performer in Ethics and Compliance

Recognizing individuals who have made remarkable contribution for upholding the culture of compliance within their organizations (10 Awards)

Nomination Form

2. Compliance Evangelist

Recognizing departments heads for evangelizing the culture of compliance in their organization (2 Awards)

nomination form

3. Compliance Champion

Recognizing a leader who has championed the cause of compliance and ethics in their organization and in the industry (2 Awards)

Nomination Form

LEADERSHIP AWARDS

The leadership awards honour the exemplary efforts of individuals and enterprises in spurring the creation of a new, more promising, socio-economy upon sound ethical principles.

1. ENTREPRENEUR/ WOMAN ENTREPRENEUR OF THE YEAR BY INVITATION ONLY

This revered honour is bestowed upon an illustrious entrepreneur who has shown an extraordinary ability to communicate their vision to stakeholders and leads the company towards the status of a mega brand, with a strong reflection of good ethical practice. The recipient of this award displays strong entrepreneurial passion, flair, perseverance, and stands out as a grand example of a remarkable entrepreneur.

Nomination Form

2. YOUNG ENTREPRENEUR OF THE YEAR BY INVITATION ONLY

This award recognizes an entrepreneur who is 40 years or below and has shown exceptional business performance with a strong reflection of good ethical practice, having built a name for themselves regardless of boundaries that may come with age. He/she embodies fine values, strong beliefs and unwavering dedication in their entrepreneurial pursuit, thus serving as an inspiration for aspiring young leaders.

nomination form

3. EMINENT LEADERS IN AFRICA BY INVITATION ONLY

This award is presented to exemplary individuals leading mega businesses for a decade or more with the right attitude towards the business and the determination and grit to achieve success. These selected few are led by their inner drive, with a strong reflection of good ethical practice, and embracing the concept of sustainability and innovation to continuously grow the multimillion-dollar business in terms of revenue, brand reach and resources maximization.

Nomination Form

4. OUTSTANDING LEADERS IN AFRICA

This award is presented to exceptional leaders who have demonstrated sound leadership and successfully apply it to spearhead growth and prominence for the company. These individuals exhibit the ideal blend of business acumen, professionalism, with a strong reflection of good ethical practice, entrepreneurial calibre and astuteness.

nomination form

5. AFRICA'S MOST ADMIRABLE YOUNG LEADERS

This award is presented to change-makers with the grit, foresight and commitment to positively impact the communities they serve in. These selected few leaders to reflect global diversity, with a strong reflection of good ethical practice, creates a definitive path for followers, innovate to promote the public interest and value authentic exchanges towards public-private cooperation.

Nomination Form

ENTERPRISE CATEGORY

1. INDUSTRY CHAMPIONS OF THE YEAR

This award is presented to distinguished companies who are the worthy captains in their respective industries. The winning companies have a distinct competitive edge, set the industry trends, and have commendable best practices in place. Winners in this category have shown the ability to evolve the focus of their enterprises along with the dynamic changes of the industries they serve to sustain as market leaders, and with a strong reflection of good ethical practice.

NOTE: MINIMUM ANNUAL TURNOVER OF US$300 MIL

Nomination Form

2. AFRICA'S MOST INFLUENTIAL COMPANIES

The award honours resilient and forwards thinking companies in Africa with strong influence over people, resources, and with a strong reflection of good ethical practice and global interactions. These mega-corporations are selected based on strength in revenue, profitability, total employees, inattentiveness, with a strong reflection of good ethical practice, brand influence in the marketplace, and adherence to corporate sustainability principles, environmental sustainability, and institutionalization of the circular economic principles

NOTE: MINIMUM ANNUAL TURNOVER OF US$200 MIL

nomination form

3. AFRICA'S BEST PERFORMING COMPANIES

The award recognizes high performing enterprises that have shown tremendous growth in revenue and are on the path to becoming the future giant corporations of Africa. Winners of this category showcase steady revenue growth year on year with strong returns, with a strong reflection of good ethical practice and are focused on connecting to consumers in seizing business opportunities.

NOTE: MINIMUM ANNUAL TURNOVER OF US$80 MIL

Nomination Form

4. AFRICA'S MOST PROMISING SMEs

The award recognizes aspiring small & medium enterprises (SMEs) in Africa that express clear business direction with strong initiatives in driving growth for the enterprise. These enterprises have overcome significant hurdles with uncompromising ethics, with a strong reflection of good ethical practice and hold immense potential for future growth and job creation..

NOTE: MINIMUM ANNUAL TURNOVER OF US$2 MIL

Nomination Form

5. TOP COMPANIES IN AFRICA

The enterprises listed in this section are high performing and resilient companies in Africa selected based on revenues and the company’s overall globalization, growth rate, market size, innovativeness, international footprint, brand strength, team quality and experience, and overall with a strong reflection of good ethical practice.

nomination form

SUSTAINABILITY AWARDS

The awards for excellence in sustainability honours projects, plans, and policies of organizations dedicated to championing sustainable growth

1. TOP CSR ADVOCATES IN AFRICA

The award is presented to companies that lead various CSR initiatives integrated into its policies and operations and has a high level of employee and top management involvement in the programs. The CSR initiative’s focus area includes community engagement, environment, and social empowerment. Ultimately, the top CSR advocates are companies with a genuine interest in the wellbeing of all of its stakeholders.

NOTE: HIGHEST-RANKED WINNER IN THIS CATEGORY WILL BE CONFERRED WITH THE AFRICA’S MOST SOCIALLY RESPONSIBLE COMPANY OF THE YEAR AWARD.

Nomination Form

2. TOP GREEN COMPANIES IN AFRICA

The award is bestowed upon companies that run their business operations yielding minimal negative impact on the environment, community, and society. The winning companies undertake environmentally friendly activities at all facets of the organisation to ensure that its processes, products, and production activities adequately address current environmental concerns while maintaining a profit.

NOTE: HIGHEST-RANKED WINNER IN THIS CATEGORY WILL BE CONFERRED WITH THE AFRICA’S GREENEST COMPANY OF THE YEAR AWARD.

nomination form

3. TOP COMMUNITY CARE COMPANIES IN AFRICA

The award is presented to companies who have enriched the communities through various outreach initiatives. These programs are envisioned by the company’s dedicated team and executed by a special committee and/or through partnerships with external independent bodies. Award recipients epitomize the mission and values of an organization that cares for the community and demonstrate exemplary active citizenship in promoting the well-being of the society at large.

NOTE: HIGHEST-RANKED WINNER IN THIS CATEGORY WILL BE CONFERRED WITH THE AFRICA’S COMMUNITY CARE COMPANY OF THE YEAR AWARD.

Nomination Form

4. TOP WORKPLACES IN AFRICA

The award is presented to companies that take on a people-centric approach and demonstrate a strong commitment towards employee empowerment and enrichment. The winning companies show advocacy for investment in people, recognition and retention, improving employee’s job satisfaction, practices fair communication, and promote work-life balance. The awarded companies fare low attrition rate, house a great pool of talents, and have a practice of knowledge sharing among employees and stakeholders.

NOTE: HIGHEST-RANKED WINNER IN THIS CATEGORY WILL BE CONFERRED WITH THE AFRICA’S BEST WORKPLACE OF THE YEAR AWARD.

nomination form

5. GREEN INNOVATION AWARD

This award is bestowed upon organizations, whom in the jury’s opinion, showcases exemplary innovation in sustainability, where initiatives championed may include elements of reducing the environmental impact of products, improving resource efficiency and/or the use of alternate technologies and processes.

Nomination Form

6. GREEN INITIATIVE AWARD

This award recognizes outstanding achievements in promoting the sustainable use of natural resources, with initiatives to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, cut energy consumption, advance energy efficiency or improve air quality, beyond standard regulatory compliance. Winners of this award show potential to embrace innovative solutions for environment conservation.

Nomination Form

7. SUSTAINABILITY RISING STAR AWARD

This award is presented to organizations that are creating new pathways and pilot a change of course through grassroots sustainable initiatives. The winner demonstrates a commitment to sustainable development by actioning diverse solutions to sustainability challenges faced in their settings.

nomination form

8. RESPONSIBLE SMES IN AFRICA

The award honours Small & Medium Enterprises that are not only financially successful, have maintained a good ethical practice and proven socially responsible outlook in doing business. Winners in this category have demonstrated substantial efforts towards the development of the community, preservation of the environment, and have in place HR policies and practices that promote the wellbeing of its employees. These organizations take upon the concept of CR reasonably, regardless of its financial limitation if any.

Nomination Form

ECOA AMBASSADORS

  • Ethical compliance in security
  • Ethical compliance in Media
  • Ethical compliance in Medical and health services
  • Ethical compliance in NGO
  • Ethical compliance in Citizen in defense of good public conduct
  • Ethical compliance in social media
  • Ethical compliance in Agriculture
  • Ethical compliance in work place
  • Ethical compliance in the line duty
  • Ethical compliance in the movie industry
  • Ethical compliance in citizenship advocacy
  • Ethical compliance in the Banking sector