ENTRY BEGINS FOR 2019 SERAS AWARDS

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TruCSR, the organizers of the annual sustainability, enterprise, and responsibility awards, also known as The SERAS CSR awards have announced the commencement of the 2019 cycle of the awards process.

The Internationally recognized SERAS CSR Awards Africa, which is in its 13th year, has grown to become the foremost platform promoting and measuring corporate social responsibility and sustainability in Africa, and bestowing recognition on the efforts of various organisations based on the impacts of their initiatives. Over the years, the awards have garnered a reputation internationally, and amongst key industry stakeholders, and business community, as the CSR and sustainability industry gold standard

The theme for the 2019 SERAS CSR Africa awards is– Driving Sustainability through Inclusive Growth-Strategic Partnership as key to Unlocking Opportunities.

Since inception in 2007, The SERAS has recorded a growing interest that has seen the participation of180 top organizations across various sectors, 750 entries, and over 1000 CSR projects have been verified with over 240 award categories won by organisations from Angola, Uganda, Kenya, South Africa, Botswana, Ghana, and Nigeria amongst others.

The entry submission starts 26th April and closes on 26th June 2019 while the awards hold at Oriental Hotel, Lagos on 2nd November 2019.

The organisers of the award disclosed to journalists and stakeholders at its first workshop held in Lagos recently, that its website has been revamped to make registration seamless.

Speaking at the workshop, Mary Ephraim, the executive director of TruCSR and vice chairperson of the local organising committee of the awards says, “Over the years, we have observed some organisations struggle with the submission process. So we came up with this idea of taking everyone through the process at the same time, answer the frequently asked questions, and also the rules guiding participation in the awards this year, and the verification process. Besides the new and easily navigable website, which we are going to launch, we are also going to unveil some new award categories as well as showcase innovations, and new international level partnerships that would help set new highs for The SERAS and participating organisations.”

Also this year, the organizers are partnering with Forbes and The Global 100 to make the edition bigger, as Nigerian brands would have the opportunity to be listed on the two organisations’ rating index as among the world’s most sustainable corporations.

Key industry stakeholders rate SERAS CSR Awards as the industry gold standard recognition for impactful investment in CSR and sustainability. The organisers state that its mission still remains to lead the drive towards the actualization of the sustainable development goals in Africa by enabling a platform that promotes, measures and harmonizes the contributions of the private sector, governments/public sector and non-governmental organizations to attain set targets.

The award is open to large, medium and small scale, not- for- profit organisations, as well as public sector organisations. The honours would be up for grab in line with the Sustainable Development Goals as set by the United Nations.

In the awards’ 13-year history, MTN, Coca-Cola, GTBank, Lafarge, Nigerian Breweries Plc., Investec Bank South Africa, and Access Bank have emerged overall winner. However, only MTN and Access bank have ever recorded back-to-back triumphs.