Companies in Georgia have until 10 October to enter the 2018 Meliora Responsible Business Awards, an annual Corporate Social Responsibility Excellence Contest organised as part of the EU-funded ‘Georgian Civil Society Sustainability Initiative’.
The contest is organised in collaboration and with the support of various business associations and aims to promote responsible business conduct in Georgia. The Meliora Awards reward companies operating in Georgia for the most inspiring and outstanding projects and initiatives in the area of corporate social responsibility (CSR).
The awards are presented in a variety of categories covering all major areas of CSR. The contest is open to companies of all sizes from around the country, that have found responsible ways of making an enduring difference to the well-being of their workers, customers and suppliers, to their communities, and to the environment.
The contest is open to programmes/projects/initiatives or strategies which took place in 2017-2018. The nominated project should already be completed, or well in progress, with some results already in place, and others clearly on track.
An independent jury of leading Georgian and international experts (from the UK, Slovakia, Belgium, Israel, and Denmark) will evaluate nominees based on the consistency and effectiveness of their efforts, sustainability of the results and proper design of the initiatives.
The closing date for entries is 18:00 on Friday, 5 October 2018.
New challenges and opportunities provided to Georgian companies by the EU-Georgia Association agreement and DCFTA are often strongly linked to the development and sophistication of their CSR and adhering to international standards of responsible business conduct.
The Responsible Business Awards therefore aim to:
- promote and strengthen CSR commitment among businesses;
- attract attention to excellent examples of CSR projects;
- encourage and motivate companies to adopt best practices and become role models for others;
- demonstrate that a responsible business, aiming to be a force for good by creating healthy communities and a healthy environment, achieves long-term financial value and commercial success as a result.
The EU-funded ‘Georgian Civil Society Sustainability Initiative’ (2017-2020)aims to improve the environment for civil society in Georgia, by empowering civil society organisations and actors, and increasing their accountability towards citizens. One of the specific objectives of the project is to promote CSR in Georgia, in order to foster cross-sector cooperation and involvement of the private sector in development issues.
The EU4Business initiative also supports Georgian SMEs in achieving CSR standards, notably through the SME Development and DCFTA in Georgia project, which – among other activities – helps businesses bring standards into line with international BSCI (Business Social Compliance Initiative) audits.