CSR -in-Action has announced the award categories for the fifth edition of the annual Community and Human Rights (CAHR) Awards Africa scheduled to hold Tuesday, 31 October 2023 in Lagos.

CAHR Awards Africa which was established in 2019 has been an avenue for showcasing the remarkable efforts of individuals and organizations that champion human rights, social justice, and community development across the African continent.

A statement published on the organizers website revealed the categories of awards for the 2023 edition as follows:

1. The MKO Abiola Community Engagement Award is given to a company with the most amenable relationship with its community and a clear process for inclusive engagement and grievance management.
2. The Ken Saro-Wiwa Environmental Management Award is given to a company that has had the least negative environmental impact in the last three years and has contributed to impact mitigation with state-of-the-art technology and a proven commitment to managing its environmental footprints.
3. The Hajiya Gambo Sawaba Community Impact Award (Individual) is given to an individual with the most visible impact on community development, including infrastructure, training, the growth of women entrepreneurs, youth graduates, and other applicable impacts.
4. The Hajiya Gambo Sawaba Community Impact Award (Company) is given to a company with the most visible impact on community development, including infrastructure, training, the growth of women entrepreneurs, and youth graduates, and other applicable impacts.
5. The Funmilayo Ransome-Kuti Human Rights Award (Individual) is given to an individual with the best compliance with mainstreaming human rights norms in its operations and with the most significant impact on safeguarding livelihoods.
6. The Funmilayo Ransome-Kuti Human Rights Award (Company) is given to a company with the best compliance with mainstreaming human rights norms in its operations and with the most significant impact on safeguarding livelihoods.
7. The Apostle Hayford Alile Humanitarian Award is awarded to an individual who has significantly contributed to alleviating human suffering and improving the quality of life of individuals in their country.
8. The Josephine Nkemdilim Masade Equal Rights Award is given to a company that has consistently exhibited a strong commitment to gender equality.
9. The Mallam Aminu Kano Award for Leadership is awarded to an individual who has exhibited exemplary leadership that has had a significant and positive impact on advancing and scaling responsible behaviour in his or her home country.

Explaining the rationale behind the 9 categories, the statement read in part:

“CAHR Awards Africa categories represent powerful, traditional symbols of the impact of our actions, which reverberate through generations. We understand the significance of acknowledging the legacies of those who have left a lasting impression in our hearts and society. And so, this year, we invite you to name an award after a corporate or personal hero that embodies governance and citizenship values. This personalised award will serve as a powerful tribute to their memory, whilst simultaneously promoting the values and principles they held dear, through facilitating the work of current social champions.”

CAHR Awards Africa is a stellar intervention programme of CSR-in-Action Advocacy, funded by Ford Foundation and supported by Zenera Consulting.