‘Georgia’s Responsible Business Awards - Meliora 2019’ starts accepting submissions

Submissions are now open for ‘Georgia’s Responsible Business Awards Meliora 2019’. Starting from last year, Meliora celebrates companies operating in Georgia for most inspiring and outstanding projects and initiatives in the area of corporate social responsibility (CSR).

Business companies are now welcome to apply with their CSR projects implemented in 2018-2019 in 6 main categories: Supporting Communities; Cross-Sector Partnership; Green Initiative; Responsible Employer; Responsibility in Marketplace and CSR communication and transparency.

3 special categories will also be awarded: CSR Manager of the Year; Creative CSR and Waste Management Initiative.

Grand Prix of the Responsible Company of the Year will be awarded separately to a pioneering large company and SME that have embedded responsibility across their business strategies and operations and can demonstrate examples of policies or projects, which positively impact upon the society and environment.

Members of the independent jury, leading Georgian and international experts representing reputable international and local civil society organizations and academia, will assess the projects submitted, based on the consistency and effectiveness of their results.

“Georgia’s Responsible Business Awards Meliora’ is a stimulus for business companies to implement CSR projects and therefore to play their important role in the development of CSR in Georgia,” said Eka Urushadze, the Executive Director of Center for Strategic Research and Development of Georgia (CSRDG).

“European Union support development of CSR since it contributes to human rights and environment protection and sustainable socio-economic development of the country,” said Dominika Skubida, Civil Society Program Officer of the Delegation of European Union to Georgia. “Submissions for last year’s competition showed that businesses are indeed taking responsibility and creating innovative approaches and are motivated to become agents of social changes,” she added.

Georgia’s Responsible Business Awards Meliora’ is a nation-wide effort to build on and support implementation of the requirements of the EU-Georgia Association Agreement and by encouraging CSR in businesses, create healthy communities and environment for positive long-term commercial, social and environmental outcomes. The EU-supported initiatives have been instrumental in advancing Georgia’s economy and promoting CSR and continue to play a crucial role in sustainable development of Georgia.

CSRDG very successfully launched ‘Meliora’ in 2018. 43 companies with 77 CSR projects/initiatives participated in the last year’s contest. Out of them 10 most outstanding businesses were selected by the independent jury and awarded as best CSR initiatives in 8 different categories. The last year’s contest was supported by different business associations, government agencies and media. Information about the contest and its projects reached more than 1,230,500 people and was broadcasted on Georgia’s leading media platforms.

The sponsor of ‘Georgia’s responsible Business Awards Meliora 2019’ is - APM Terminals Poti. The Contest is supported by international and local business associations and Government of Georgia.

Center for Strategic Research and Development of Georgia which was established in 1995 has successful multi-year experience in the field of civil sector development in Tbilisi as well as in the regions of Georgia. CSRDG has been focused on results that can improve the lives of individuals and societies in general. It was the first Georgian organization that prepared and published: the sustainability report in accordance with GRI (Global Reporting Initiative) sustainability reporting guidelines; the first Georgian-language textbook on CSR for higher educational institutions; and comprehensive analytical research on “Corporate Social Responsibility and Public Sector’s Role” (analysis and recommendations for the Government of Georgia).

‘Georgia’s Responsible Business Awards Meliora 2019’ is organized by CSRDG, within the framework of the Georgian Civil Society Sustainability Initiative and is funded by the European Union and Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung. Deadline for submission of applications is 30 September 2019. Information about the contest can be found on the web-site – meliora.ge