ASSOCIATIONS ADVANCE AFRICA AWARDS

OVERVIEW

The African Society of Association Executives (AfSAE) has announced the launch of the Associations Advance Africa Awards and is now inviting Associations in Africa to submit entries for the inaugural 2021 edition. 

A. WHAT IS ASSOCIATIONS ADVANCE AFRICA AWARDS?

The Associations Advance Africa Awards were established by AfSAE to highlight the importance of African Associations in the development agenda of the continent by recognizing association programs and activities that are advancing society and improving the economy (at all levels). It is the highest recognition an association can receive for any impactful program they conduct together with their members.

The launch of the Awards come at a defining moment as the continent battle effects of the global coronavirus pandemic that has caused devastation in communities and destroyed economic livelihoods of many.

This Award is open to a broad spectrum of Associations including but not limited to professional Associations and societies, Trade and Industry Associations, community groups among others.

B. AWARD CATEGORIES

There are five entry categories for the Associations Advance Africa Awards:

1. Outstanding Professional Development Program

This award recognizes African professional associations and societies that demonstrates creativity, innovation, and leadership in delivering professional development and learning programs that not only meets the needs of their members but also impacts their industry at large.

2.  Outstanding Community Impact Award

This award recognizes outstanding programs or initiatives by African associations that have a direct impact to the wellbeing of a community. The intervention of the association should respond to a specific need in the community and should involve the direct participation of members of the Association in creating the impact.

3. The African Advancement Award 

This award recognizes Pan-African associations that have addressed Africa’s economic development through targeted and unique interventions that address critical cross boundary societal needs on the continent. The impact of their intervention/s needs to go beyond specific geographic boundaries.

4. Outstanding Achievement in Diversity and Inclusion (particularly of Women and Youth)

This category recognizes African associations and not profits that demonstrate sustained and deliberate efforts towards addressing diversity and inclusion of the vulnerable in society that include youth, women or persons with disability.

5. Outstanding Advocacy Campaign

The Award recognizes successful public campaigns by African associations in lobbying or advocating for legislative, regulatory or grass root change in their communities. The campaign should demonstrate creativity, collaborative efforts, and impact.

C. AWARD LEVELS

There are three award levels for the Associations Advance Africa Awards.  An entry may receive an Associations Advance Gold or Associations Advance Silver or Associations Advance Bronze award within its category. The Gold award is the highest recognition given within a category while the silver is the next highest. There is no limit on the number of Gold or Silver awards that can be given. However, applications for the same program under multiple categories will not be permitted.

D. JUDGING CRITERIA

These are the three areas which all entries, regardless of category, will be judged.

1. Reach of Project or Program: Award-winning entries offer original or effective solutions to today’s societal or business problems. Such programs often involve the association’s members and/or volunteers and have a broad impact on an industry, profession, or affected community. These programs may be local, national, or international in scope.
2. Embodying the Power of Associations: Award-winning entries effectively showcase how associations strengthen society through volunteerism, education, social responsibility, innovation, research and problem solving.
3. Objectives and Outcomes: Award-winning entries generate results that achieve the association’s defined and measurable objectives. Results could demonstrate how the program or project, for example, illustrates an association’s vision for success, elevates the profession’s or industry’s image, protects the interests of their members, can be an easily replicated model for other organizations and/or showcases the important work of associations.

SCORING

10 – The program is a superior fit against these judging criteria

7-9 – The program is an excellent fit against the description of the criteria

4-6 – The program fits the criteria for this category

2-3 – The program measures poorly against the criteria for this category

1 – The program does not meet the criteria for this category

E. AWARD PROCESS AND TIMELINES

AWARD CEREMONY

The Associations Advance Africa Awards will be presented during the 3^rd AfSAE Africa Association Summit scheduled for 23-24 September 2021 in Kigali Rwanda. Winners will be unveiled and feted at an Awards Ceremony set for 24^th September 2021.