Sectors & markets
Georgia's Responsible Business Awards Meliora 2019
Corporate Social Responsibility
CCI France Georgia, as one of supporters of the Georgia's Responsible Business Awards Meliora 2019, has pleasure to share the information about the contest.
On 12 December, at Biltmore Hotel Tbilisi, the Center for Strategic Research and Development of Georgia (CSRDG) organized second awards ceremony of Georgia’s Responsible Business Awards Meliora. The competition was held within the framework of “Georgian Civil Society Sustainability Initiative” funded by the European Union and co-funded by Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung.
The nation-wide effort Meliora celebrates companies operating in Georgia for most inspiring and outstanding projects and initiatives in the area of corporate social responsibility that change Georgia for the better. The mission of the competition is to promote and strengthen the 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.
The ceremony was attended by 250 guests, including officials of diplomatic representations, the Government of Georgia, national and international field experts, members of Georgian business community and civil society.
Eka Urushadze, executive director of CSRDG welcomed the guests: “In order to advance in economic, environmental and sustainable development it is important to make CSR an intrinsic part of business operations. Sharing and appreciating inspiring CSR initiatives that work towards prosperity of communities will only enhance development.”
The winners of Meliora 2019 were awarded in different categories:
- Best Responsible Large Company of the Year: Procredit Bank received the award presented by Ms. Dominika Skubida – Attaché, the European Union Delegation to Georgia;
- Best Responsible Small and Medium Sized Company of the Year: Altituda received the award presented by Mr. Archil Bakuradze, Executive Chair of the Supervisory Board of MFO Crystal, winner of Grand Prix of Meliora 2018;
- Green Initiative:
The TBC Bank was awarded for the project “Green Car Fleet” - the award was presented by H.E. Patric Franzen, Ambassador of Switzerland to Georgia;
- Responsible Employer:
- NEXIA TA’s project “An Employee - the Highest Value” was awarded for this category - Mr. Nicola Iorio, Deputy Head of Mission of Italy to Georgia presented the award;
- In the same category GPI Holding’s project “Day of the Action” was named as highly commended initiative – the certificate was awarded by Mr. Angus McCabe, the international jury member of Meliora;
- Community Support:
- The company "GPI Holding" was awarded for its project “Ecoist”. The award was presented by H.E. Arad Benkö, Ambassador of the Republic of Austria to Georgia;
- In the same category, small and medium-sized company Fair Trees Fund was awarded for the project “Fair Trees Dental Clinic for Children” - the award was presented by Mr. Thomas Kimmeswenger, Executive Director of German Business Association (DWV);
- Cross Sector Partnership – Shared Responsibility: TBC Bank was awarded for its project “Exhibition of David Kakabadze’s Creative Activity to Inspire Modern Artists” - the award was presented by Mr. Thomas Schroll, Embassy of the Federal Republic of Germany, Department for Economics and Development Cooperation;
- Responsibility in the Marketplace: The Universe Business Group was named as highly commended project “Provision of Free Training Courses and Consultations to Companies” - the certificate was presented by Ms. Ekaterine Mikabadze, first Deputy Minister of Economy and Sustainable Development of Georgia;
- CSR Communication:
In this category TBC Bank’s “2018 Report on Social Responsibility” was named as highly commended project – the certificate was presented by Ms. Elaine Cohen, Managing Director at Beyond Business and the jury member of Meliora 2019;
- CSR Manager of the Year:
CSR manager of the year is Ms. Tamta Aslanishvili, who leads CSR direction of MBC (Micro Business Capital) – the award was presented by H.E. Dr. Viktória Horváth, Ambassador of Hungary to Georgia;
- Creative CSR – the category was supported by Association of Creative Agencies of Georgia (ACAG):
Watergunz was awarded for its project “Sound of Indifference” - the prize was awarded by Mr. Alex Ferrand, manager of Business in the Community, the Prince’s Responsible Business Network;
- Waste Management Initiative – supported by USAID’s Waste Management Initiative in the Regions Phase II implemented by CENN:
GEO-MULCHI (small and medium sized company) was awarded for its project “Mulching a Necessary Activity for Reducing Environmental Pollution” - the award was presented by Ms. Marika Olson, Director of Economic Growth Office of USAID.
The independent jury consisted of leading Georgian and international experts (UK, Denmark, Sweden, Israel, Slovakia, Norway) and Georgian jury, who represented leading international and local civil society organisations and academia.
About the Award
New challenges and opportunities provided to the Georgian business community by the EU-Georgia Association Agreement and further integration of Georgia into EU’s internal market are strongly linked to Georgia’s development and establishment of international standards for responsible business conduct in the country. The EU-supported initiatives have been instrumental in advancing Georgia’s economy and promoting CSR and continue to play a crucial role in the sustainable development of Georgia.
Support
The Contest was supported by international and local business associations and Government of Georgia, including: Academy of the Ministry of Finance; Committee of European Integration of Parliament of Georgia; Ministry of Internally Displaced Persons from the Occupied Territories, Labour, Health and Social Affairs of Georgia; Ministry of Economy and Sustainable Development of Georgia; Embassy of Sweden to Georgia; United State Agency for International Development (USAID); Austrian Embassy; Association of Communication Agencies of Georgia (ACAG); CENN; Chamber of Commerce and Industry France-Georgia (CCIFG); Georgian Business Association (BAG); Georgian Microfinance Association; Georgian Chamber of Commerce and Industry; German Business Association (DWV); Enterprise Georgia; Environmental Information and Education Centre; European Business Association (EBA); EU-Georgia Business Council (EUGBC); International Chamber of Commerce (ICC); Service for Accounting, Reporting and Auditing Supervision; World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF); WMA Georgia.
The special “Waste Management” category of Georgia’s Responsible Business Awards was supported by USAID-funded Waste Management Technologies in Regions Program (Phase II) implemented by CENN and the special category of “Creative CSR” was endorsed by Association of Communication Agencies of Georgia (ACAG).
The event was supported by first channel’s project “Akustika”.
Sponsors for Georgia's Responsible Business Award "Meliora"
APM Terminals Poti; Biltmore Hotel Tbilisi; Jack Daniels.
About the project ‘Georgian Civil Society Sustainability Initiative’: Starting from January 2017 a consortium led by Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung in partnership with Georgian civil society organisations: Center for Strategic Research and Development (CSRDG), Civil Society Institute (CSI), Center for Training and Consultancy (CTC) and Education Development and Employment Center (EDEC), has been implementing the Georgian Civil Society Sustainability Initiative (CSSIGE) in order to address key challenges of Georgian civil society sector. The project is funded by the European Union and Konrad Adenauer Foundation.
About implementing organisation: 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 organisation 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).
Source: CSRDG
