The online award ceremony of ‘Georgia’s Responsible Business Awards Meliora 2020’ took place.
The focus of Meliora 2020 was Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) in light of the current COVID-19 pandemic.
Meliora was organised for the third time by the Center for Strategic Research and Development of Georgia (CSRDG), with the support of the European Union and Konrad-Adenaer-Stiftung (KAS).
“CSR is a future-oriented strategy for businesses. Both employees and consumers are increasingly demanding companies to become more transparent, and take an active role in addressing human rights, social, cultural, and environmental issues.
CSR can facilitate interactions with European markets and help Georgian businesses take advantage of the opportunities possible under our Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Area” stated Carl Hartzell, the Ambassador of the European Union to Georgia.
Eka Urushadze, director of Center for Strategic Research and Development of Georgia emphasized the importance of the social responsibility in business: “These unprecedented times responsible business is more important than ever.
To support businesses at these difficult times we have decided to dedicate Meliora 2020 to highlighting the projects and initiatives implemented by companies in frames of their corporate responsibility in response to Covid 19 crisis.”
Winners were selected by independent jury consisting of leading Georgian and international experts from United Kingdom, Austria, Israel and Slovakia. The jury evaluated nominees based on the consistency and effectiveness of their effort, sustainability of the results and proper design of the initiatives.
The winners were awarded in four categories for the initiatives in response of Covid-pandemic:
Supporting employees during Covid pandemic
- Winner large company – BDO, project “Manoeuvring in a new reality – BDO’s virtual office”
- Winner small and medium size company – MBC, project “Supporting employees during Covid-19 pandemic
Supporting clients, customers and suppliers during Covid pandemic
- Winner large company – GPI Holding, project “Complete online insurance service
Supporting society /communities during Covid pandemic
- Winner large company – Bank of Georgia, project “Supporting education during online studies”
- Winner small and medium company – Fair Trees, project “Supporting Society during Covid-19 pandemic”
Supporting SMEs and most suffered industries during Covid pandemic
- Winner large company – terabank, project “Supporting business clients”
- Winner small and medium size company – Onesoft, project “SME – funding project OneSoft supporting small and medium business”
About Awards
‘Georgia’s Responsible Business Awards Meliora’ provides the business community a chance to promote their efforts in CSR and gain recognition for best practices. A nation-wide awards was launched in 2018 and is held with the partnership of International and local expert organizations and business platforms. During this 3 years different business companies of all size participated in the project with over 200 CSR projects.
Meliora – is a most recognizable effort 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; and finally to 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 detailed information about Meliora 2020 can be found on www.meliora.ge
Support
The Contest is supported by international and local business associations and Government of Georgia, including: Ministry of Economy and Sustainable Development of Georgia; Academy of the Ministry of Finance; Service for Accounting, Reporting and Auditing Supervision; Embassy of Austria in Georgia; Embassy of Hungary in Georgia; Embassy of Switzerland in Georgia; Embassy of Sweden in Georgia; Embassy of Italy in Georgia; German Business Association (DWV); Chamber of Commerce and Industry France-Georgia (CCIFG); World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF); EU-Georgia Business Council (EUGBC); Georgian Business Association (BAG); Georgian Microfinance Association; Georgian Chamber of Commerce and Industry; European Business Association (EBA); International Chamber of Commerce (ICC); Georgian Tourism Association (GTA).
Sponsor for Georgia's Responsible Business Award "Meliora 2020" was Moore ABC.
“Civil Society STAR Initiative”: Meliora 2020 is held in frames of the European Union and Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung (KAS) funded project ‘Civil Society STAR Initiative: CSOs as Sustainable, Transparent, Accountable and Resilient Development Actors in Georgia’. The aim of the project is to strengthen civil society as an independent, sustainable, transparent, and accountable development actor across Georgia. The project is implemented by the Consortium led by the Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung (KAS) and composed of the following CSOs: Center for Strategic Research and Development of Georgia (CSRDG), Civil Society Institute (CSI), Center for Training and Consultancy (CTC), Education Development and Employment Center (EDEC), and Institute for European Politics (IEP).
‘The Civil Society STAR Initiative’ builds on the experience and lessons learned of the EU-supported action ‘Georgian Civil Society Sustainability Initiative’ (CSSIGE 2017-2020).
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).
