The Africa CEO Forum, the continent’s main international event for the African private sector to discuss development, is preparing to honour the economic performance of leaders, companies and investors in Africa for the sixth consecutive year.
Each year, the Forum Awards recognise leaders, companies and investors whose strategies and performance have contributed most to the momentum of Africa’s growth over the past year. There are seven awards, ranging from African Company of the Year to Private Equity Investor of the Year.
This year, however, the Forum has unveiled a new category dubbed the “Most Promising Company of the Year” award, which recognises the continent’s most promising startup.
In 2018, the new award will turn the spotlight on the continent’s startups. To win this award, five young companies at the forefront of innovation will present their projects to a jury comprising specialist investors, including the International Finance Corporation (IFC), TLCom and Omidyar.
The startups include Morocco’s Omniup, which offers free WiFi access once an advertisement has been viewed; Senegal’s InTouch, which has developed a mobile money platform; Kenya’s Twiga Foods, which connects farmers and vendors for the sale of fresh produce; Kenya’s Africa’sTalking Ltd, which offers communication services; and Nigeria’s Thrive Agric, which offers technological solutions to improve agricultural yields.
Another innovation this year is the Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) Strategy of the Year award, in partnership with Bureau Véritas, an international certification agency. The accolade rewards a company that has implemented a high impact Social and Environmental Responsibility policy in Africa.
In total, seven awards will be handed out at the 2018 Africa CEO Forum Award ceremony, which is slated for March 26th and March 27th.
Companies included in this year’s shortlist for the Private Equity Investor of the Year Award are Actis Capital, AfricInvest Amethis, Helios Investment Partners, Carlyle Group and Emerging Capital Partners.
This post first appeared HERE