AFRICAN SME AWARDS

Annual SME100 Awards

The African SME Awards (SME100 Awards) identify and recognise African SMEs and entrepreneurs based on a basket of quantitative and qualitative criteria with a focus on growth, outstanding performance over the years, entrepreneurship spirit, leadership, innovation, dedication to excellence and resilience (best practices, sustainability and vision).

The SME100 Awards is organised annually by the African SME Forum in collaboration with our strategic partners across Africa and abroad. The event creates an environment where the outstanding SMEs and entrepreneur men and women receive a standing ovation from high profile personalities, senior executives, diplomats, dignitaries, and the media. The awards and recognition ceremony are presented at a black tie banquet dinner and red carpet reception.

We believe being named an SME100 Awards Finalist is a huge honour and worth celebrating, and as such, we respectfully require that all honourees attend to receive this recognition. 

Other Recogntion Categories

ASFIN Awards are given annually in the following special categories below:

• African Award Presented to a leading individual or institution that has made a      substantial contribution to sustainability practice, management, or policy at a global scale.

• Corporate Initiative Award Presented to a private or public sector company for a specific activity or project that has made a notable contribution to responsible development      practice through the application or implementation of corporate sustainability.

• Individual Award Acknowledges personal contributions to the discipline of impact assessment and recognizes major achievement and advancement in the theory and/or practice over a period of time at an international level.

• Institutional Award Presented to a national or international organisation for outstanding      contribution to corporate sustainability, such as a significant contribution to the practice of sustainability, setting regulatory standards, or other social initiative or environment-related activity deserving recognition.

• Lifetime Achievement Award Awarded to a past or present member of ASFIN/African SME Forum for major contribution to the field of SME Finance or corporate sustainability over a sustained period. [Note that this is the only award for which ASFIN/African SME Forum membership is required.]

• Sub-Regional Award Awarded to a person or organisation that has made a substantial      contribution to the field of sustainability and/or has taken a leadership role in promoting best practice in SME Finance or sustainability within the sub-region of the location of the conference for the year.

• Youth Award  Acknowledges a distinguished young African SME Forum member under the age of 35 with outstanding achievements in the SME ecosystem. [Recipient must be an African SME Forum member.]