Recognising the best business associations-PSFU Awards Supplement

The Private Sector Foundation Uganda (PSFU) recently awarded the best companies in the area of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) in Children affairs. PSFU also awarded the best performing business associations from all regions in Uganda. MTN-Uganda emerged as the overall winner for the CSR category and Uganda Insurers Association as the overall national winner for the associations.

The event took place at Serena Hotel on February 24 and was attended by various PSFU stakeholders, corporate companies, PSFU members and the general public. PSFU has been recognising the best performing associations since 2009. This year, PSFU together with Bernard Van Leer Foundation, added another category for Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR).

Purpose of the award The CSR award recognises associations and corporate bodies which have supported the welfare of children in various ways. It is aimed at encouraging corporate companies engage in more programmes that improve the welfare of children in Uganda. Uganda’s youngest citizens need a boost. The first years of a child’s life lay the foundation for his or her future. Without proper nutrition, health care, protection from harm and opportunities to learn, children will be at a disadvantage for the rest of their lives.

This is the second youngest population in the world. A total of 10.8 million children are between the ages of 0 to 8, a period when brain development occurs most rapidly in life. According to Gideon Badagawa, the PSFU executive director, it takes an entire society to ensure that young children reach their full potential.

With these awards, PSFU hopes to stimulate investments in young children through the private sector. “Through such collaborations, small firms can achieve a competitive advantage. As a growing economy, there is need to encourage formation of long-term relationships that rely on the incentives of repeated interactions in order to overcome institutional failure and make significant contributions to productivity, exports and growth” Badagawa added.

The purpose of the Private Sector Business Development Awards is to promote good governance, excellent association management, exemplary leadership practices and corporate social responsibility in Uganda’s private sector Badagawa thanked all the associations and networks which have worked so tirelessly to build strong associations and networks.

He also thanked all the corporate companies that have contributed time and money to ensure that children in Uganda are equipped enough to live healthier lives as they are the future of the private sector and of our nation as a whole. Procedure Prior to the awards, the foundation calls for applications. The companies and associations are visited to verify their existence. The panel of judges is distinguished and objective people in the field of business.

With the business organisations, the benefits are a cash prize and a certificate of operation. PSFU will each year continue recognising the role played by associations and networks in strengthening the SME’s together with the efforts of the corporate companies under their CSR functions.