The Mail & Guardian and the Southern Africa Trust present the 2015 Investing in the Future & Drivers of Change awards. In 2015, the Mail & Guardian celebrates its 30 th anniversary and plans to mark the occasion in several ways. This includes the introduction of a new Editor s Choice Award for South Africa s social investment project that stands out as a shining example of best practice. This year we also introduce a Women Empowerment Award, which celebrates projects that work to improve women s daily lives and to guarantee the economic, social and political empowerment of women. We invite you and your company / organisation to be part of our annual celebration of good corporate citizenship. Every year, the Investing in the Future Awards receive hundreds of entries from projects around the country that are judged by an independent, respected panel of judges. Our awards are aimed at promoting much-needed investment in fields that include science, mathematics, engineering and technology (STEM) skills last year we had a record number of entries in this category youth development, job creation, antipoverty and development work that improves the lives of our people. The M&G Investing in the Future Awards were created 27 years ago to publicise the often unsung contributions to the future of South Africa and its citizens. They are designed to heighten public, government and business awareness about meaningful social investment. Investing in the Future partnered with the Southern Africa Trust s Drivers of Change award nine years ago. Since its inception in 2006, the Drivers of Change award has recognised individuals or organisations from across the Southern Africa region for making a real impact on the lives of people living in poverty, through innovation in the development and implementation of effective public policies and strategies to overcome poverty.
Drivers of Change is awarded in four categories: business, civil society organisations, government, and individuals. The award profiles living examples of innovative practices, creative new approaches, inclusive attitudes, and effective processes. It seeks out the best initiatives that build social trust for a real and lasting difference to the lives of people living in poverty. WHO CAN ENTER Corporations with corporate social investment (CSI) programmes or corporate foundations, attached to a company or where the grantmaking programme is run by a self-governing foundation separate from the founding corporation; Independent foundations and trusts, community foundations, grantmaking NGOs and trusts, family foundations and grantmaking trusts and private foundations; Individuals from any sector across business, civil society or government who have played a significant role in developing new, innovative and inclusive approaches to anti-poverty and development work; Government or intergovernmental agencies, programmes or initiatives that create new possibilities and develop new models for policy engagement in the national and regional policy spheres. Ministries, government departments, parliaments or parliamentary forums are included. The Mail & Guardian publishes three special supplements for the awards: On April 17, the Call for Entries supplement opens the competition with details of categories, sponsors, how to enter, and insights into this year s social investment trends. On October 30, the award winners and finalists are publicised in a tailored supplement that covers individual projects as well as reflecting the depth of social investment in Southern Africa. At year end, the CSI Year in Review covers achievements in the field during the year and the latest thinking in social investment for the year ahead.
Winners and finalists of our awards are fêted at a glittering gala awards evening in October that is the highlight of corporate SA s calendar. Videos of winning projects and finalists are flighted on the award-winning M&G Online platform, in addition to being featured across the M&G s multi-media publications. We invite you to join us in the 2015 celebrations. INVESTING IN THE FUTURE: 2015 CATEGORIES: INVESTING IN THE FUTURE WOMEN EMPOWERMENT AWARD: In spite of robust pro-women legislation, many areas of South Africa still experience the continuation of an unequal, gender-insensitive social fabric that discriminates against women. This new award recognises CSI projects that work to improve women s daily lives and to guarantee the economic, social and political empowerment of women. INVESTING IN THE FUTURE YOUTH DEVELOPMENT AWARD: South Africa s young people are the future of our national identity, but they need support and guidance. This award goes to programmes or projects that provide youth with life skills, leadership and extra-mural interventions that have a positive impact on their development. INVESTING IN THE FUTURE JOB CREATION & ENTERPRISE DEVELOPMENT AWARD: This category rewards companies and organisations with innovative, integrated programmes that stimulate job creation and/or enterprise development. Awarded to projects which demonstrate that, through their job creation and enterprise development programmes, employment opportunities are created. INVESTING IN THE FUTURE STEM SKILLS DEVELOPMENT AWARD: Projects and initiatives that demonstrate a company or organisation s commitment to addressing the huge educational challenges in the fields of science, mathematics, engineering and technology (STEM).
INVESTING IN THE FUTURE & DRIVERS OF CHANGE CIVIL SOCIETY AWARD: Projects that best demonstrate how civil society can contribute to the well-being and development of society. Awarded to organisations that go beyond the conventional in uplifting destitute and vulnerable communities. INVESTING IN THE FUTURE & DRIVERS OF CHANGE BUSINESS AWARD: Projects that best demonstrate how a company can contribute to the advancement of society. Awarded to innovative companies whose core business strategies include corporate social responsibility programmes that can demonstrate the upliftment of society across all sectors, from education, to arts, health and social development. DRIVERS OF CHANGE GOVERNMENT AWARD: Government or inter-governmental agencies, programmes, or initiatives that create new possibilities and develop new models for policy engagement in the national and regional policy spheres. Ministries, government departments, parliaments or parliamentary forums, and intergovernmental organisations are included. DRIVERS OF CHANGE INDIVIDUAL AWARD: Individuals from any sector across business, civil society, or government who have played a significant role in developing new innovative and inclusive approaches to anti-poverty and development work which has resulted in the improvement of the lives of people in the communities they serve. INVESTING IN THE FUTURE AWARD FOR BEST CORPORATE EMPLOYEE COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT PROGRAMME: This category showcases examples of how companies are actively encouraging and supporting their employees to play an active role in the community as part of their broader commitment to community upliftment and development. The volunteer programmes should ideally be aligned to the corporate values and CSI interventions of the company.
INVESTING IN THE FUTURE HEALTH AWARD: This category recognises companies and organisations with innovative and integrated primary health care and wellness programmes. Awarded to initiatives aimed at enhancing and strengthening the country s health care system. INVESTING IN THE FUTURE AWARDS ENTRY FORM 2015 Name of company/organisation/project or individual Description: (Please tick the appropriate area and specific sector) Type of Organisation: Company Foundation or Trust Individual Not-for-profit SMME Name and position of the person filling out the form. All correspondence regarding the application will be directed to you
Postal Address Tel Cell Fax Email Physical location: (if different from previous address) Size of the organisation number of employees/annual operating budget GUIDELINES (for entrants in all categories) 1. An organization overview. 1.1 Please provide a brief description (100 words) of the organizations history, objectives, track record and any other supporting information that will assist in understanding the project. 1.2 When did the organization/company commence? Month/Year. 1.3 Please provide and audited financial statement 2. Programme/project funding. 2.1 Please provide a brief description (100 words) of the project s history, objectives, track record and any other supporting information that will assist in understanding the project.
2.2 When did the programme/project commence? Month/Year. 2.3 Timescale of the project and timescale of the organisation s involvement. 2.4 How was the project initiated? Please give a brief description (100 words). 2.5 What is the gender breakdown of stakeholders, i.e.: racial breakdown, etc. 3. Please describe in writing the following: 3.1 How do you assess the sustainability of the project? Please include your definition of sustainability. 3.2 Please elaborate on how you monitor and measure impact. Please include a matrix of the indicators used to monitor and evaluate impact. 3.3 What criteria were used to assess funding for the project? Please give examples and list the top six criteria. 3.4 How were the criteria decided?
3.5 What is the organisation s involvement with the project? Example: Community partnership with whom, how many and description of their involvement. Please also include information on your approach to project visits, their frequency and feedback provided after these visits. 3.6 How does the project demonstrate a holistic and proactive approach? 3.7 Is the project aligned to government s development strategy? Please give details. 3.8 Financial information. Please provide details of the project finances including details of funding committed to date, joint funding partnerships, donor dependency and approach to multi-year funding partnerships. 3.9 Please elaborate on the percentage allocated to branding or marketing the project versus programme funding. 3.10 Please provide information on how you document and share best practice in your field. Please include examples. 4. Corporate Employee Community Involvement Programmes 4.1 Level of support provided by the company to assist
employees in undertaking community activities, e.g. time off, small grants, management reports, etc. 4.2 Partnership between employees and the beneficiary organisations, e.g. consultation, monitoring and evaluation. 4.3 Impact the programme has had in addressing specific needs of the community and how these were identified. 4.4 Please give an overview of your ECI (employee community involvement programme) and why it was introduced. (Include relevant facts, e.g. number/ percentage of employees involved, amount of time contributed and funds raised.) 4.5 What difference has the project made to the employees, company and community and how has this been measured and reported? 4.6 How entrenched is the programme in the company culture? What is the percentage of staff involvement? 4.7 Is the voluntary programme fully endorsed by senior management? 4.8 What is the relationship with the beneficiary organisation?
Is it involved in the implementation of the programme and how has it benefited? 4.9 Why do you think your programme should receive an award, e.g. what makes it special or unique? 5. Investing in the Future and Drivers of Change Business Award 5.1 What is your CSI stragety? 5.2 How long has the programme been running? 5.3 How does it align with the business stragegy 5.4 How is it managed/monitored? 5.5 Does your organization partner with other funders or government in order to leverage funding? 5.6 Do you have a knowledge sharing programme?
PRACTICAL HINTS: Nominators must demonstrate how the work of the individual or organisation they are nominating is making an impact to overcome poverty. Applicants are encouraged to supply supporting documents, videos, brochures or any other relevant material in support of their entry. If possible, please send 10 copies of sustainability reports and other relevant documentation for judging purposes. If the organisation/company wins an award, in what way do you think the example of the corporate, organisation, initiative or individual you are nominating will inspire others to do things differently? CLOSING DATE FOR ENTRIES: Friday, July 31 st 2015. FOR INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT: Tamarin Marshman Events Co-ordinator Tel: 011 250 7300 Email: tamarinm@mg.co.za