CR AWARD 2023

UN Global Compact Network Georgia, with the support of the Sweden, the USAID Civil Society Engagement Program and the Council of Europe Office in Georgia in 2023 organized the the sixth Corporate Sustainability award competition – “Business for SDGs”.

The nominations were selected according to the “Sustainable Development Goals” adopted by the United Nations in 2015. A total of 141 applications were submitted to this year’s contest, which were evaluated by a jury consisting of Georgian and foreign members.

Winners were announced in the following nominations: 

SDG4 – Quality Education  

Large Business Category: TBC Bank-TBC IT Academy  

SME Category: Micro Business Capital – Promoting Financial Education among Young People  

SDG7 – Affordable and Clean Energy  

Large Business Category: Procredit Bank, Georgia -Electric Car Promotion and Infrastructure Development Project  

SME Category: Georgian Renewable Power Operations – Mestiachala Hydropower Plant  

SDG8 – Decent Work and Economic Growth  

Large Business Category: Tegeta Holding – Tegeta for Social Enterprises   

SME Category: The Biltmore Tbilisi Hotel- Empower Workforce, Drive Growth  

SDG10 – Reduced Inequality  

Large Business Category: MFO Crystal – Women’s Empowerment for Reducing Inequalities  

SME Category: EY Georgia – Opportunity 4All   

SDG12 – Sustainable Consumption and Production  

Large Business Category: Tegeta Holding – Tegeta for the Environment  

SME Business Category: Udanbno Group – Udabno Regenerative Transition  

SDG17 – Partnership for Sustainable Development  

Large Business Category-TBC Bank and partners: TBC—Fostering Green Business Opportunities   

SME Category: Veli. Store and Supergmiri – Veli and Supergmiri   

The winners were awarded by

USAID mission director John A. Pennell,

the Head of the Swedish International Development Agency, and the Deputy Head of Mission of the Embassy of Sweden to Georgia, Erik Illes,

Riina Kaljurand – Ambassador of Estonia to Georgia,

Andrius Kalindra, Ambassador of Lithuania to Georgia,

Alkis Drakinos – Regional Director of the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) in the Caucasus;

Meline Arakelian – Ambassador of the Netherlands to Georgia,

Stefan Sirbu – Deputy Head of the Council of Europe Office in Georgia,

Julia Schellhaas – Senior Adviser Procurement and Supply Chains, Office of the Special Representative and Coordinator for Combating Trafficking in Human Beings, OSCE, 

Tamar Aladashvili – Director of Environmental Information and Education Centre of the Ministry of Environmental Protection and Agriculture of Georgia,

Anders Trelborg – Deputy Head of Mission of the Embassy of Denmark to Georgia,

Ole Lund Hansen – Chief of Global Operations at UN Global Compact,

Marcel Engel – Executive Director of the UN Global Compact Network Germany,

Steve Kenzie – Executive Director of the UN Global Compact Network UK and

Cristina Sanchez – Executive Director of the UN Global Compact Network Spain.   

For outstanding efforts to champion SDGs, the SDG Pioneer award – a special UN Global Compact Network Georgia award in the large business category was presented to Natika Berdzuli, Head of Strategic Communications at Tegeta Holding (Large Business Category), and Eter Chachibaia, Chief Operating Officer at MBC (SME Category).  

For the fourth time, media representatives who prepared materials to raise public awareness on corporate sustainability were also awarded in the nomination Media for Responsible Business in Georgia. The award was given to Shalva Sumbadze, a journalist from Georgian Public Broadcaster  for the best TV story prepared on the topic of corporate responsibility, and Nuka Stepnadze, a journalist from “SKnews.ge” for the Best Digital Article.  

The ceremony was attended by representatives of companies participating in the competition, the diplomatic corps, the United Nations Global Compact headquarters and European local networks, international organizations, various state agencies, and the media. 

Additional Information: 

UN Global Compact is the largest corporate sustainability initiative, and its vision is to create a sustainable and inclusive global economy for people, society and business. 

The Global Compact Network Georgia was established in 2016 and its members include companies, business associations, non-governmental organizations, and academic institutions. The network aims to support the advancement of the UNGC 10 Principles in Georgia and contribute to the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals.