Gender Mainstreaming Awards Application Process
Business Engage invites entries for the 13th Africa and Middle East Gender Mainstreaming Awards, a distinguished platform recognising outstanding contributions to gender mainstreaming across the region. We welcome applications from individuals for the three individual award categories, as well as from organisations seeking to participate in one or more of the diverse corporate award categories.
There is no cost to submit an application, however finalists are required to attend the Awards ceremonies.
Steps involved in the application process:
Step 1
Nominate an Individual
Individual Excellence
Nominate a Company
Company Excellence
Step 2
Provincial semi-finals, August 2025 : Johannesburg, Durban, Cape Town, Botswana, Zambia, Nairobi
Individual semi-finals, September in Johannesburg, Durban, Cape Town, Botswana and Zambia - Southern Africa
(Refer to our awards criteria)
Step 3
Shortlisted companies and individual semi-final individuals are interviewed by the judges
August-October.
East Africa have been extended to 31 December 2025
Mainstreaming Gender and Disability
Southern Africa 9 Oct
East Africa 20 Aug
West Africa 21 Aug
Empowerment of Women in the Community
Southern Africa 15 Oct
East Africa 27 Aug
West Africa 28 Aug
RMB's Africa's Fearless Thinker
12 Aug
Economic Empowerment
Southern Africa 13 Oct
East Africa 3 Aug
West Africa 4 Aug
Equal Representation and Participation
Southern Africa 14 Oct
East Africa 10 Sep
West Africa 11 Sep
Women Empowerment in the Workplace
Southern Africa 13 Oct
East Africa 17 Aug
West Africa 18 Aug
Positive Role Model
Southern Africa 27/28 Aug
East Africa 6 Aug
West Africa 7 Aug
Inclusive Leader
Southern Africa 21 Aug
East Africa 13 Aug
West Africa 14 Aug
Women on Boards & Women on Executive Committees
Southern Africa 9 Oct
East Africa 1 Oct
West Africa 2 Oct
Investing in Young Women
Southern Africa 14 Oct
East Africa 3 Oct
West Africa 4 Oct
Step 4
Regional Finalists announced by 15 October 2025
Confirmed South Africa Semi-Final Events – Individual Awards
Johannesburg: 18 September 2025 | 08h30–12h00
Umhlanga: 29 September 2025 | 08h30–12h00
Cape Town: 30 September 2025 | 08h30–12h00
Please Note:
Preference will be given to those who have submitted nominations and nominees when allocating seating at the semi-finals.
Finalists submit hi-res company logo and/or hi-res photos.
Finalists agree to use of logos and photos for marketing purposes (specifications to be provided).
Step 5
Gender Mainstreaming Awards: 28 February 2026.
Terms and conditions
We reserve the right to:
- increase the number of days for judging and
- increase the categories and allocate additional judges,
- merge and/or split the categories where appropriate, depending on the number of shortlisted companies.
It is a condition of entry that the finalists attend the Awards event Gender Mainstreaming Champion attends the following event as Ambassadors and hands over the Gender Mainstreaming Trophy to the next winner as per the precedent set by the previous winners.
Business Engage will meet with the Gender Mainstreaming Champions to discuss process.