Non-profit organisations (NPOs) encapsulate a broad range of interests and provide support to some of the most vulnerable in our society. It is important for NPOs to measure the outcomes of their work to ensure that maximum impact is achieved.

The MTN Foundation, in partnership with Trialogue, launched The MTN Awards for Social Change to encourage and reward good monitoring and evaluation (M&E) practice in the non- profit sector in 2019.

The Awards ran for four years to recognise and reward non-profits that were able to provide evidence of the positive difference they are making. “We wanted to reach out to all non-profit organisations, not just those currently benefiting directly from MTN’s existing ICT in education or youth empowerment programmes,” said Kusile Mtunzi-Hairwadzi, General Manager of the MTN Foundation.

The awards aimed to establish a platform for learning and sharing information that will assist all non-profits that engage in this process. Through the application process, non-profits were exposed to M&E practices and principles. Registered NPOs were required to enter a project or programme that is creating positive impact, has been running for at least two years and has some level of associated M&E practice.

“We were delighted with the quality and number of the entries reflecting the non-profit sector’s commitment to measuring their impact in our society,” added Mtunzi-Hairwadzi.

The Awards will not be run in 2023.