Strategic CSI Awards

This award recognises projects that exemplify best practice in strategic CSI in South Africa. Strategic CSI is defined as CSI that has positive developmental impact, as well as a significantly positive impact on the business, beyond reputational impact, as shown in Trialogue’s CSI positioning matrix, below.

For CSI to be strategic, it must have positive developmental impact that is aligned with and contributes to the priorities of the business, beyond reputational impact. The Trialogue Strategic CSI Award recognises projects that exemplify best practice. It aims to encourage CSI practitioners to think more strategically when planning and implementing their initiatives.

As can be seen in Trialogue’s CSI Positioning Matrix, strategic CSI projects deliver a high combination of positive social and business outcomes. While developmental CSI offers beneficial social outcomes, it does not always have significant corporate benefits. Similarly, commercial grantmaking prioritises corporate benefit over social return.

Award guidelines

All entries need to be made by companies. Nonprofits are not eligible to enter the award.
All entries need to be typed into the writable pdf entry form and emailed per the details below.
Companies can enter multiple projects. A separate entry form needs to be completed for each CSI project being entered.
Companies can enter the same project in multiple years if the project has not won the award previously.
CSI projects that have won previously cannot be entered again.
Entries should be signed off by a CSI manager or executive.
Entries are judged against objectives, social benefits and corporate benefits.
Points are awarded for proof/evidence of positive outcomes – both on the corporate and social side. Please ensure that you include proof of the social and business results your project has achieved.
Enterprise development (ED) projects that work with small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in the company value chain (procurement or distribution) are excluded from this award. ED projects working with SMEs not in the value chain may be included.