Entries Open for the 13th Africa and Middle East Gender Mainstreaming Awards - Celebrating Corporate Champions of Gender Equality Across Africa and the Middle East

Johannesburg, South Africa – [Date] – Business Engage proudly announces the call for entries for the 13th Annual Gender Mainstreaming Awards (GMA), the region’s foremost platform recognising organisations and individuals driving meaningful gender transformation in the corporate sector. Scheduled for later this year, the 2025 GMA will once again shine a spotlight on companies, leaders, and trailblazers embedding gender equity into the core of business strategy and operations.

Since its inception in 2013, the Gender Mainstreaming Awards have grown in scale, influence, and impact, becoming a flagship event on the corporate calendar. The awards honour both corporations and individuals whose innovative practices and steadfast commitment have propelled gender mainstreaming - not merely as a social imperative, but as a powerful lever for business success.

The awards are made possible through the generous support of sponsors committed to advancing gender mainstreaming across the continent, including RMB, AECI, Kearney, and the 30% Club Southern and East Africa.

“Gender mainstreaming is no longer a side conversation—it’s at the heart of sustainable business performance,” says Colleen Larsen, Chief Executive of Business Engage. “The GMA is more than an awards ceremony; it’s a movement that connects companies, catalyses new thinking, and shares best practices to accelerate equality across our economies.”

The 2025 GMA will feature eight corporate categories celebrating excellence in areas such as women on boards, women empowerment in the workplace, economic empowerment, supply chain inclusion, gender reporting, and more.

Three individual categories recognise the human stories of progress:

• Positive Role Model
• Inclusive Leader
• RMB Africa’s Fearless Thinker Award

These categories honour individuals whose vision, courage, and influence are transforming the business landscape.

This year’s event arrives at a pivotal moment, as businesses navigate rapid technological change, ESG imperatives, and evolving societal expectations. The 2025 GMA will explore how innovative leaders are redefining gender strategies to drive resilience, growth, and competitive advantage.

Key dates:

• Entries Close: 31 July 2025
• Awards Ceremony: Semi-finals September 2025; Final : November 2025

Business Engage invites corporates and individuals across all sectors to enter and showcase how they’re turning gender aspirations into action.

About Business Engage
Founded in 2005, Business Engage is a specialist organisation at the forefront of strategic thinking on gender mainstreaming in the private sector. Operating across Africa and the Middle East, Business Engage partners with over 115 corporates to embed gender mainstreaming as a business imperative. Through innovative initiatives, knowledge sharing, and collaborative networks, the organisation drives sustainable transformation and creates platforms for leaders to connect, learn, and lead inclusively.

For more information, award criteria, and entry forms, visit: www.genderawards.com