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Kenya: Amb. Guo Haiyan Meets with Principal Secretary (PS) Anne Wango’ombe
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On November 14, H.E. Amb. Guo Haiyan met with Ms. Anne Wango'ombe, Principal Secretary for Gender and Affirmative Action, Ministry of Gender, Culture and Children Services of Kenya.
PS Wango'ombe shared her experience of participating the Global Leaders' Meeting on Women held in Beijing last October and extended her congratulations on the successful event commenting it is not only a testimony of China's leadership in global women's causes, but of great significance in advancing global women empowerment. PS further highly commended China's achievements in women's education, legal protection, economic inclusion and empowerment across the board.
Amb. Guo expressed Chinese side's appreciation to Kenya's strong support in holding the Global Leaders' Meeting on Women and agreed to jointly implement the important achievements reached on the Meeting, strengthen bilateral cooperation in women causes aiming to contribute positively to building a China–Kenya community with a shared future in the new era.
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Embassy of the People's Republic of China in the Republic of Kenya.The Standing Committee on Public Accounts (SCOPA) Enquiry into Road Accident Fund (RAF) Financial Matters to Hear from Executive and Senior Management
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The Standing Committee on Public Accounts (SCOPA) will this week enter its seventh week of its enquiry into the financial affairs of the Road Accident Fund (RAF). This week's hearings will focus on testimonies from the RAF's executive and senior management, who will respond or provide clarity to allegations made by previous witnesses.
On Tuesday, 18 November 2025, SCOPA will hear from Ms Mpho Manyasha, the suspended Head of the Office of the Chief Executive Officer, Ms Mampe Kumalo, the suspended Chief Governance Officer, and Mr Motlhoding Letsoalo, the former Senior Human Resources Manager.
Ms Mpho Manyasha has worked in the Office of the CEO since the 2019/20 financial year, initially as General Manager: Specialist Projects. Her role changed to Head: Office of the CEO in the 2022/23 financial year, and from 2023/24 she also served as Acting Chief Corporate Support Officer. On 7 November 2025, she was placed on precautionary suspension.
Also among senior managers who have been placed on precautionary suspension is Ms Kumalo, the Chief Governance Officer since 2022/23, overseeing Legal Services, Assurance and Monitoring, Enterprise Risk Management, and Forensics at the RAF. Ms Kumalo is the RAF executive who signed off on the media buying contract awarded to Media Mix and the integrated marketing contract awarded to Dzinge Production.
Mr Motlhoding Letsoalo is mentioned in the enquiry regarding allegations concerning his management of disciplinary processes.
On Wednesday, 19 November 2025, PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) will return to discuss technical details of the RAF's accounting policy change. The committee will also hear evidence from suspended Chief Financial Officer, Ms Bernice Potgieter; former Acting CFO, Ms Boitumelo Mabusela and suspended Senior Treasury Specialist and former Acting Chief Investment Officer, Mr Sefotle Modiba.
Ms Bernice Potgieter, appointed RAF CFO in March 2022 and previously Senior Manager: Financial Accounting, was Acting CFO from 27 May 2021, following the resignation of the previous Acting CFO. Despite her suspension as a Senior Executive, she is required to account for key issues, including changes in accounting policy and related litigation that arose during her tenure in various RAF roles.
Ms Boitumelo Mabusela joined the RAF as a Specialist in the Office of the former CEO, before being elevated to Acting CFO. Ms Bernice Potgieter pinned a lot of issues on her during the enquiry hearing of 4 November 2025, particularly in relation to the development and implementation of the RAF's IPSAS 42 accounting policy.
Mr Modiba joined the RAF in May 2020 as a Senior Treasury Specialist in the CEO's office. In July 2020, he was appointed Acting General Manager: Treasury. Following the 2022 organisational structure review, the RAF established an Investment Division, and Mr Modiba became the Acting Chief Investment Officer. He will account to SCOPA on matters related to his Treasury Specialist and CIO roles and responsibilities, debt restructuring and changes in accounting policy.
On Thursday, 20 November 2025, PwC will account to SCOPA on its role in the development and implementation of the Integrated Claims Management System (ICMS). Ms Mpho Manyasha, Ms Bernice Potgieter and Ms Boitumelo Mabusela will continue with their evidence.
On Friday, 21 November 2025, SCOPA will receive testimony from former Acting Chief Operations Officer, Ms Maria Rambauli, regarding allegations raised by previous witnesses. SCOPA will also hear testimony from witness X.
All documents presented to the committee during the enquiry are made publicly available after each day's session at this link: https://www.parliament.gov.za/raf-enquiry.
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Republic of South Africa: The Parliament.South Africa can Realize its Gas Potential with a Balanced Gas-to-Liquids Strategy (By NJ Ayuk)
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By NJ Ayuk, Executive Chairman, African Energy Chamber (https://EnergyChamber.org/)
It is not an exaggeration to say that South Africa's offshore gas discoveries offer up a potential economic transformation for the country that would be on par with Guyana's oil-driven boom or Suriname's emerging energy sector.
Estimates for the Luiperd-Brulpadda gas-condensate project, in Block 11B/12B off South Africa's southern coast, gauge its holdings at 3.4 trillion cubic feet (tcf) of gas and 192 million barrels of gas condensate. Production at this site would equate to thousands of jobs and a revitalization of regions like Mossel Bay, where South Africa's gas-to-liquids refinery once fueled local employment and industry before declining production forced cutbacks.
Unfortunately, this could all be just wishful thinking, as TotalEnergies' exit from this project in 2024 revealed a critical barrier.
South Africa's gas potential is currently locked up, partly because of legal challenges initiated by environmental activist groups that halted projects to the tune of USD1.6 billion, but also due to the inability of all parties involved to come to an agreement on gas purchase pricing.
The GTL Solution
A gas-to-liquids (GTL) strategy — one that links prices to liquefied natural gas (LNG) spot markets and includes meaningful community engagement — would help balance the needs of upstream investors, downstream users, and the coastal communities while delivering sustainable growth for the rest of the nation.
The gas pricing dilemma is the main obstacle.
Upstream companies like TotalEnergies demand dollar-based contracts to mitigate currency risk and ensure returns on their substantial exploration investments. The South African government is justifiably wary of dollar-denominated agreements and would prefer rand-based prices to protect local consumers and maintain affordability. The impasse TotalEnergies encountered on this issue is one of the factors behind their withdrawal from Block 11B/12B, despite their promising, hard-won discoveries at the site.
The domestic market complicates the situation even further.
Electricity producers require low gas prices, as they operate on slim margins once carbon costs are accounted for. Upstream operators, on the other hand, need to collect higher prices to justify the development of their capital-intensive deepwater projects. Meanwhile, the global LNG market is expected to remain saturated for the next three to five years, making the export of gas in the form of LNG a less competitive option for now. Without a pricing compromise, South Africa's gas remains untapped, leaving behind all the profit and opportunity it represents.
A GTL strategy offers a multifaceted solution, however. By revitalizing the PetroSA GTL facility in Mossel Bay and converting natural gas into high-value liquid fuels like diesel and kerosene on site, South Africa could cut its reliance on fuel imports, strengthen its energy security, and extend employment opportunities to thousands of workers.
The precedent is clear: In Suriname, TotalEnergies' GranMorgu deepwater project is set to generate 6,000 local jobs and inject at least USD1 billion into the economy. A similar initiative at the dormant Mossel Bay facility could transform South Africa's southern coast, providing the government with fresh revenue and wider economic stability.
This is not mere optimism; this gameplan would be a practical means of leveraging existing infrastructure to drive regional development. But, once again, the economic viability of a GTL strategy as a solution for South African gas production hinges on securing a gas pricing agreement that satisfies the needs of both producers and consumers.
To resolve this pricing stalemate, South Africa should adopt a formula that ties the gas purchase price to the global LNG spot price, minus a percentage to reflect the absence of liquefaction and transportation costs. This approach would allow upstream companies to receive dollar-based payments, satisfying their financial requirements while aligning with the inherent shifts in the global market. Downstream, power producers and GTL operators would enjoy the affordability of discounted pricing, making projects economically feasible at both ends of the supply chain.
Furthermore, the government could incentivize GTL development through tax breaks, infrastructure subsidies, or public-private partnerships, so the economic benefits of these projects would be more likely to outweigh the initial costs. This pricing model would be a fair compromise that avoids the pitfalls of rand-based contracts and meets the needs of all stakeholders.
Additional Roadblocks
Overcoming environmental opposition is another critical step toward progress in gas development, and overlooking community engagement in this regard only empowers non-governmental organizations (NGOs) to challenge projects in court. Petroleum Agency SA's community awareness campaigns, which educate locals about the benefits and risks of gas development, offer a model for improvement in this area. Expanding such efforts to include early and transparent engagement in the environmental impact assessment (EIA) process would help build trust and reduce grounds for legal action.
Town hall meetings and accessible EIA summaries would be a means of highlighting the economic benefits of a GTL strategy. By involving communities as stakeholders, the government and industry can work together to demonstrate that gas development can create shared prosperity.
The implementation of a GTL strategy is itself another way of addressing the legal pushback brought against South African exploration projects. Liquid fuels produced domestically reduce emissions by avoiding long-distance shipping, meaning that a GTL strategy is already in alignment with environmental goals from the start. Emphasizing the lower carbon footprint of a GTL operation would go a long way in gaining public approval of the project, but the government must still work to speed up the permitting process by establishing clear, time-bound guidelines for EIAs and consultations. Mechanisms should also be put in place to limit repetitive, post-approval legal challenges and allow projects to proceed without endless litigation.
A dedicated task force of industry, government, and local representatives would strengthen South Africa's negotiating power and help hold projects accountable to environmental and social standards.
A Collaborative Path Forward
Extracting and monetizing the gas resources held in Block 11B/12B and elsewhere could be a course-correcting game-changer for South Africa, but doing so to the greatest possible benefit requires bold, collaborative action. For South Africa to truly benefit from its gas resources, President Cyril Ramaphosa's administration must move beyond the traditional focus on coal and mining, prioritize gas development, and embrace the potential of a GTL strategy.
By reviving the defunct Mossel Bay GTL facility and implementing a pricing model tied to LNG spot prices, the government can satisfy the needs of both upstream and downstream stakeholders while creating jobs for South Africans and reducing their dependency on imports. Simplifying the permit process and expanding community engagement would address environmental concerns so that projects can move forward without unnecessary delays or lawsuits.
With decisive leadership and a commitment to balance, South Africa can transform its gas potential into a catalyst for sustainable growth and secure a prosperous future, not just for the industry, but for the nation as a whole.
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of African Energy Chamber.Hurra Coalition calls for reform of family law in the Middle East and North Africa
Across the Middle East and North Africa, discriminatory family laws deny women and girls equal rights in marriage, divorce, inheritance, and guardianship.
Members of the Hurra Coalition (http://Hurra-Coalition.net), comprising 13 feminist and human rights organisations from across the Middle East and North Africa (MENA), convened their annual meeting in Istanbul to assess progress in their joint campaigns and strategies for comprehensive family law reform. The discussions focused on the Coalition's three key pillars: ending child marriage, ensuring women's financial rights, and securing mothers' rights to custody and guardianship after divorce.
As one of the Coalition's founding members and its elected secretariat, Equality Now (http://EqualityNow.org) reaffirmed its call on governments across the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region to take concrete and urgent steps to end discriminatory family laws undermining women's and girls' rights to equality and justice.
In her opening remarks, Dr Dima Dabbous, Equality Now's Regional Representative for MENA, emphasised: “This gathering is a critical moment to renew our shared commitment to reform laws that entrench discrimination against women. Together, we are building a united civil front that insists on equality, justice, and full citizenship for women and girls across the Arab world.”
Child marriage - changing minds alongside changing laws
Hurra Coalition members highlighted child marriage as one of the most harmful manifestations of gender discrimination, depriving girls of education, safety, and dignity.
Hala Abdelkader, Executive Director of the Egyptian Foundation for Family Development (http://apo-opa.co/4r065xe), presented the organisation's national campaign against child marriage in rural communities surrounding Greater Cairo. Through interactive workshops targeting families and local leaders, the initiative has helped shift perceptions, with Abdelkader noting that “Communities are beginning to recognise child marriage as a form of violence and discrimination, not as a social custom.”
In Palestine, Sama Aweida, Director of the Women's Studies Centre (http://apo-opa.co/485jdcR), shared the outcomes of their national campaign on ending child marriage conducted across Nablus, Jerusalem, and Hebron. Since 2023, the campaign has engaged over 250 workshops and dialogues with community members and school students on the dangers of child marriage. She warned, “Judicial exceptions that allow child marriages under legal pretexts remain a dangerous loophole that must be closed.”
Houda Mouqer, Project Coordinator at Mains Libres (http://apo-opa.co/43W0X36) Organisation in Morocco, presented the campaign led by the organisation to abolish the exceptions related to the legal age of marriage in the proposed amendments to the Moudawana or Family Code. She noted that several dialogue meetings were organised with civil society organisations and parliamentary groups, saying:
“We call for the complete abolition of this exception and for raising the minimum age of marriage to 18 for everyone, without any exceptions, in line with international conventions.”
Meanwhile, Gulshan Sijlam, Director of Basme International (http://apo-opa.co/4p3FWeZ) Group in Lebanon, highlighted the institution's role in national advocacy to implement suspended legal decrees such as Decision No. 62 of 2020 from Sunni Sharia courts, which sets a minimum marriage age of 18 for the Sunni sect.
Strengthening women's financial rights across the Arab region
The discussions also focused on women's persistent legal and procedural barriers in securing their financial rights after divorce or the death of their husbands, including maintenance, shared property division, and fair compensation.
Ghinwa Chinder, Campaigns Manager of the Lebanese Council to Resist Violence Against Women (http://apo-opa.co/4oDYeno) explained how women often endure “long and costly legal battles” to obtain alimony or a share of jointly acquired assets, urging for systemic legal reform and stronger enforcement.
In Tunisia, Samia Melki Fessi, Director General of Kadirat (http://apo-opa.co/4oBUZgk), presented findings from a high-level consultation on gaps in the enforcement of joint property division laws, calling for amendments to guarantee equality between spouses.
From Kurdistan, Iraq, Lara Maarouf of ASUDA (http://apo-opa.co/4qSog7S) discussed efforts to reactivate the alimony fund for divorced women and explore new collaboration frameworks to ensure sustainable support mechanisms.
In Palestine, Faten Nabhan of the Women's Centre for Legal Aid and Counselling (http://apo-opa.co/488L8bU) discussed the practical challenges of raising awareness on the issue of marital property division. The centre has carried out digital awareness campaigns and specialised training for lawyers on providing legal aid to women in such cases, stressing the need to simplify legal procedures and ensure the effective implementation of rulings so women can access justice.
In this context, legal expert Nasser Al Rayes presented an extensive study on alimony rights in the Arab world, identifying legislative gaps and enforcement challenges. He emphasised that achieving economic justice for women requires “a comprehensive legal and social approach.”
From Bahrain, legal and Sharia expert Zahra Saleh Ibrahim presented the results of a study on applying the principle of “Kadd and S‘aya” (or toil and effort), which recognises women's contribution to family income even in the absence of formal contracts. She explained how the study rooted this principle in Sunni and Jaafari Shiite jurisprudence and discussed the challenges women face in accessing justice based on real-life experiences.
Reforming family law and child custody rights in MENA countries
Coalition members also discussed the ongoing challenges surrounding child custody, emphasising the need for laws that prioritise the best interests of the child and protect mothers' rights.
Rabha Fathy, President of the Association for Egyptian Female Lawyers (http://apo-opa.co/4qSZaph), highlighted the ongoing legal campaign supporting women with disabilities and their rights to custody and alimony, while advocating for amendments in Egypt's current Family Law draft that address their specific needs.
From Algeria, Nadia Ait Zai, Executive Director of the Centre for Information and Documentation on the Rights of Children and Women (http://apo-opa.co/4qTwz3p), emphasised that “Work is ongoing to advocate for the repeal of Paragraph 1 of Article 66 of the Family Code, which deprives a wife of her right to custody if she remarries after divorce.”
Badriya Al Marzouq, Head of the Family Law Unit at the Bahraini Women's Union (http://apo-opa.co/4qW1Jam), noted that the Union has submitted a proposal to Bahrain's Parliament to amend specific articles of the Personal Status Law. While awaiting review in the current session, the Union is preparing a new set of amendments, including those related to custody, to be presented once the current proposals are approved.
Building a youth movement in MENA for women's equal rights.
The Hurra Coalition is committed to creating space for integrating young people across the Arab region, training them in legal and media advocacy, and helping them build regional networks with other organisations.
Six young women from Egypt and Jordan participated in this year's meeting. Rahaf Al Obaidat from the Darbna Network (http://apo-opa.co/4qUozip) for Young Women in Jordan stated: “Being among a group of organisations working on women's rights from various Arab countries is an important and inspiring opportunity that allows me to approach gender equality from a broader perspective. I no longer see it only as a national issue within my country's borders, but as part of a larger human struggle in which we all have a role.”
A shared path toward just and equal laws for women and girls
Concluding the meeting, Naglaa Sarhan, Equality Now MENA Legal Adviser and Hurra Coalition Coordinator, emphasised that the Coalition's true strength lies in “its diversity of experiences and its unified goal, reforming family laws across the Arab region based on equality and justice.” The Coalition's member organisations reaffirmed their commitment to continued coordination, knowledge sharing, and the launch of new regional initiatives to advance legal and social justice for women and girls.
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Equality Now.For media inquiries, including interview requests, please contact:
Zeina Khalil,
Regional Communications Adviser,
Equality Now Middle East and North Africa,
zkhalil@equalitynow.org
Social Media:
Equality Now
Bluesky: http://apo-opa.co/4paPk0B
Facebook: http://apo-opa.co/4oZ4tSq
Instagram: http://apo-opa.co/4rcM0UD
LinkedIn: https://apo-opa.co/4hV6m0d
LinkedInMENA: http://apo-opa.co/488moQW
Hurra Coalition
Facebook: http://apo-opa.co/3WT3N5b
About:
Equality Now (www.EqualityNow.org) is a worldwide human rights organisation dedicated to securing the legal and systemic change needed to end discrimination against all women and girls, everywhere in the world. Since its inception in 1992, it has played a role in reforming 120 discriminatory laws globally, positively impacting the lives of hundreds of millions of women and girls, their communities and nations, both now and for generations to come.
Working with partners at national, regional, and global levels, Equality Now draws on deep legal expertise and a diverse range of social, political, and cultural perspectives to continue to lead the way in steering, shaping, and driving the change needed to achieve enduring gender equality, to the benefit of all.
As a founding member of the Hurra Coalition, Equality Now was appointed its Secretariat in 2023. Equality Now has bolstered members' capacities in various areas, including campaign strategy, legal and media advocacy, engagement with policy and decision-makers, and fostering active participation among young activists in the MENA region.
For more details, go to www.EqualityNow.org
About:
The Hurra Coalition (https://Hurra-Coalition.net) is a regional network of feminist and human rights organisations across the Middle East and North Africa working to reform discriminatory family laws and ensure equality and justice for women and girls. Established in 2019 as an initiative by Equality Now and six founding members, it serves as a platform for solidarity, legal advocacy, and coordinated regional campaigning.
Today, Hurra includes 13 national women's rights organisations from nine Arab countries, encompassing legal associations, research centres, anti-violence institutions, and development organisations. This diversity enables the coalition to draw on deep national expertise and collective regional strategies to advance reform.
For more information, visit https://Hurra-Coalition.net
East African Community (EAC) Begins Building Regional Instant Payment Network with Rwanda-Tanzania Pilot
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In an innovative move set to revolutionise how people send and spend money across East Africa, Rwanda and Tanzania have commenced bi-lateral discussions on technical modalities to link their national retail payment systems switches. The move marks a crucial step toward enabling instant, low-cost cross-border money transfers for citizens and businesses across the region.
This landmark initiative, which moved into its technical implementation phase at an ongoing high-level meeting in Kigali, will connect Tanzania's Instant Payment System (TIPS) with Rwanda's National Payment Switch (RSWITCH). Once operational, the linkage will allow individuals and businesses in both countries to send and receive money between bank accounts and mobile money wallets seamlessly and in real time.
“This preparatory work marks a pivotal milestone in our regional payment system integration agenda, moving us closer to a single regional instant payment ecosystem that will facilitate secure, affordable, and real-time transactions across borders," said Eng. Daniel Murenzi, EAC Principal Information Technology Officer.
In his remarks, the Chairperson of the meeting, Mr. Fabian Ladislaus Kasole, Assistant Manager, Oversight and Policy, National Payments Directorate, Bank of Tanzania, reaffirmed the collective commitment. "As a region, we remain committed to establishing a robust technical and operational framework that will ensure the successful interlinking of our national retail payment systems, ultimately enhancing cross-border payment efficiency and financial inclusion across the region."
The integration of Tanzania's TIPS and Rwanda's RSwitch forms the core of a strategic Proof of Concept (POC) pilot. This pilot is designed to demonstrate the technical and operational feasibility of a direct, functional cross-border payment switch within the EAC. This crucial bilateral (Tanzania-Rwanda) model, serves as a pioneering model for future expansion to all EAC Partner States. The initiative serves as a practical and scalable first step, laying the foundational groundwork for the future aspiration of a fully integrated, centralised regional digital payments market.
For the citizens of Rwanda and Tanzania, this integration promises to transform everyday financial interactions. Individuals will be able to transfer funds to family, friends, or businesses across the border directly from their existing bank accounts or mobile money wallets in real-time, eliminating the delays and complexities of current systems. Importantly, by establishing a direct pathway between the national switches, the initiative is projected to significantly lower transaction costs, making cross-border payments more affordable and accessible for everyone.
The economic implications for businesses and traders are equally profound. The ability to make and receive instant, secure payments will greatly enhance trade and commerce, allowing businesses to settle invoices with suppliers and partners seamlessly. This efficiency reduces operational friction and unlocks new opportunities for growth and market expansion within the region.
Furthermore, by leveraging the digital payment platforms that millions already use daily, this initiative represents a major leap forward in financial inclusion. It extends the reach of formal financial services by making cross-border transactions as simple as a domestic transfer, thereby empowering a broader segment of the population, from small-scale merchants to individual consumers, to participate more fully in the regional economy.
The ongoing technical preparations for the interlinking represent the first tangible implementation of the EAC Cross-Border Payment System Masterplan and directly support the strategic aspirations of the EAC Heads of State for deeper regional financial integration.
The Eastern Africa Regional Digital Integration Project (EARDIP), funded by the World Bank and coordinated by the EAC Secretariat, will play a key role in supporting the implementation of the EAC Cross-Border Payment System Masterplan. As a flagship regional initiative, EARDIP is supporting the building of the foundation for a modern and connected regional payment ecosystem by strengthening the linkage of payment systems between Partner States.
The project is also supporting the development of cross-border and local digital networks, ensuring that even rural and remote communities can benefit from faster, safer, and more affordable money transfers. This includes supporting real-time payments, cross-border mobile money services, and instant transactions between banks and financial platforms across the region.
EARDIP is also supporting the harmonisation of policies and standards that guide digital financial services in East Africa. By promoting common rules, shared standards, and strong cybersecurity and data protection systems, the project will ensure that cross-border payments are secure and trusted.
In addition, EARDIP will provide technical support and capacity building to help national institutions strengthen and manage their digital payment systems. Through these efforts, EARDIP will make it easier for citizens and businesses to send and receive money across borders, helping drive regional trade, inclusion, and economic growth.
The 10th – 14th November, 2025 technical meeting in Kigali, Rwanda has brought together representatives from the Central Banks, National Payment Systems, AfrikaNenda, Mojaloop Foundation and the EAC Secretariat. The technical teams are expected to hold a series of meetings to cover various matters, including an interoperability framework to address technical integration and operational designs as well as legal and regulatory alignment, governance and institutional arrangements, economic and business model, and strategic and regional alignment among others.
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of East African Community (EAC).Call for Entries Issued for the 2026 Middle East & North Africa Stevie® Awards
The Stevie® Awards (https://www.StevieAwards.com), organizer of the world's premier business awards programs, has issued a call for entries for the 2026 (seventh annual) Middle East & North Africa Stevie Awards, sponsored by the RAK Chamber of Commerce & Industry (http://www.RAKChamber.ae/). Entry kits and complete details on the competition are available at https://MENA.StevieAwards.com.
The Middle East & North Africa Stevie Awards are the region's only awards program to recognize innovation in the workplace in all its forms. The awards are open to all organizations within 18 nations in the MENA region: Algeria, Bahrain, Egypt, Iran, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Morocco, Oman, Palestine, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Syria, Tunisia, Türkiye, United Arab Emirates, and Yemen.
All individuals and organizations - public and private, for-profit and non-profit, large and small - may submit any number of nominations to any number of the categories.
There are no entry fees in this awards program. Organizations may submit as many nominations as they would like, without cost. Instead, Gold, Silver, and Bronze Stevie Award winners can choose to pay a “winners fee” for each successful nomination to maintain their Stevie winner status.
Nominations may be submitted online through two entry deadlines. Winning nominations submitted through the first deadline, 3 December 2025, will have reduced winners' fees. 21 January 2026, is the second and final entry deadline.
Winners of the Gold, Silver, and Bronze Stevie Awards in the competition will be announced on 16 April 2026, and celebrated during a gala event at the InterContinental Hotel in Istanbul, Türkiye, on 14 May 2026.
New for the 2026 Competition
The 2026 competition introduces several new and expanded category groups, including AI Innovation Awards (https://apo-opa.co/3JQW8RP) recognizing the achievements of individuals and organizations in Artificial Intelligence, and Public Sector Innovators (https://apo-opa.co/3LwT2mC), , honoring innovation and excellence in government and public service. Other category groups with new award categories include Sustainability, Technology, Customer Service, Marketing, and Human Resources.
Nominations citing innovative achievements will be accepted and judged in both Arabic and English, in more than 150 categories across the following category groups:
• AI Innovation (https://apo-opa.co/3JQW8RP)
• Apps & Websites (https://apo-opa.co/4oKt4dS)
• Achievements (https://apo-opa.co/497sWQV)
• Annual Reports & Other Publications (https://apo-opa.co/4hSzGo1)
• Company/Organization (https://apo-opa.co/49ecmPw)
• Corporate Communications & Public Relations (https://apo-opa.co/3LC9WQI)
• Customer Service (https://apo-opa.co/47PNScG)
• Human Resources (https://apo-opa.co/4oCh2Dw)
• Individual Professionals (https://apo-opa.co/49IaP4b)
• Live & Virtual Events (https://apo-opa.co/43WFUNT)
• Management (https://apo-opa.co/3Lw7Z8t)
• Marketing (https://apo-opa.co/4owmwPX)
• New Products & Services (https://apo-opa.co/4oKt4uo)
• Public Sector Innovators (https://apo-opa.co/3LwT2mC)
• Social Media (https://apo-opa.co/4hXgCVM)
• Sustainability (https://apo-opa.co/43ner7Z)
• Technology (https://apo-opa.co/49KWCU4)
• Videos (https://apo-opa.co/3JMPZGr)
• Thought Leadership (https://apo-opa.co/4hT50CY)
New Website and Entry System
For the 2026 Middle East & North Africa Stevie Awards program, a new website and entry system have been introduced to make participation easier and more efficient than ever before. Entrants can now use a single account to access the entry system for all nine Stevie Awards programs, submit and manage nominations seamlessly, and enter directly from any device. The platform supports over 30 languages with automatic translation for judging and offers multiple convenient payment options, ensuring a smooth and accessible experience for participants across the region.
Winners of the 2025 edition with multiple Gold, Silver, and Bronze Stevie Awards include Abdulla Almazrouei Advocates & Legal Consultants, Abu Dhabi Customs, Abu Dhabi Fund for Development (ADFD), ADNOC Logistics & Services, Alef Education, Barns (Saudi Arabia), DAMAC Properties, Deloitte & Touche (M.E.), DHL Express (across multiple MENA locations), Dr. Sulaiman Al Habib Medical Group, Dubai Culture & Arts Authority, Emirates Health Services, Etihad Aviation Group, First Abu Dhabi Bank, Ministry of Finance (Saudi Arabia), Ooredoo Group (Qatar), Petromin Express (Saudi Arabia), Public Works Authority – Ashghal (Qatar), QNB Türkiye, RAK Police, Royal Commission for Jubail & Yanbu, Saudi Aramco, Sharjah Economic Development Department, Silal (Abu Dhabi), STC (Saudi Telecom Company), Tata Consultancy Services (TCS), Turkcell, VUMI Global, Yalla Group (UAE), and ZIGMA8 | 360º Creative Communications, among others.
The 2026 competition will be judged by more than 150 professionals around the world. Those who wish to apply to participate on one of the juries may do so at https://apo-opa.co/445vdsn
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Middle East & North Africa Stevie Awards.Contact:
May Hassan
May@StevieAwards.com
About the Stevie® Awards:
Stevie Awards are conferred in nine programs: the Asia-Pacific Stevie Awards, the German Stevie Awards, The American Business Awards®, The International Business Awards®, the Middle East & North Africa Stevie Awards, the Stevie Awards for Women in Business, the Stevie Awards for Great Employers, the Stevie Awards for Sales & Customer Service, and the Stevie Awards for Technology Excellence. Stevie Awards competitions receive more than 12,000 nominations each year from organizations in more than 70 nations and territories. Honoring organizations of all types and sizes and the people behind them, the Stevies recognize outstanding performances in the workplace worldwide. Learn more about the Stevie Awards at https://www.StevieAwards.com.
