Call for Nominations

IfEDI Africa Economic Development & Innovation Excellence Awards 2026

Recognising Excellence. Celebrating Impact. Advancing Africa.

Presented at ACOEDI 2026 | 26–29 October 2026 | Emperors Palace Convention Centre, Johannesburg, South Africa

Nominations OpenCloses: 20 September 2026, 23:59 SAST

IfEDI Africa Economic Development & Innovation Excellence Awards 2026 — Call for Nominations Poster

IMPORTANT: THESE ARE NOT THE ACOEDI PAPER OR INNOVATION COMPETITION AWARDS

The IfEDI Africa Excellence Awards recognise people, institutions, partnerships and sustained practice. ACOEDI paper, research-presentation and innovation competition awards recognise work submitted or presented within the conference competition. A nomination for an Excellence Award is assessed on demonstrated track record and impact beyond a single conference paper, presentation, project pitch or innovation entry.

Why These Awards Matter

Africa needs institutions and professionals that can move from ideas and policy intentions to measurable improvements in economies, enterprises, places, institutions and livelihoods. The Excellence Awards create a visible benchmark for what exceptional economic development and innovation practice looks like.

Measurable economic, institutional and/or social impact

Evidence-based practice and demonstrable results

Innovation in methods, systems, partnerships or implementation

Ethics, integrity, governance and professional excellence

Sustainability, institutionalisation and long-term value

Collaboration, inclusion and public value

Learning, replication and contribution to stronger economic development systems

Award Streams

Professional Excellence

Institutional Excellence

System & Partnership Excellence

Economic Development Enablers & Catalysts

Who May Be Nominated?

Nominations are invited from across Africa.

Economic development and Local Economic Development (LED) professionals
Municipalities, metropolitan governments and economic development units
Economic development, investment promotion and development agencies
Universities, research institutions and knowledge organisations
Government departments, public entities and development finance institutions
Innovation hubs, incubators, accelerators and entrepreneurship-support organisations
Chambers, industry associations, NGOs/NPOs and private-sector organisations undertaking economic development work
Cross-sector partnerships and collaborative economic development initiatives
Infrastructure, utilities, finance, skills, market, land and other enabling-system actors where the nomination demonstrates deliberate use of an enabler to advance economic development

Self-nomination is permitted for competitive categories unless otherwise stated.

2026 Assessment Period

For competitive awards, the primary assessment period is 1 September 2023 to 31 August 2026. Earlier achievements may be referenced where necessary to demonstrate continuity, sustainability, institutionalisation, progression or longer-term impact.

The Distinguished Contribution Special Honour is assessed on sustained contribution over an extended period and is not limited to this competitive assessment period.

2026 Award Categories

Complete one nomination form per category.

Economic Development Professional of the Year

Individual

Flagship recognition for exceptional professional leadership, practice and measurable impact.

Young Economic Development Professional of the Year

Individual

For professionals aged 35 or younger at the nomination closing date who demonstrate exceptional early-career impact.

CEDEL Ethical Leadership Award

Individual

For exceptional ethical leadership, integrity, public value and professional conduct in economic development and innovation.

Economic Development & Innovation Institution of the Year

Institution

Apex institutional award for outstanding performance, capability, leadership and measurable development impact.

Municipal Economic Development Excellence Award

Institution

For a municipality or metropolitan government demonstrating strong economic development implementation and outcomes.

Economic Development Agency Excellence Award

Institution

For an agency demonstrating excellence in investment, enterprise development, economic transformation and implementation.

University & Knowledge Institution Economic Development Leadership Award

Institution

For converting research, skills, innovation and engagement into demonstrable economic development value.

Enterprise & Innovation Ecosystem Excellence Award

Institution

For strengthening entrepreneurs, enterprises, innovators and the systems that enable them to succeed.

Economic Development Partnership of the Year

Partnership

For a cross-institutional partnership delivering measurable development outcomes that no partner could achieve alone.

Evidence-to-Policy & Practice Impact Award

Individual / Institution

For demonstrable translation of evidence, research or knowledge into policy, institutional decisions or implementation.

Economic Development Enablers & Catalysts Excellence Award

Institution / Partnership

For exceptional use of an enabling system, asset, instrument or capability to unlock measurable economic-development outcomes.

Special Honour

Distinguished Contribution to African Economic Development & Innovation

For sustained, exceptional contribution over an extended period. This is not a standard competitive category and is conferred through a special recognition process. Self-nomination is not accepted for this honour.

Economic Development Enablers & Catalysts

This pathway recognises how an enabling system, asset, instrument or capability is deliberately used to advance economic development.

These are application areas under one award pathway, not separate sector awards. Technical scale or sector performance alone is not sufficient: nominations must demonstrate measurable economic-development outcomes.

PRODUCTIVE INFRASTRUCTURE

›Energy for Economic Development
›Water for Economic Development
›Transport & Mobility for Economic Development
›Digital Infrastructure for Economic Development

ECONOMIC INSTRUMENTS

›Finance for Economic Development
›Procurement for Economic Development
›Trade & Market Access for Economic Development

KNOWLEDGE AND CAPABILITY

›Skills for Economic Development
›Universities & Knowledge for Economic Development
›Data & Intelligence for Economic Development
›Technology & AI for Economic Development

PLACE AND PRODUCTIVE ASSETS

›Land & Spatial Development for Economic Development
›Natural Resources for Economic Development
›Human Settlements for Economic Development
›Food Systems for Economic Development

PLACE-BASED AND SOCIETAL CATALYSTS

›Tourism for Economic Development
›Culture & Creative Industries for Economic Development
›Sport for Economic Development
›Human Mobility & Diaspora for Economic Development

TRANSITION AND RESILIENCE

›Climate, Green & Circular Transition for Economic Development
›Health Systems for Economic Development where the nomination demonstrates wider productive and economic value

The list is illustrative rather than exhaustive.

CEDEL Award and Professional Designation

The CEDEL Ethical Leadership Award is an excellence recognition. It does not, by itself, confer professional certification or the CrCEDEL professional designation.

What Judges Will Look For

All competitive awards use a common 60% core assessment, combined with 40% category-specific criteria.

Common Criterion	Weight
Demonstrated impact	20%
Quality and credibility of evidence	10%
Sustainability and institutionalisation	10%
Ethics, governance and professional standards	10%
Inclusion, collaboration and public value	10%
Category-specific excellence	40%

Judges will place greater weight on verified outcomes than on descriptions of activities. An award may be withheld where the required standard has not been met.

For complete category-specific criteria and scoring guidance, see the Awards Handbook.

Awards Independence, Declarations & Recusal

Nomination, judging and award outcomes are independent of IfEDI Africa membership, professional certification, sponsorship, commercial relationships, ACOEDI registration or conference participation.

Service on an IfEDI Africa board, council, committee or other governance structure, or an institutional relationship with IfEDI Africa, does not automatically disqualify a nominee. The integrity safeguard is full declaration, transparent management of conflicts and mandatory recusal.

✓Relevant relationships and potential conflicts must be declared
✓Conflicted persons must recuse themselves from the affected nomination
✓Every eligible nomination receives at least two independent scores from non-conflicted adjudicators
✓Sponsorship, partnership, membership, certification or conference participation may not be treated as positive or negative factors in judging

Nomination Process

Stage 1 – Nomination

Submit the official Nomination Form, impact narrative, 3–5 strongest supporting evidence items and one independent referee endorsement.

Eligibility Screening

Completeness, eligibility, category fit and declarations are checked. Eligibility screening does not determine merit.

Independent First-Round Assessment

Every eligible nomination is assessed by at least two non-conflicted adjudicators.

Stage 2 – Finalist Verification

Shortlisted nominees may be asked for additional evidence, referee verification, interviews or documentation.

Final Adjudication

Verified finalist evidence is assessed and moderated before outcomes are confirmed.

Important Dates

Activity	Date
Call for nominations opens	1 September 2026
Nominations close	20 September 2026, 23:59 SAST
Eligibility screening	21–23 September 2026
Independent first-round assessment	24–30 September 2026
Shortlisting and moderation	1–3 October 2026
Finalist notification	4–5 October 2026
Finalist evidence verification	5–14 October 2026
Final adjudication	15–18 October 2026
Outcome communication	19–21 October 2026
Awards ceremony at ACOEDI 2026	29 October 2026

Recognition of Recipients

★Official IfEDI Africa Excellence Award certificate
★Trophy or plaque
★Recognition during ACOEDI 2026
★Visibility through IfEDI Africa communication platforms
★Potential inclusion in IfEDI excellence and knowledge publications
★Recognition within Africa's economic development and innovation professional community

ACOEDI registration or attendance is not an adjudication requirement for the Excellence Awards. Finalists are encouraged to attend where practical, but conference participation may not influence judging or award outcomes.