The Nation Media Group (NMG), the largest media house in East Africa, will reward companies in the region that excel in corporate social responsibility (CSR) activities.

The media house that owns several newspapers, a television and radio stations in Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda, has teamed up with the East African Business Council (EABC) to launch the inaugural 2010 CSR Awards.

According to a statement released on Monday, the aim of the Awards is to recognise companies that demonstrate what constitutes best-in-class CSR programmes.

"Winners will be rewarded for outstanding, innovative and high-class initiatives that create a high social and environmental benefit for the community and business."

Companies will be judged on the best workplace practice, environmental excellence, ethical and responsible business practice for supply chains and sustainable and scalable community investment.

Call for entries in the mentioned categories opened this week with interested companies asked to forward their information online through www.eastafricancsrawards.com. No fee is charged for the entries that are open for all companies registered in Burundi, Kenya, Tanzania, Rwanda and Uganda.

An independent panel of international and regional experts in responsible business, and chaired by Mr Elvis Musiba, the former President of Tanzania Chamber of Commerce, Industry and Agriculture, will adjudicate the process after the entry closure on March 26.

The statement said winners will be honoured in Dar es Salaam on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum scheduled for May.

The organisers say the concept was born out of an acute awareness that CSR activities have increased substantially over the past decade in East Africa, with a debate about how that can act as a positive force for the region's social, environmental and economic development.

Others in the judging panel include Ms Jane Nelson (director of CSR initiatives, Harvard Business School; Dr Judy Muthuri, a CSR lecturer, Nottingham University; Mr Keli Kiilu, vice chairman of East African Business Council and Mr Steve Kenzie, a programme manager for responsible business, international business leaders forum and UK focal point for UN Global Compact.