Hivos in collaboration with flower sector stakeholders will convene the first ever “Producer of the Year Award” (POYA) as a platform to demonstrate the role of front runner farms (in horticulture) and the impact of better engendered workplace policies on business and changing the state of women workers.
This award ceremony is borne out of the realization that several corporate entities and organisations have consistently and eagerly integrated gender awareness approaches within their policies.
POYA strives to amplify the stories of change that organisations and farms are creating through entrenching better working conditions, culture and practices that serve to respect women worker rights and overall labor rights. Open to all horticultural farms, the award ceremony seeks to celebrate change across the spectrum of issues under decent work.
This year the award ceremony will take place during the week of the International Flower Trade Expo (IFTEX), in Nairobi and is organized under the theme: Equality blooms business: celebrating gender equality and decent work for women in horticulture.
The awards will be under five categories:
- Model farm award – exemplary in all aspects under listed categories
- Leading employer in female leadership
- Leading farm in employee safety and maternal welfare
- Leading employer in fair wages and wage equality
- Exemplary employee leader/educator
These awards are open to all horticultural farms in Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Rwanda and Ethiopia to self-nominate. Nomination will be reviewed and followed by a verification exercise that will involve a visit to the farm, interviews with select staff and workers and non-confidential document verification.