APHRC wins global healthy workplace award for second time

The African Population and Health Research Center (APHRC) has won the Global Healthy Workplace Award in the small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) category for the second time, recognising its efforts to promote employee health and well-being.

The Nairobi-based institution received the award on October 20, 2026, during the 14th Global Healthy Workplace Awards in Lisbon, Portugal. It was first recognised in the same category in 2022.

APHRC was the only African institution nominated and named a winner in the SME category at this year's awards, which attracted a highly competitive international field.

The awards are organised by the Global Centre for Healthy Workplaces (GCHW) to recognise employers that integrate health, safety and holistic well-being into their core business strategies.

The programme is open to for-profit and non-profit organisations worldwide, with categories for multinational enterprises, large enterprises and SMEs. The 2026 edition featured six finalists.

APHRC Executive Director Catherine Kyobutungi said the recognition reflected the institution's commitment to creating a supportive working environment.

“Winning the Global Healthy Workplace Award in the SMEs category for the second time, following our first recognition in 2022, is a very proud moment for APHRC,” she said.

“Our people are our greatest asset, and a healthy, inclusive, and supportive workplace is fundamental to our success in advancing our mission to improve health and well-being across Africa,” Kyobutungi added.

She said the institution's approach to workplace health went beyond providing safe working spaces and modern buildings.

“APHRC defines a healthy workplace as a culture that enables our people to grow and, in turn, strengthens our impact on the communities we serve,” she said.

Deputy Executive Director Joseph Gichuru said investing in employees and creating an environment where they can thrive helped institutions achieve lasting impact.

“What makes APHRC a healthy workplace is our enduring belief that when you invest in people and create an environment where they can thrive, you build an institution capable of making a lasting impact,” Gichuru said.

He cited the talent nurtured at the institution, a workplace where staff can express themselves freely and spaces developed to support other institutions across the continent as examples of its approach.

The award comes amid continued concerns about occupational health and safety across Africa. Workplace hazards, inadequate safety systems and gaps in worker protection remain challenges that can expose employees to unsafe conditions and undermine their well-being.

Addressing these challenges requires sustained leadership, employee participation and working environments that protect both physical and psychological health.

According to the Global Centre for Healthy Workplaces, this year's finalists demonstrated that comprehensive health and well-being strategies are increasingly central to organisational performance, rather than simply being employee benefits.

The centre's Marketing and Communications Director, Barry Crisp, said investment in workforce well-being could support productivity and sustainable growth.

“As companies navigate shifting workforce expectations and at a time when sustainable growth relies heavily on workforce vitality, these leadership teams are proving that when you invest in the physical, mental, and economic health of your workforce, productivity and sustainable growth naturally follow,” Crisp said.

The awards also seek to advance occupational health, promote worker well-being and encourage safer working environments. The approach increasingly incorporates mental health, psychosocial risks, inclusion, professional growth and changes in the nature of work.

APHRC's recognition comes as the institution marks 25 years of work on health and development across Africa.

Founded as an Africa-based and African-led research-to-policy institution, APHRC generates evidence, strengthens research capacity and engages policymakers to inform action on health and development. It is headquartered in Nairobi and has a West Africa Regional Office in Dakar, Senegal.

The institution's award reinforces the role of employee well-being in building workplaces that support organisational effectiveness and wider development goals.