Ensuring Fairness, Credibility, and Excellence
Eligibility Criteria
Understand who qualifies before you nominate — and help your nominee put their best case forward.
General Eligibility Requirements
These baseline requirements apply across all categories before category-specific criteria are considered.
- Demonstrated impact, leadership, or excellence within the relevant sector
- Operates or has significant ties to Somalia or the Somali community (locally or in the diaspora)
- Verifiable track record — supported by evidence, media coverage, or references
- Good standing — no active legal, ethical, or governance controversies at time of nomination
- Has not won the same award category in the current or immediately preceding cycle (unless category rules state otherwise)
Individual, Organisational & Institutional Eligibility
Individual Nominees
- Must hold or have held a recognised leadership, professional, or public role
- Contribution must be attributable to the individual, not solely their organisation
- Minimum of 2 years demonstrable activity in their field
Organisational Nominees
- Registered, operating business or organisation
- Minimum 2 years operational history
- Clear evidence of sector contribution, growth, or innovation
Institutional Nominees
- Recognised institution (university, hospital, government body, etc.)
- Demonstrated public or sector-wide impact
- Institutional leadership or governance in good standing
Category-Specific Criteria
Some award categories carry additional, specific requirements for example, Healthcare categories may require licensing verification, while Business categories may require proof of registration. Nominators should review the relevant category description before submitting.
Who Cannot Be Nominated
- Current SLA board members, judges, or Secretariat staff
- Nominees involved in active legal disputes related to fraud, corruption, or human rights violations
- Nominations submitted without minimum required supporting documentation
- Duplicate nominations for the same nominee in the same category within one cycle
How Eligibility Is Assessed
The SLA Secretariat performs an initial eligibility screening after submission. Only eligible nominees proceed to independent judging.
Still Not Sure?
If your case doesn’t fit neatly into the criteria above, our FAQs cover common edge cases and exceptions.
Meet the Criteria? Nominate Today.
It only takes a few minutes to put a deserving leader forward.