21 January 2025
ASCI wins the Schwab Foundation Award for Collective Social Innovators of the Year 2025

We’re thrilled to announce that the Africa Sustainable Commodities Initiative (ASCI) has been selected as a winner of the Schwab Foundation Awards 2025. Proforest’s Africa and Global Director, Abraham Baffoe, receives the award for Collective Social Innovators on behalf of ASCI at the World Economic Forum meeting in Davos.
The Schwab Foundation awards recognise outstanding social entrepreneurs and innovators who are driving systemic change around the world. The 2025 awards celebrate 18 social entrepreneurs and innovators from 15 organisations in 13 countries, who are engaged in action as diverse as protecting nature, supporting livelihoods of economically marginalised communities, and transforming healthcare and education. ASCI is joining a global community of nearly 500 social entrepreneurs and innovators, who collectively impact 931 million lives.
Abraham has been instrumental in leading the ASCI for 10 years, since its inception as the Africa Palm Oil Initiative in 2014. Across Africa, agriculture accounts for 30-40% of GDP and provides jobs and livelihoods for millions, but is also a major driver of deforestation, biodiversity loss and human rights abuses. The Africa Sustainable Commodities Initiative is a unique partnership among 10 African countries - Cameroon, Central African Republic, Côte d’Ivoire, Democratic Republic of Congo, Nigeria, Gabon, Ghana, Liberia, Republic of Congo and Sierra Leone - which together account for 25% of the world’s tropical forest, and 75% of Africa’s forests. Through ASCI, governments from the 10 countries committed to shared principles of responsible production of agricultural commodities that provide positive outcomes for people, nature and climate.
“ASCI is about fostering a multi-stakeholder process to enable countries to grow economically, to increase agricultural production and boost smallholders’ livelihoods, while protecting their forest resources,” said Proforest’s Abraham Baffoe.
ASCI demonstrates the political will and potential across the region, with agreed principles that include governance for international investment; inclusion of under-represented groups and protection of Indigenous rights; and investment in smallholders to boost productivity.
“This award is an honour I share with all the members of the Africa Sustainable Commodities Initiative” Abraham added. “It is also a springboard to what I hope will be further global engagement and investment through ASCI, where there is so much opportunity ahead.”
Africa Sustainable Commodities Initiative website
ASCI publications on the Proforest website
More on the Schwab Foundation Social Innovators Awardees 2025: 2025 Awardees | Schwab Foundation Awards 2025
Abraham interviewed on Newzroom Afrika - https://youtu.be/y9e_D2OGwiM?feature=shared
Abraham's acceptance speech - https://youtu.be/9PisjqXO0Dg?feature=shared