AstraZeneca Secures Top Employer, Best Workplace Certifications Across Africa

AstraZeneca, a leading global pharmaceutical company, has secured the prestigious Top Employer and Best Place to Work certifications across key African markets, setting the standard for excellence in workplace practices.

The recognition marks the first Top Employer certification in Nigeria, reinforcing the company’s position as a leader in the country’s healthcare landscape.

In South Africa and Kenya, AstraZeneca also maintained the status as a Top Employer for the fourth consecutive year and has also been awarded the Best Places to Work certification in Ivory Coast, Cameroon, and Senegal, a testament to its unwavering commitment to nurturing talent and fostering an inclusive workplace culture.

Country President African Cluster at AstraZeneca, Deepak Arora, in a press statement made available to LEADERSHIP, indicated the feat was an acknowledgement of the company’s Environmental, Social and Corporate Governance efforts.

“Our recent certifications reaffirm our dedication to upholding the highest standards in people practices and fostering an inclusive, supportive, and innovative workplace culture and environment. We are particularly proud of our pioneering achievement in Nigeria, where we continue to lead the way in setting industry benchmarks for workplace excellence. These developments reflect our social commitment to a sustainable workplace environment for growth,” he said.

AstraZeneca’s success in achieving the Top Employer Certification is a result of its continuous commitment to excellence across six key HR domains consisting of 20 topics, including People Strategy, Work Environment, Talent Acquisition, Learning, Diversity, Equity & Inclusion, Wellbeing and more.

The Best Place to Work programme’s proprietary assessment analyses organisations’ attractiveness through a two-step process, focusing on eight workplace factors: culture, leadership, opportunities for growth, and people practices. Besides the employee survey, there is an HR assessment that focuses on evaluating the organisation’s HR practices against the best standards.

Human Resource Director African Cluster at AstraZeneca, Shelleny Govender, added, “We are honoured to receive these recognitions, especially as they reflect our dedication to maintaining the highest standards in working conditions across different regions. Our unwavering focus on fostering an inclusive and supportive workplace environment, where our diverse teams thrive is further enhanced by this award.

“We will continue to tailor our practices to the unique needs of each region, ensuring that every member of the AstraZeneca family experiences a workplace that not only meets but exceeds their expectations,” he added.

AstraZeneca has been at the forefront of medical innovation for decades with a commitment to advancing healthcare interventions focused on research and development. With diverse portfolios of life-changing drugs across therapeutic areas such as oncology, cardiovascular, and respiratory diseases, the company has played a pivotal role in addressing global health challenges, collaborating on initiatives to improve global health outcomes through cutting-edge science and technology.