The Eswatini Competition Commission (ESCC) has been recognised globally for its efforts in protecting consumers at the grassroots level. The commission received an honourable mention at the 2026 World Bank Group and International Consumer Protection and Enforcement Network (ICPEN) Consumer Protection Awards in Georgia. This prestigious award acknowledges the ESCC's Grassroots Consumer Access to Recourse and Redress Initiative, known as G-CARRI.
The ESCC's G-CARRI initiative was designed to bring consumer awareness, education, and protection closer to communities, particularly those with limited access to formal consumer protection mechanisms. This initiative aligns with the awards' theme, "No One Left Behind," which focuses on initiatives that adapt enforcement approaches, complaint channels, and redress mechanisms to meet the needs of vulnerable and underserved consumers.
The 2026 World Bank Group and ICPEN Consumer Protection Awards brought together consumer protection authorities from around the world to recognise initiatives that deliver measurable and practical results for consumers. The ESCC was represented at the awards ceremony by its Director of Competition and Consumer Protection, Dr. Thobisa Simelane. This recognition highlights the importance of making consumer protection accessible at the grassroots level, where consumers interact directly with businesses and markets.
The ESCC is a statutory body established under the Competition Act of 2007, with a mandate to promote fair competition, prevent anti-competitive practices, regulate mergers and acquisitions, and protect consumer welfare in Eswatini's markets. The commission's efforts to make consumer protection more accessible to consumers in Eswatini have been acknowledged internationally.
The "No One Left Behind" category specifically recognised work designed to address gaps in access to consumer protection by adapting enforcement, complaint-handling, and redress mechanisms to the needs of vulnerable and underserved consumers. The ESCC's G-CARRI initiative has sought to address these gaps and provide consumers with access to redress.
The international recognition of the ESCC's G-CARRI initiative demonstrates the impact of the commission's work in promoting consumer protection and welfare in Eswatini. The award also underscores the importance of collaboration and knowledge-sharing among consumer protection authorities globally.
The ESCC's achievement is a significant milestone in its efforts to protect consumers and promote fair competition in Eswatini. The commission will continue to work towards ensuring that businesses compete fairly while consumers are protected from practices that may undermine their welfare.
Key points
- The Eswatini Competition Commission received an honourable mention at the 2026 World Bank Group and ICPEN Consumer Protection Awards for its Grassroots Consumer Access to Recourse and Redress Initiative.
- The initiative aims to bring consumer awareness, education, and protection closer to communities, particularly those with limited access to formal consumer protection mechanisms.
- The recognition highlights the importance of making consumer protection accessible at the grassroots level.
