Academy Award-winner Ben Affleck received the People's Choice Award for Favorite Humanitarian at Wednesday night's award ceremony in Los Angeles. 

Affleck was honoured for his work with the Eastern Congo Initiative (ECI)-- an organisation that partners with the people of Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) to increase investments in their country's infrastructure.

The 42-year-old founded the organisation in 2010, and has made grants and investments to strengthen DRC's cocoa and coffee industries, support former child soldiers, and provide quality healthcare for women and children.

The Humanitarian Award adds an altruistic element to the entertainment award show.

"We are so pleased to honour Ben with the 2015 People's Choice Humanitarian Award,"  executive producer Mark Burnett said in a statement.

"This award has become an important part of our show. It highlights a different side of a celebrity and helps bring awareness to a cause that our audience can support."

Affleck was humbled by the honour.

"It's something I've had a hard time accepting," the husband and father of two said. "I've had the privilege of working alongside so many incredible people in the Congo and all over the world who, I assure you, are far more deserving.

"I've been lucky to spend time working with real humanitarians," Affleck continued.

"People who, in the face of incredible challenges and war and poverty and disease, dedicate every waking moment to rebuilding their country and a better future for their families, and that's really on whose behalf I want to accept this award – on behalf of the people of the Eastern Congo Initiative and all of our partners in the Democratic Republic of the Congo."

Past Humanitarian Award recipients include Sandra Bullock for her work in New  Orleans after Hurricane Katrina, and Jennifer Hudson for her Julian D King Gift Foundation.