Partner Africa

On this International Day for the Eradication of Poverty, we're reminded that responsible business practices are key to sustainable poverty reduction in Africa. As the CSDDD pushes companies to address their social and environmental impacts, there's an opportunity to align compliance efforts with meaningful poverty eradication initiatives. Partner Africa helps companies contribute meaningfully to poverty eradication through various initiatives. We help you calculate and implement living wages, addressing a root cause of poverty. We design skills development programmes that empower workers and local communities. We guide you in creating opportunities for small businesses in your value chain and help you integrate marginalised groups into your procurement processes. We also assist in developing community investment projects that address local poverty drivers. Our approach is holistic, recognising that poverty is multi-dimensional. We help you assess your current impacts on poverty in operational areas, identify opportunities for positive contribution, and develop targeted strategies that align with your business objectives. We support you in implementing programmes in collaboration with local stakeholders and assist in monitoring and reporting on poverty reduction outcomes. By aligning your operations with poverty reduction goals, you're not just meeting CSDDD requirements—you're creating lasting positive impact. Our deep understanding of African contexts ensures that your efforts are culturally appropriate and truly effective. This October 17th, let's discuss how your business can be a powerful force for poverty eradication in Africa. With Partner Africa's guidance, you can transform regulatory requirements into opportunities for meaningful social impact.

On World Food Day, we reflect on the crucial role of responsible business in ensuring food security across Africa. As climate change and population growth pose new challenges, companies in the agri-food sector must step up to meet both regulatory requirements and ethical imperatives. The CSDDD places new obligations on companies to address human rights and environmental impacts throughout their value chains. In the food sector, this means taking a hard look at issues like land rights, water usage, fair pricing for smallholders, and sustainable farming practices. Partner Africa helps businesses navigate these complex issues. We guide you in adopting methods that boost productivity while preserving ecosystems. Our expertise helps you build equitable relationships with small-scale producers and create adaptive strategies to ensure long-term food security. We conduct tailored assessments to help you identify and address risks specific to food production, and facilitate meaningful dialogue with affected stakeholders to ensure your operations contribute positively to food security. Our expertise spans the entire food value chain, from farm to fork. We understand the unique challenges of African agriculture, from land tenure issues to the impacts of climate change on smallholder farmers. By partnering with us, you're not just meeting regulatory requirements—you're contributing to a more food-secure Africa. Our approach aligns your business objectives with sustainable development goals, creating shared value for your company and the communities you serve. This World Food Day, let's explore how your business can be a force for positive change in African agriculture. With Partner Africa's guidance, you can turn the challenges of food security into opportunities for sustainable growth and positive impact.

Did you know that low wages are at the root of many human rights issues in Africa? From child labour to poor working conditions, inadequate pay often drives exploitation. As the CSDDD pushes companies to address human rights impacts, understanding and implementing living wages has become more critical than ever. Partner Africa offers comprehensive living wage assessments tailored to local contexts. We understand that a living wage in Lagos may differ significantly from one in Lusaka. Our approach is thorough and nuanced, helping you calculate living wage benchmarks specific to your operational areas and develop phased implementation strategies that balance business realities with worker needs. We don't just provide numbers; we offer practical guidance on how to integrate living wage considerations into your broader human rights due diligence processes. This includes monitoring progress and impact over time, engaging with local stakeholders, and aligning your wage practices with emerging global standards and regulations. Our team of experts combines global best practices with deep local knowledge. By investing in fair compensation, you're not just complying with emerging regulations—you're building a more stable, productive workforce and contributing to sustainable development. Living wages can lead to reduced turnover, increased productivity, and enhanced brand reputation. Let Partner Africa guide you towards a fair wage future in your African operations. Together, we can create a more equitable and prosperous business environment that benefits both your company and the communities you serve.

In today's globalised economy, supply chain transparency is no longer optional—it's essential. The Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive (CSDDD) is pushing companies to take a closer look at their entire value chain, with a particular focus on human rights and environmental impacts. Partner Africa specialises in unravelling the complexities of African supply chains. Our expert team conducts thorough mappings, from raw materials to final distribution, helping you identify and address potential risks. We understand that Africa's diverse landscape presents unique challenges, from informal economies to complex socio-political contexts. Our approach encompasses detailed supplier mapping and risk assessment, on-the-ground investigations, stakeholder consultations, and integration of local knowledge and cultural insights. We help you identify salient human rights and environmental risks, and develop effective mitigation strategies and action plans. With our deep local knowledge and cross-sector experience, we ensure your supply chain not only complies with regulations but also contributes positively to local communities. We help you move beyond mere compliance to create resilient, sustainable supply chains that can withstand scrutiny and drive long-term business success. Ready to enhance your supply chain transparency and meet the challenges of the CSDDD? Let's talk about how Partner Africa can guide you through this complex but crucial journey.

Partner Africa is proud to host the session "Pillar 2 - An African perspective on how businesses are identifying and addressing human rights issues at the producer level" at the African Business & Human Rights Forum in Nairobi, to discuss the tools businesses are using to identify human rights issues in their African supply chains. The session will take place on Tuesday 8th October at 2 p.m. Nairobi time. If you wish to attend, you can register directly to the African Forum webpage (https://lnkd.in/gUVRHA9m), and join us in person or online! Introducing the speakers and moderator: ▶ Speaker: Malisa Mukanga | Position: Advisor on CSDDD and Inclusive Agr-Value Chains | Organisation: International Trade Centre ▶ Speaker: Janie Swanepoel | Position: Senior Responsible Business Consultant | Organisation: Partner Africa ▶ Speaker: Miriam Wanjiru | Position: Responsible Business Consultant | Organisation: Partner Africa ▶ Speaker: Henry Wera | Position: Human Rights and Environmental Due Diligence Expert | Organisation: Fairtrade Africa ▶ Moderator: Rosie Akester | Position: Head of Responsible Business| Organisation: Partner Africa ↘ For more information, do not hesitate to contact the advisory team at advisory@partnerafrica.org

🔔 New blog! At Partner Africa, we're committed to advancing ethical trade across various industries. We've published a new blog highlighting one of our key accreditations in the agricultural sector, specifically in South African wine production. As leaders in social auditing, we continuously expand our expertise to serve diverse markets. This latest piece offers valuable insights into an important certification process. ↘ Visit the link below to read the full post: https://lnkd.in/e8t95Vym ↘ Or visit our website now to learn more about our expanding capabilities and industry impact: www.partnerafrica.org

Unveiling Africa's Investment Landscape: Partner Africa Takes Centre Stage We're proud to announce that Partner Africa's Executive Director will be a speaker at the upcoming Nordic-African Business Summit. Sara will delve into the critical social and environmental risks facing investors in Africa, offering fresh perspectives on turning challenges into opportunities. This isn't just another talk - it's a chance to reshape how we approach African investments. We'll be tackling the tough questions and proposing bold solutions. Event: NABA's 13th Nordic-African Business Summit: Navigating a New World Order Date: 3 October 2024 Venue: Grand Hotel, Oslo Join us as we chart a course for responsible and rewarding investments in Africa. Your voice and insights can help drive this crucial conversation forward.

Climate change and human rights are inextricably linked, especially in Africa. As businesses navigate this complex landscape, understanding the interplay between environmental issues and human rights is crucial. Partner Africa offers integrated assessments examining both environmental and human rights risks. We help you identify climate-related human rights impacts, develop rights-respecting adaptation strategies, implement just transition plans, engage communities in resilience efforts, and report on progress. Our approach considers key interconnections such as food security, water access, climate-induced displacement, health impacts, and livelihood disruptions. We recognise that climate change disproportionately affects vulnerable communities, and our strategies prioritise protecting the rights of these groups. Our team includes experts in both environmental sustainability and human rights, ensuring a truly integrated approach to these interconnected challenges. By addressing climate change through a human rights lens, you can build more resilient operations while contributing to sustainable development in Africa. Let's work together to create climate-smart, rights-respecting business practices across the continent.

We are thrilled to share that Partner Africa is supporting AIM-Progress to host The 2024 Aim-Progress Africa Hub Virtual Supplier Event. The event will take place on October 29th and 30th, and will cover key issues in human rights and responsible business practices: ↘ Human rights due diligence ↘ Grievance mechanisms ↘ Contracts ↘ Responsible purchasing practices ↘ Security and human rights Partner Africa's own Miriam Wanjiru Mogotu, Chiara Giaccari and Janie Swanepoel (Ph.D) will also participate in the event as speakers, providing an introduction to human rights due diligence and key developments in the law. For additional details, please contact Chiara Giaccari at cgiaccari@partnerafrica.org or Yael Fattal Lariccia at yael.fattal@aim.be #HumanRightsDueDiligence #GrievanceMechanisms #ResponsiblePurchasingPractices #SecurityAndHumanRights #PartnerAfrica #AIMProgress #AfricaHub

Partner Africa recently led a high-impact training session for Kenya's chicken farmers, focusing on implementing enhanced chicken welfare standards. This well-attended event provided practical guidance and resources to improve practices and streamline record-keeping. The training is a key component of the Mazuri Chicken and Eggs project, our pilot programme aimed at transforming welfare standards in Kenya's chicken industry. By collaborating with local farmers, we're driving sustainable change from the ground up. We're grateful to the Africa Network for Animal Welfare (ANAW) for their partnership and to Open Philanthropy for their support in making this initiative possible. This project exemplifies Partner Africa's commitment to fostering responsible business practices aligned with global standards. Animal welfare is a growing priority globally, as seen with the OECD Guidelines being recently updated to include animal welfare and we're working on new benchmarks for animal welfare while positioning Kenyan farmers at the forefront of ethical agricultural practices. Together, we're shaping a future where responsible business and industry success go hand in hand. Join us in our mission to create lasting positive impact across Africa.