Partner Africa stands at the forefront of ethical trade auditing in Africa, offering comprehensive assessment services across multiple internationally recognized standards. Our team of experienced auditors brings extensive expertise in social compliance, environmental sustainability, and ethical business practices. We are approved to conduct audits across several prominent standards and methodologies, including SMETA, WIETA, SIZA social standard and GLOBALG.A.P., serving diverse industries from agriculture to manufacturing.
Building Success Stories
Partner Africa’s audit team consists of 11 dedicated professionals who bring extensive expertise in ethical trade and social compliance. In 2023, our team successfully conducted 898 audits across multiple standards, followed by 894 audits in 2024.
Of the 894 audits conducted in 2024, we performed 332 SMETA audits, 121 SIZA audits, and 178 WIETA audits, seeing increased numbers for these standards year over year. The growing number of SIZA and WIETA audits demonstrates an increased commitment in the South African agriculture industry to adhere to best practices and improve worker conditions. While approximately half of our audits were performed in South Africa this past year, our footprint extended into 21 other African nations including Morocco, Kenya, Zimbabwe, Egypt, Nigeria, and more.
Across 24 industries audited, our top sectors in 2024 were Agriculture, Manufacturing, and Food & Beverage. Agriculture comprised two-thirds of our total audit volume, with these top three industries together accounting for 88% of all audits performed. Throughout these sectors, 794 different companies entrusted us with their audit needs. Many are long-standing clients who value our precision, professionalism, and unwavering commitment to improving lives across Africa.
Our dedication to conducting rigorous, thorough audits helps organizations clearly understand and effectively meet their human rights obligations.
Our auditors continuously enhance their expertise through regular training and development, ensuring they remain current with evolving standards and best practices in ethical trade. This commitment to excellence has enabled us to build strong, lasting relationships with both multinational corporations and local businesses, supporting them in their journey toward ethical and sustainable operations.
At Partner Africa, our mission is to provide clients with premium quality social audit, advisory and training services that enable them to achieve the highest social and environmental standards in their organizations and supply chains throughout Africa.
In 2025, the Partner Africa Audits department will continue to expand our footprint across the continent, helping to realize Africa’s tremendous potential.
Our Comprehensive Audit Solutions: Meeting Global Standards
Our success is built on our ability to offer a diverse range of internationally recognized auditing standards, each designed to address specific industry needs and compliance requirements. Let’s explore the key audit frameworks we specialize in, their unique features, and how they can benefit your organization’s ethical trade journey. Whether you’re in agriculture, manufacturing, or food processing, Partner Africa has the expertise to guide you through the certification process with confidence and precision.
SMETA: The Global Standard for Ethical Trade
SMETA (Sedex Members Ethical Trade Audit) represents a comprehensive approach to assessing ethical trade practices in global supply chains. This widely recognized methodology evaluates performance across labour rights, health and safety, environmental practices, and business ethics. Available in both 2-pillar and 4-pillar versions, SMETA offers flexibility to meet varying industry needs while maintaining rigorous standards for ethical business practices.
Dive deeper into SMETA audits here for a comprehensive exploration of this audit standard.
GLOBALG.A.P.: Setting the Standard in Agricultural Practices
GLOBALG.A.P. certification stands as a leading global standard for agricultural production, ensuring safe and sustainable farming practices. Our team is qualified to conduct audits for IFA Fruits & Vegetables V6 SMART & V6 GFS option 1. We are approved to audit the following add-ons GRASP (Risk Assessment on Social Practice), SPRING (Sustainable Program for Irrigation and Groundwater Use), and Albert Heijn (AH-DLL GROW).
Read more about GLOBALG.A.P. here to gain a broader understanding of this certification.
WIETA: Excellence in South African Wine Production
The Wine and Agricultural Ethical Trade Association (WIETA) certification focuses specifically on ethical practices in South African wine production. This standard encompasses human rights due diligence, fair labour conditions, health and safety, and community engagement. WIETA certification demonstrates a producer’s commitment to sustainable and ethical wine production practices, ensuring both worker welfare and environmental responsibility.
Get to know the WIETA standard better by reading our overview here.
SIZA: Advancing Sustainable Agriculture in South Africa
The Sustainability Initiative of South Africa (SIZA) provides a comprehensive framework for ethical agricultural practices. Through announced, semi-announced, and unannounced audits, SIZA ensures thorough evaluation of labour practices, worker welfare, and operational sustainability. This program creates essential visibility throughout the agricultural value chain, connecting local suppliers with international markets.
Check out our SIZA audits overview here for insights into this certification process.
Partnering for a Sustainable Future
In today’s global marketplace, ethical and sustainable business practices represent far more than a competitive advantage—they are fundamental to creating genuine positive impact for workers and communities across Africa. Partner Africa’s comprehensive audit services provide the expertise and guidance needed to not only achieve certification but to implement meaningful changes that improve workers’ lives, protect their rights, and enhance workplace conditions.
Whether you’re seeking SMETA, WIETA, GLOBALG.A.P., or SIZA certification, our experienced team stands ready to support your journey toward ethical excellence. We understand that each audit represents an opportunity to transform working environments, strengthen communities, and build business practices that respect both people and planet. By partnering with us, you join a growing movement of forward-thinking organizations committed to making ethical trade a reality throughout Africa.
Contact us today to discuss how our audit services can help your business demonstrate its commitment to responsible practices, improve conditions for workers, and access new market opportunities. Together, we can build a more equitable and sustainable future for Africa’s workforce and businesses.
