Remediation and Training for companies and their suppliers
Remediation
Africa Now offers remediation work covering a range of issues including supervisor skills, employee relations and gender awareness. Key to this is securing the trust and commitment from facility management, a pillar of Africa Now's overall approach to ethical business services.
In addition, Africa Now can advise management in a professional capacity about how to implement some of the conditions required to meet compliance. This may mean assigning an associate to work with the factory for a number of days, or through more long term regular correspondence.
Follow-up
When an audit or assessment results in the development of a Corrective Action Plan, then a follow up audit usually takes place, once the management is reasonably confident all the issues have been addressed. This is normally within 3-4 months of the initial audit.
Corporate Training
Africa Now can deliver bespoke training programmes for international suppliers, and has experience in training human resource staff from leading exporters on compliance.
Africa Now also assists organisations seeking fair trade certification, assist joint worker and management committees established within exporter companies to prioritise use of fair trade premiums, or help artisan or producer groups seeking membership of the international fair trade movement, such as the International Federation of Alternative Trade (IFAT).
"I feel overjoyed when I see management start to bring improvements to workers' lives by ensuring they are well paid and well nourished for their hard work. We are proud and feel priviliged to have the opportunity to serve our community by helping the Malagasy people achieve a decent standard of living and a better life." Jeannette Simpoha, associate auditor, Madagascar
Links to local organisations
Africa Now works with local organisations to exchange ideas and experiences with them relating to ethical trading, assist them to get involved in ethical auditing and promotion of ethical trade, develop locally appropriate codes and standards, and collate information to provide a resource base on business and trade services and standards.
Clients include: Jones apparel group, Cadbury Schweppes, Fairtrade Foundation, Flamingo Holdings, IFC.