EDITORIAL DUE DILIGENCE
African business can adopt several strategies to align with evolving HRDD requirements:
• Engage in multi-stakeholder dialogue: Collaboration with governments, civil society organisations, trade unions, and local communities can help businesses contextualise global frameworks. This inclusive approach builds trust, identifies shared priorities, and ensures that HRDD measures are practical and locally relevant.
• Develop scalable due diligence and compliance programmes: HRDD processes should be tailored to the size, sector, and geographic reach of each business. Large multinationals may invest in comprehensive management systems, while SMEs may begin with pilot projects, streamlined checklists, tailored training, and external advisory support to build HRDD capacity.
• Map the supply chain: Companies should identify and understand all the entities involved in the journey – from raw materials to end customers. Human rights abuse often occurs in upstream or indirect supplier relationships, which can expose businesses to liability. Mapping exercises help identify risk hot spots and enable tailored action plans based on a business’ s degree of influence and the nature of its relationships.
• Leverage and harmonise regional frameworks: Aligning with African continental instruments such as the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights, the Nairobi Declaration on African Business and Human Rights, and the African Continental Free Trade Area Agreement( AfCFTA), can support cooperation and stakeholder buy-in. While the AfCFTA does not expressly require HRDD, its protocols may catalyse broader conversations around labour standards, ethical supply chains, and sustainable development, paving the way for regionally aligned HRDD standards.
• Invest in capacity building and training: Both public and private sector collaboration is vital to improving HRDD awareness. Training employees, hosting industry workshops, and supporting government-led programmes can promote consistent and effective implementation of BHR principles.
Global momentum toward mandatory HRDD presents African businesses with a strong incentive to adopt robust human rights practices. This shift is not without its challenges: complying with myriad international and local regulations requires substantial effort, investment in capacity-building, and careful navigation of local contexts. Yet it also presents opportunities for businesses to expand global market access, enhance operational risk management, and attract responsible investment.
By engaging in multi-stakeholder cooperation and leveraging regional legal frameworks, African companies can align with emerging international norms while remaining responsive to local realities. In doing so, they can meaningfully contribute to sustainable development and community wellbeing, fulfilling the promise of business as both a driver of prosperity and a guardian of fundamental human rights. ■
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