As suppliers navigate the complexities of compliance and sustainability in South Africa, understanding the tools and frameworks available is essential. One area of confusion often arises between SIZA (The Sustainability Initiative of South Africa) and Sherpa, two systems frequently referenced in the agricultural sector. While both contribute to the industry’s sustainability goals, their roles and functions are distinct.
What is SIZA?
SIZA is a Social (Ethical) and Environmental compliance programme supported by the world-class MySIZA platform, designed to ensure that South African agricultural suppliers meet ethical and environmental requirements. SIZA enables producers to demonstrate compliance with global and local sustainability requirements through a structured self-assessment and audit process focusing on continuous improvement. It provides an audit process that verifies a supplier’s adherence to ethical (labour) and environmental standards, giving credibility to local and international markets, which is supported by a hands-on audit oversight programme to drive credibility and continuous improvement. Global buyers also accept the SIZA programmes as proof of social and environmental compliance. For more information, visit SIZA.
What is Sherpa?
Sherpa, on the other hand, is not a compliance programme. Instead, it is a digital platform for strategic sustainability management. Developed by Blue North, Sherpa helps agricultural stakeholders conduct site-level assessments, monitor performance, and integrate sustainability into their long-term planning. It is a decision-support tool designed to track progress. For more information, visit Sherpa.
Key Differences
- Purpose:
- SIZA focuses on maintaining compliance through its ethical and environmental standards.
- Sherpa is a tool for tracking and improving sustainability practices.
- Outcomes:
- SIZA provides internationally recognised proof of compliance through audits and between-audit monitoring supported by producer support programmes, guidelines, training, etc.
- Sherpa generates insights and action plans to support on-site decision-making and performance monitoring.
Understanding these differences ensures suppliers use each programme appropriately. SIZA supports compliance efforts, demonstrating suppliers’ commitment to ethical and sustainable practices to stakeholders and providing visibility throughout the supply chain. Sherpa guides the development and implementation of sustainability strategies, helping suppliers improve performance and adapt to changing conditions in the agricultural sector beyond the audit programme.
By effectively leveraging both programmes, suppliers can meet compliance requirements and drive meaningful and lasting improvements in their sustainability practices.
If your buyer requests your compliance or membership with a programme, ensure you contact not only the programme to understand the purpose but also your global buyers to verify if they accept the specific programme.