LRQA has acquired Partner Africa, a leading social audit and responsible business advisory organisation, strengthening its responsible sourcing capabilities and expanding its footprint across Africa.
The acquisition is LRQA’s first in the European, Middle East and Africa (EMEA) region and marks an important step in the company’s active Mergers & Acquisitions (M&A) strategy to accelerate growth. It is the latest in a series of strategic acquisitions, with a strong pipeline already in place for 2026 as LRQA continues to invest in high-growth markets and capabilities.
Africa represents a major opportunity for organisations seeking to strengthen responsible sourcing, transparency and worker protection across global supply chains. Partner Africa brings deep regional expertise, strong in-market relationships and a respected reputation for delivering social auditing and responsible sourcing programmes across the continent.
By combining Partner Africa’s regional insight with LRQA’s global risk management expertise, the organisations will help clients better navigate supply chain risks while delivering measurable social and environmental impact.
Ian Spaulding, CEO of LRQA, said:
“Partner Africa brings outstanding expertise in social auditing and responsible sourcing, along with advisory services on labour standards and human rights, in a region where demand for these capabilities is growing rapidly. Africa is an important emerging market for LRQA, and this acquisition strengthens our ability to support clients building transparent and resilient supply chains. It also reflects our commitment to investing in growth through targeted acquisitions.”
The partnership also significantly expands the range of services available to Partner Africa’s clients. Alongside responsible sourcing and social auditing, organisations will gain access to LRQA’s broader portfolio across quality assurance, cyber security, climate performance and safety, as well as its supply chain intelligence software, EiQ.
Rosie Akester, Head of Responsible Business, Advisory at Partner Africa, said:
“Joining LRQA allows us to scale the impact of our work across Africa while bringing new capabilities to the organisations we support. Our focus has always been on improving working conditions and strengthening responsible business practices, and this partnership gives us a much larger platform to deliver that.”
Kathy O’Grady, Head of Audit at Partner Africa, added:
“By combining our audit teams and LRQA’s global infrastructure, we are better positioned to meet increasing demand for credible, high-quality social audits at scale, while maintaining the depth and rigour our clients expect.”
The acquisition reflects a shared commitment to responsible business and measurable impact – helping organisations protect workers, strengthen communities and build trust across complex global supply chains.
Together, LRQA and Partner Africa will expand responsible sourcing initiatives across Africa while supporting organisations navigating increasing regulatory, reputational and operational risk within global supply networks.
Advisors to LRQA on the transaction included Squire Patton Boggs, Bowmans and MHA, while Partner Africa was advised by Withers.
