Increasing auditor enrolments during July provided exciting insight into the diversity of APSCA’s Membership, representing 62 different countries and 48 different languages. 

The significance of this reach and potential accessibility reflects a substantial opportunity to contribute to the improvement of workplace conditions throughout global supply chains. It is encouraging of our mission; to increase the value and effectiveness of independent social compliance audits by enhancing the professionalism, consistency and credibility of individuals and organisations performing them.

Auditor Enrolments
During July, Auditor enrolments increased substantially with over 2,600 Auditors now fully enrolled.

APSCA have also developed an online facility for the validation of Member Auditor credentials. The facility will be available via our website and is scheduled for release by Q4, 2018. This facility will allow public validation of an Auditor’s Level, Membership Number and Status and Identity (via a photograph) by input of the Auditor’s surname and APSCA Membership Number.  It will not provide a list of APSCA Member Auditors but allows the validation of individual Auditors.    

The online facility will form a notable resource for audit clientele and will further foster confidence in the credibility of our growing industry.

We encourage our Member Firms to have their auditor’s subscribe to APSCA’s newsletter to stay up to date here. Further, if you have a friend or colleague that may be interested in APSCA please share this newsletter with them via the link below.
 
Share with my colleagues!

APSCA CSCA Exam
Of the 2,600+ Auditors who have completed their online enrolment, 75% are ready to start the CSCA exam process and have been assigned the ‘Registered’ auditor level. These auditors are located in 62 different countries with advanced written language competency across 48 different languages.

As we prepare to start the written exams, we have identified that 95% of the auditors are covered by 11 languages with the remaining 5% representing 37 different languages. Ten languages were notably represented by a single auditor.

We are currently finalising the exam format and are completing a workplace assessment of the organisation identified to facilitate the exam process. 

The CSCA exam is on track for launch during Q4, 2018.

Account Administration
Auditor accounts and related Memberships are recorded independent of Member Firms. As such, an individual auditor’s account details and membership number stays with them wherever they work. 

Apart from adding or removing connection to a firm, account changes will only be accepted by notification from the Auditor. To this end, Auditors are reminded to keep their account details up-to-date with any changes to be emailed to the APSCA Data Administrator at data.administrator@theapsca.org.  It is recommended, Auditors provide an alternate (personal) email address in their profile by emailing data.administrator@theapsca.org if they have not already done so.  

Firms are encouraged to incorporate confirmation of ASPCA Auditor Membership during their onboarding processes to facilitate Auditor linking. Equivalently, firms should also develop an offboarding process to ensure severance of connections within the APSCA database as required. Member Firms should notify the Data Administrator of any changes to member connections via data.administrator@theapsca.org.

These measures are necessary to support the integrity of the information within the APSCA data system. This will allow accurate review of:  

• Auditor examinations and results
• Any allegations or confirmed breaches of adherence to APSCA’s Code of Professional Conduct
• Status of membership fees 

My Auditors App
The APSCA My Auditors App has been released providing Member Firms with the ability to view their Auditors’ information and assigned auditor level. Member Firms are now requesting, if required, auditor level re-assessments via the APSCA review of auditor logs. This is in preparation for the CSCA exam which is expected for launch in Q4, 2018.

Member Firm Application Process Pilot
APSCA Membership engenders a commitment to continuously enhance the professionalism and credibility of the social compliance industry in accordance with the principles of our Code of Professional Conduct.

Respective of this commitment, APSCA have been focused on the development of an application process which will reinforce the values and professional integrity to which all APSCA Members have been endorsed and will continue to be held accountable.

A pilot application process is under evaluation with a further update to be provided in the August Newsletter.

CSR Asia Summit in Hong Kong | 18 – 19 September 2018

CSR Asia, an ELEVATE company, hosts CSR Asia Summit in Hong Kong this September. For the 12th year running, CSR Asia Summit is Asia’s leading event for bringing together key stakeholders to share knowledge and best practice in sustainability. This year’s programme explores how transparency, integrity and impact can be applied across sustainability initiatives within business, communities and supply chains to enable growth and drive performance. The Summit is expected to attract 500 delegates from 30 countries. 

In 2018, we are including a full track across the two-day Summit to address the responsible sourcing and supply chain management expertise of The ELEVATE Leadership Series – Hong Kong. 

Our President and CEO Rona Starr joins ELEVATE CEO Ian Spaulding for a key supply chain session, Global Trends in Responsible Sourcing 2018. In addition, APSCA Executive Board member and ELEVATE SVP, Dr. Kevin Franklin, will conduct responsible sourcing introductory training during pre-Summit training sessions on 17 September. 

Register soon – the early bird discount ends on 26 July! 

Auditor enrolments continued to grow with advancement of APSCA’s supporting processes including release of the My Auditors App. APSCA Director, Systems Management, Julie Shaw commented “The release of APSCA’s My Auditors App will enhance efficiencies of auditor administration for Member Firms. The app provides access to APSCA auditor accreditation; promoting professional development under APSCA’s Competency Framework”.

APSCA Ethics & Integrity Program
Pursuant to our Strategy released earlier this year, the development of a credible and efficient Ethics and Integrity Program consistent with APSCA’s Code of Professional Conduct, has been a key priority. The development work for this important initiative commenced under the guidance of our Senior Advisor Tim Lindon and an external consultant.  In summary, our Ethics and Integrity Program will comprise four facets:
 
      1.    education, guidance and support to auditors and the industry; 
      2.    enforcement, investigation and sanction process of individual members; 
      3.    admission and sanctioning process for member firms; and 
      4.    internal APSCA compliance program.  

Each will further establish APSCA’s function as a professional membership body and enhance Member credibility respective of our core mission.

 
Auditor Enrolments
Auditor enrolments continue to grow.  We currently have over 2,100 auditors who have fully completed their enrolment process and have received their APSCA Member number. As part of the enrolment process, APSCA has reviewed and assigned auditor levels as per the Competency Framework.  Auditors are assessed as being either:

• Associate Social Compliance Auditor (ASCA)
• Registered Auditor (ready to sit the Certified Social Compliance Auditor (CSCA) Exam

Note:  Closing date for auditors to be enrolled in our system in order to participate in the initial round of the CSCA exam is 31 July 2018.

We encourage our Member Firms to have their auditor’s subscribe to APSCA’s newsletter to stay up to date here. Further, if you have a friend or colleague that may be interested in APSCA please share this newsletter with them via the link below. Share with my colleagues!
 
My Auditors App
As per APSCA’s May Newsletter, we have initiated the roll-out of the My Auditors App to designated Senior Managers of Member Firms.  This will enable Member Firms to view the information for all auditors associated with their firm who are either employed, subcontractor or freelance auditors and who have completed the on-line auditor registration process.    Member Firms are also able to view the assigned APSCA Auditor Level for each of their auditors.  Firms may also request a reassessment of an auditor’s level via the second pathway documented in the Competency Framework.  

Note:  Reassessment of levels is required to be completed as soon as possible to prepare for the initial round of the CSCA exam.

Please note that APSCA Member Firms are receiving the Auditors Membership number and Levels of their auditors via the release of the My Auditors App, they will be in a position to start sharing this information with you in the coming weeks, please liaise directly with your audit firm for this information.

 My Auditors App is being released over the next couple of months to designated Senior Managers of Member Firms. 

Member Firm Approval Process
As communicated earlier, the approval process for firm membership to APSCA is currently being reviewed and is on schedule to be released in Q3, 2018.  Once approved, pending applications, new applicants and current provisional members will be reviewed under this new process.

Combined Stakeholder & Executive Board Meeting | 4 – 6 June 2018
The Stakeholder & Executive Boards met both individually and jointly, hosted by WRAP in their offices in Arlington Virginia earlier this month to discuss the strategic direction of APSCA and to provide feedback and guidance. 

We had great attendance by our Stakeholder and Executive Boards with many participating via the teleconference.

From Bottom Left Clockwise:  Greg Gardner, Wesley Wilson, Randy Rankin, Rochelle Zaid, Jill Manata, Tim Lindon, Brendan Morrissey, Dan Murray, Pierre-Yves Dupont, Antonio Astone, Fred Waelter, Avedis Seferian. Not pictured but present at meeting:  Rona Starr, Laura Rubbo, Bernardo Cruza, Jonathan Ivelaw-Chapman and Andrew Martin. ​

Unleash Opportunity amfori Conference
Our President & CEO Rona Starr joined an insightful panel on defining and delivering audit integrity during the amfori – Trade with Purpose Unleash Opportunity Conference. Together with Richard Boele (KPMG), Andrew Leatuali’i Savini (Member Firm ELEVATE Global) and Christophe Liebon (Member Firm Intertek), the panel explored the challenges and opportunities faced by our growing industry. Under the guidance of moderator Federico Burlon (Impactt), panel members considered the need for increased transparency and reduction of audit fatigue through technological innovation.

From left:  Andrew Savini (ELEVATE Global), Rona Starr (APSCA), Richard Boele (KPMG), Christophe Liebon (Intertek) and Federico Burlon (Impactt).

Meetings on Capital Hill Washington DC
On 31 May APSCA and RBA, with the support from Paul Delaney from Kyle House, met with 9 people from various US government organisations, namely Department of State, Department of Trade, Department of Labour as well as the Democratic Ways and Means.   These discussions were very productive and we all learned a lot throughout our time together.

Our approach with each agency was very similar:

• brief history of APSCA, why we formed, how we have grown,
• brief history of the Social Compliance industry,
• our plan for implementing the certification process and the 2 pilots that have occurred,
• Kyle House presented APSCA as industry experts who they could come to as support in their work in the social compliance space.

We look forward to continuing these ongoing discussions throughout the year.

During May, APSCA continued preparations for the implementation of the Certified Social Compliance Auditor (CSCA) examination. Through the CSCA program, APSCA aims to promote the role of the social compliance auditor and develop a workforce of committed, competent, experienced and ethical professionals. 

Enactment of the examination process reflects APSCA’s transition from a development to operational phase. 

Auditor Registrations
We are pleased to announce auditor registration advanced during May with 20 member firms having completed their registrations and many more in progress.  At this time 1,500+ auditors have completed their on-line registration.

We encourage our Member Firms to have their auditor’s subscribe to APSCA’s newsletter to stay up to date. ​

APSCA Members – Status Assessment
All Member Firms were recently contacted to advise that their membership status is currently being assessed against the following criteria in readiness for the implementation of the Certified Social Compliance Auditor (CSCA) exam and to prepare for APSCA’s 3rd Annual General Meeting (AGM) scheduled for December.

All Audit Firms must be in Good Standing with APSCA to:

• Register auditors to sit any part of the CSCA exam
• Nominate to run for a seat on the Executive Board at the AGM 
• Vote for Executive Board Representative 

Definition of In Good Standing:
Audit Firm

• 2018 Audit Firm Membership Fees paid.
• All documentation signed and returned:
  • Confidentiality Framework Agreement (including Contractual Clauses)
  • Code of Professional Conduct 
• Auditor information submitted to APSCA and Auditors commenced on-line registration.

Auditor

• Completed on-line registration.
• Auditor Registration Fee Paid (either by firm or individual auditor). 

Annual General Meeting
The date for audit firms to be in Good Standing for the AGM is 31 August 2018.
On 1 September, we will review the number of fully registered, employed auditors per member firm to determine Membership Category (e.g. A, B or C). All changes in Membership Category from 2018 level will be communicated to the audit firm. We will commence the AGM lead up process during the month of September based on audit firm categories as at 31 August 2018.

CSCA Examinations
We are preparing for the rollout of the CSCA Exam (Part 1 – Multiple ChoiceShort Answer) which is anticipated to begin in September.

Auditor information is being reviewed for all auditors who have completed their on-line registration, including their fees paid and assigning one of the two APSCA Auditor Levels:

• Registered, which is eligible to sit the CSCA Exam
• Associate (ASCA)

Please refer to the Competency Framework and Code of Professional Conduct for further details: 

Only those auditors who have the level of Registered AND are in Good Standing, will be eligible to sit the CSCA Exam. Please note the anticipated closing date for this will be 31 July 2018.

My Auditors App
APSCA are continuing to enhance Member benefits with the My Auditors App initiative targeting improved visibility of auditor registration and accreditation under the APSCA certification program. The app will be available to Member Firms whom have completed their on-line registrations. APSCA will contact these organisations directly to grant approved personnel access to the My Auditors App. This will allow Member Firms to see their auditors who have registered and assigned auditor level with APSCA.

Note:  Further assessment of an auditor’s level may be required pending Member Firm review.  

Aluminium Stewardship Initiative (ASI) Annual General Meeting
APSCA participated in the ASI Annual General Meeting which took place in Perth, Australia on 24 May 2018. This was a great opportunity to reinforce the relationship between ASI and APSCA.

“APSCA’s participation in the 2018 AGM Week helped raise understanding of APSCA’s work with our company and civil society members.  In a multi-stakeholder discussion about human rights challenges and opportunities, Rona Starr (APSCA President & CEO) described how APSCA is taking practical steps to enhance the professionalism and credibility of the social compliance industry.  In facing global human rights challenges relating to corruption, gender, labour rights, and the rights of Indigenous peoples, social compliance auditors can play a critical role alongside company culture and the willingness to learn and improve.  ASI appreciates the work of both APSCA and its members and is committed to supporting APSCA’s progress.” said Dr Fiona Solomon, ASI CEO.

ASI bauxite mine site visit. Photo credit:  Mark Wielga, NomoGaia

Auditor Certification Pilot
We are investigating the use of Third-Party Proctoring to execute the Multiple Choice Short Answer and Case Study examinations which are to be conducted on-line.  This will enable an efficient and cost-effective roll-out of the APSCA CSCA Examination.
Once a proctoring organisation has been selected a pilot will take place, with a view to roll-out of the examinations in Q3 2018.

Unleash Opportunity – Amsterdam, 13 June 2018
Unleash Opportunity is the leading conference dedicated to sustainable trade across Europe. Inspirational sessions on future global trends will meet practical workshops, the conference will provide tools to improve your daily supply chain operations and keep your business at the forefront of sustainable trade. 
 
Where: The Passenger Terminal, Amsterdam
When: 13 June 2018 

Featuring more than 20 breakout sessions, we will tackle a range of relevant issues including Chinese environmental regulations, engaging your suppliers towards maximum impact, the next industrial revolution ESG reporting, and more. 

Join these ground-breaking discussions, innovative solutions and cutting-edge tools to inspire you and keep you at the forefront of sustainable trade. ​

2018 Annual General Meeting4 December 2018, 1.00pm – 4.00pm | Hong Kong
While we will endeavor to accommodate all interested parties, seats will be limited necessitating an allocation for individual organizations.  Further details, including registration information, will be provided to members in due course. ​

Out & About
Sedex and Australia Post Conference – 14 March 2018 – Melbourne, Australia
​One of our Member Firms, DQS,  Arta Beikzadah, was on a panel titled:  “How do we simplify responsible sourcing for small business in Australia”.  Arta introduced the 3 E’s.  Encouraging, Educating  and Expecting suppliers and employees.