In every aspect of the ISO system, from engaging experts to promoting the benefits of standards, a strong national standards body is key to standardization’s success.

Vision of our projects

Empower ISO’s developing country members to contribute actively to the ISO system and fully realize the benefits of using ISO standards that address social, economic and environmental challenges

Active participation of developing countries in international standardization is fundamental to ensuring the global relevance of ISO standards and establishing the right conditions for effective implementation of these standards in developing countries.

Achieving this will make an important contribution towards making the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and ISO’s vision for 2030 of “making lives easier, safer and better” a reality.

To accomplish this vision, we believe that the following two objectives must be achieved:

  • Increased use of ISO standards and their national adoptions in developing countries to support the SDGs, particularly those relating to trade and climate change
  • Increased effective participation of ISO’s developing country members at governance and technical levels to support the global relevance of ISO standards
projectinfography

Making these objectives a reality through our projects

Indoor ski lift tunnel with conveyor belt in the Jungfrau region in Switzerland.
Apply good standardization practices
Applying good standardization practices to help ISO members better serve the standardization needs of their countries.
High angle view of a compass on a table
Adopt a strategic approach to standardization
Identify and prioritize the needs of your country that can be addressed through standardization.
ISO competency framework for standards development professionals
A structured process designed to develop skills that help build a skilled, engaged and adaptable workforce.
Pieces on chess board
Standards for effective public policy and regulation
Enhancing the collaboration between standardizers and policy makers in support of good regulatory practices.
Group with hands together
Making developing country voices count
Efficient participation of developing countries in international standardization enables a better integration in the global market.
Container terminal in twilight.
ISO standards enable free and fair trade
Applying ISO standards reduces technical barriers to trade and increases developing countries’ trade opportunities.
Black pot boiling for the rice cooker on the fired stove next to firewood pile.
Transitioning to cleaner cooking
Promoting and disseminating clean cooking standards by working in synergy with key partners.

Examples of our regional projects

Salt refinery, Saline from Janubio, Lanzarote, Spain
MENA STAR
The institutional capacity of national standards bodies in the Middle East and North Africa was strengthened and the use of sustainable development standards promoted.
SR MENA
Applying ISO 26000 on social responsibility in the MENA region contributed to sustainable development.
Standards Engage!
Benefitting from standards through effective stakeholder engagement by National Standards Bodies.
Indian women crossing sand dunes and carrying on their heads water from local well, Thar Desert, Rajasthan, India. Rajasthani women and children often walk long distances through the desert to bring back jugs of water that they carry on their heads.
LDC (Least Developed Countries) Programme
The new LDC Programme will provide support on the most important and strategic areas needed to strengthen NSB institutional capacity. It aims to maximize the benefits of international standardization to address LDCs’ economic and social development needs through high quality tailored support.
Critical & Emerging Technology (CET) and ISO standards
A programme to strengthen engagement in CET-related standards development and adoption of relevant international standards.
  2. Projects