ISO Action Plan
for developing countries
2005-2010
• Introduction
• ISO and developing countries
• Five key objectives for 2010
• Administration, funding
and monitoring
• ISO’s added value
ISO Action Plan
for developing countries
2005-2010
“ Taking into account the development
dimension, ISO parties shall contribute ISO and
to actions to help its members developing countries
from developing countries improve
It is important that developing countries have access
their capacity and their participation
to International Standards and increase their par-
in international standardization ”
ticipation in international standardization and con-
ISO Code of Ethics, June 2004 formity assessment activities and, consequently,
benefit from the transfer of technology that stand-
Introduction to ISO ards make possible, in adapting their products
and services to global requirements and in demon-
ISO (International Organization for Standardization) strating their compliance with world market needs.
is the world’s largest developer of voluntary stand- This can result in greater competitiveness, grow-
ards. ISO’s core activity is the development of tech- ing market share and higher price of exports. It
nical standards, but its scope is expanding in the can also result in improved resistance to undesir-
areas of services, management practices and able low quality imports or in increased competi-
conformity assessment. ISO standards, therefore, tiveness for attracting investment or procurement
have a growing economic and social impact. and stimulating economic activity. Finally, it may
facilitate the development and effectiveness of in-
ISO standards contribute to making the develop-
frastructures, networks and investment.
ment, manufacturing and supply of products and
services safer, more efficient and environment
ISO members from developing countries
friendly. They make trade between countries easier as of 15 December 2004
and fairer. They provide governments with a tech-
100 member 35 Correspondent 11 subscriber
nical base for health, safety and environmental bodies members members
100 %
requirements. They aid in transferring technology
6%
and good business practices to developing 90 %
countries. ISO standards also serve to safeguard Developed
countries
consumers, and users in general, of products and 35 % 80 %
services – as well as to make their lives simpler.
Correspondent members
70 %
Subscriber members
Globalization of trade and of many other issues,
Member bodies
60 %
such as health, safety or environmental protection,
have greatly increased the relative importance of Developing Developing Developing 50 %
countries countries countries
International Standards as compared with national 65 % 94 % 100 %
and regional ones. The majority of national stand- 40 %
ardization bodies in industrialized countries, as well
30 %
as the private sector in those countries, devote
increasing resources to the development and use of 20 %
International Standards, as well as to their dissemin-
ation to, and implementation by, economic players. 10 %
ISO Action Plan for developing countries 2005-2010 0%
Five key objectives for 2010
The ISO Action Plan for developing countries sets
the following five objectives for 2010 :
Improve awareness of key
1 stakeholders in developing countries
of the role of standardization in
economic growth, world trade and
sustainable development
The awareness of public authorities, industry and
other economic players in developing countries of
the importance of International Standards is key to
their economic development. This is particularly
important for the dissemination of technology, the
improvement of the quality of products and serv-
Sustainable development is ices, and the promotion of good business and
not an objective that a management practices. Targeted awareness-
country, or a region, can raising campaigns aim at strengthening national
pursue in isolation. The standardization infrastructures and related activ-
importance of raising awareness, capacity and ities, such as metrology, testing, certification and
participation of developing countries is therefore accreditation.
high on ISO’s agenda. Some 110 of the 146 ISO
members are from developing countries or econ-
omies in transition. This has prompted ISO and its
members to develop actions to assist in improving
the standardization infrastructures and capacities
2 Build capacity of ISO members and
stakeholders involved in developing
the standardization infrastructure
in developing countries and to enhance their par-
and participating in international
ticip-ation in relation to international standardiza-
standardization work
tion and related conformity assessment activities.
In September 2004, the ISO Council endorsed the Ensuring the implementation and use of Interna-
ISO Action Plan for developing countries 2005- tional Standards, participating actively in stand-
2010, which represents the implementation, for ardization activities of direct importance to the
developing countries, of the ISO Strategic Plan national economy and accessing the relevant
2005-2010 that outlines the global vision for the information, requires an effective infrastructure,
Organization in 2010. The ISO Action Plan for appropriate tools and qualified staff in the national
developing countries is based on a broad consult- and regional bodies in charge of standardization.
ation of ISO members and international organizations The ISO Action Plan for developing countries aims
through contacts, surveys and regional seminars. to encourage and assist developing countries in
identifying their priorities and developing the
adequate capacity for their active involvement in
international standardization.
ISO Action Plan for developing countries 2005-2010
subcommittees and working groups. By participat-
Increase national and regional cooperation
3 to share experience, resources, training,
information and communications
ing at these three levels, developing countries en-
sure that their interests are taken into account and,
in doing this, they contribute to strengthening ISO’s
technologies
global relevance.
The regional and sub-regional levels of cooperation
on standardization and related matters are those
most suitable for sharing experience, organizing
ACTIONS
training, optimizing participation in International The ISO Action Plan for developing countries
Standardization and ensuring consistent implement- defines a number of actions intended to mobil-
ation of International Standards. The ISO Action Plan ise its members, regional organizations and
for developing countries seeks to foster relationships donor agencies. The actions are aimed at
between standards bodies in developing countries promoting developing country participation in
and regional and sub-regional organizations and to ISO, building capacity through technical assist-
coordinate the development of capacity with a view ance programmes and enhancing interactions
to building synergies and developing partnerships. at regional and international levels.
Making the best of membership in ISO
4 Develop electronic communication and
expertise in IT tools to participate in
international standardization work, reach
• involving developing countries in the ISO
governance structures, enhancing the role
out to stakeholders and make efficient use of the ISO Committee on developing country
of ISO e-services matters (DEVCO) and encouraging
membership upgrades ;
Reaching out to stakeholders, as well as accessing
• providing basic assistance to ISO
and participating in international standardization,
members regarding access to generic
requires the ability to use and implement electronic
information and to e-services made
communication and IT tools. The ISO Action Plan
available by the ISO Central Secretariat ;
for developing countries aims to assist ISO mem-
bers in developing countries to strengthen their in- • encouraging and enhancing participation
formation and communication technology infra- in ISO’s technical work.
structures and to encourage the use of the com-
prehensive range of e-services and IT tools devel- Supplying targeted assistance and training
oped by ISO and made available to its members. • developing training services and targeted
educational material ;
Increase participation in governance
5 and technical work of ISO to voice priorities,
contribute and influence the technical
• providing assistance in the usage
and implementation of information and
communication tools.
content of ISO deliverables
Involving regions, international organizations
The fifth objective of the ISO Action Plan for devel-
and donor agencies
oping countries is to support the involvement of
developing countries in the governance structures • promoting regional cooperation ;
of ISO, at policy making level and in the technical • fostering partnerships with international
work performed by ISO’s technical committees, organizations and donor agencies.
Funding of technical assistance
projects
ISO is not itself a funding agency. The ISO Action
Plan for developing countries is therefore dependent
on technical and financial assistance received
from its members, international development and
aid agencies, governments and donor organiz-
ations involved in assistance to developing
countries.
Donations by ISO members from both industrial-
ized and developing countries constitute the
Funds-in-trust for the implementation of the ISO
Action Plan for developing countries. Contributions
from external sources to ISO are used to finance
specific projects jointly agreed between ISO, the
donor and the final beneficiaries.
The technical assistance projects carried out
Administration of the ISO Action Plan within the framework of the ISO Action Plan for
for developing countries developing countries are designed in such a way
that donor agencies are able to implement their
The ISO Action Plan for developing countries is own priorities with respect to the kind of assist-
administered by the Development and Training ance offered and in relation to regions or groups
Programmes (DEVT) unit at the ISO Central Secre- of countries of particular interest to them.
tariat in Geneva, Switzerland.
The following principles are applied in selecting
and deciding on the priority to be given to technical
assistance projects :
Objective oriented : to deliver technical assistance
in accordance with the objectives stated in the
ISO Action Plan for developing countries ;
Topic oriented: to respond to the needs and re-
quirements expressed by ISO members in devel-
oping countries ;
Delivery oriented : to provide high-level technical
assistance deliverables, organised in the form of
projects and using best suited delivery methods ;
Geographically distributed : to benefit, in an equit-
able manner over time, all ISO members in devel-
oping countries and the eight ISO liaison regions.
ISO Action Plan for developing countries 2005-2010
The deliverables
The technical assistance and training activities
derived from the ISO Action Plan for developing
countries respond to a wide variety of needs and
requests received from ISO members in develop-
ing countries and their stakeholders. These deliver-
ables take the form of seminars, workshops, training
courses, e-learning, sponsorships, ICT (Inform-
ation and communication technologies) support
and training of trainers programmes in all aspects
of standardization and related activities of which
some examples are listed below :
Role of Standards in economic development
To raise awareness of the role of the national
standards and conformity assessment infrastruc-
ture in economic development and in promoting
Monitoring of the ISO Action Plan for
world trade. In particular, this activity is aimed at
developing countries
mobilising resources for standards development.
The ISO Action Plan for developing countries is
monitored by the ISO Committee on developing ICT Support
country matters (DEVCO) and its Chair’s Advisory Assessment of the use of Information and communic-
Group (DEVCO CAG). 117 ISO members from ation technologies (ICT) by ISO members in devel-
developed and developing countries are members oping countries and at sub-regional and regional
of DEVCO. DEVCO meets annually and, in addition levels ; provision of consultancy, hardware, software
to its monitoring role, offers an international forum and training material to develop ICT infrastructures.
for the discussion of all aspects of standardization
and related activities in developing countries. Developing country involvement in
international standardization
The DEVCO CAG consists of nine members, with
Provision of guidance and support to developing
two-thirds of the members from developing coun-
countries on the benefits of participating in ISO
tries, and one-third from developed countries. The
technical work ; training of officers from develop-
CAG meets twice a year and assists DEVCO in
ing countries to prepare for ISO technical commit-
monitoring the implementation of the Action Plan
tee secretariat functions.
for developing countries.
To monitor progress and evaluate the effectiveness Training services in standards development
of the technical assistance projects, DEVCO and Training services to ISO members focused on the
its Chair’s Advisory Group use a number of key transfer of knowledge and refinement of skills
performance indicators. These indicators measure needed to deal with the requirements associated
developing country participation, capacity building with International Standards development, pro-
and the overall impact of the ISO Action Plan for duction and dissemination ; training courses and
developing countries. e-learning conducted by experts from the ISO
Central Secretariat.
ISO Action Plan for developing countries 2005-2010
Conformity assessment and good regulatory ISO’s added value
practices
Training and information on guidelines to enhance ISO’s added value is based on :
national conformity assessment infrastructures
• recognized experience in international
and facilitate the mutual recognition of conformity
consensus building ;
assessment results between nations. Training and
awareness of good regulatory practices and the • a brand name and wide recognition on
use of standards focusing on improving technical the world scene ;
regulations in order to deliver the necessary public
• a diversified scope, a broad range
policy results. of deliverables and cross-sector consistency ;
Management systems • its strong national membership base,
which ensures, through the
In-depth training and information on the benefits
involvement of a broad range
and conditions for the implementation of ISO of stakeholders, the adequacy of
management systems for quality and the environ- the consensus, the dissemination
ment and in a range of sectors including food, of its deliverables and
health, tourism and automotive. the market feed-back
required for their
Social responsibility and consumer protection maintenance and
development ;
Training in, and awareness of, ISO’s initiatives in
the area of social responsibility and the role of • its extensive
consumers in the standards-making process. networking, at both
the international and
the regional
levels ;
• the ability
to provide
International
Standards
to assist in the
implementation
of regulations ;
• its leadership in
the production
of standards
and guides for
conformity
assessment ;
• its leadership in regard
to the use of IT tools for the
production and dissemination of
standards.
ISO Action Plan for developing countries 2005-2010
ISO Central Secretariat
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Switzerland
Tel. + 41 22 749 01 11
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ISBN 92-67-10398- 9
© ISO, 2004-12/2 000
