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Making standards work for sustainable development
The United Nations Industrial Development Organisation ( UNIDO ) has launched a new publication titled “ Making Standards Work for Sustainable Development : UNIDO and ISO – a longstanding partnership ”.
Providing an overview of UNIDO ’ s partnership with the International Organisation for Standardisation ( ISO ), the publication highlights the organisation ’ s joint efforts in assisting developing countries to take a more active role in the development and adoption of international standards . It also highlights UNIDO ’ s standardisation work over the years and its involvement in all stages of standardisation .
International standards play an increasingly important role as a policy mechanism and market tool for trade and sustainable development . In this regard , UNIDO ’ s collaboration with ISO is important for overcoming global challenges and fostering trade , and is instrumental in the implementation of the United Nations 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the Sustainable Development Goals .
Over the years , in line with its mandate of enhancing industrial development worldwide , the UNIDO has helped many countries to integrate into the global economy by meeting regulatory and market requirements , and establishing related national capacities , including national standards bodies ( NSBs ).
Its work in this area subsequently led to a partnership with ISO . From the onset of their partnership , UNIDO has served on technical committees , providing technical inputs during the standards development process , and has served as a thought leader , particularly in certain topical areas .
Spanning more than 40 years , UNIDO and ISO have a fruitful history of collaboration that has centred on the promotion of sustainable industrial development . UNIDO and ISO work to enable developing countries to take a more active role in the development and adoption of international standards as well as to help their enterprises and institutions apply and comply with international standards and conformity assessment guides .
UNIDO
The disruptive nature of technological innovations makes it difficult to plan for and anticipate the future .
The continued partnership between UNIDO and ISO is in response to the increasingly important role international standards play as a policy mechanism and as a market tool for trade and sustainable development . Their collaboration includes technical standards development and the implementation of joint activities and projects in different domains such as the development , adoption , and implementation of specific international standards .
Their work also involves capacity-building activities and trainings , including e-learning
16 www . coldlinkafrica . co . za COLD LINK AFRICA • May 2022