Technical assistance
"Taking into account the development dimension, ISO parties shall contribute to actions to help its members from developing countries improve their capacity and their participation in international standardization"
ISO Code of Ethics, June 2004
The importance of International Standards and related matters has increased in response to the processes of globalization and resulting trade liberalization. ISO performs an important role in supporting the capability of developing countries to respond to these processes through increased access to world markets alongside achievement of technical progress and sustainable development.
ISO's global vision is for International Standards to contribute to economic and social progress through the facilitation of trade, improvement of products and services together with global dissemination of technologies and good practices. Furthermore, one of the strategic objectives of the ISO Strategic Plan 2005-2010 is to raise awareness and capacity in developing countries of international standardization and related activities. The objective also states that ISO will promote active involvement of developing countries in its technical work, with access to tools, processes and programmes which will assist developing countries to build capacity and to participate more effectively in ISO's technical work.
The ISO Action Plan for developing countries 2005-2010 represents the implementation of the elements of the ISO Strategic Plan relating to developing countries and sets the direction for the support to be provided to members. The ISO Action Plan is also aimed at mobilizing members, regional organizations and donor agencies to promote developing country participation in international standardization, to build capacity through technical assistance programmes and enhance interactions at the regional and international level.
The ISO Action Plan for developing countries is monitored by the ISO Committee on developing country matters (DEVCO) and its Chair’s Advisory Group (DEVCO CAG). The implementation of the annual technical assistance plan is the responsibility of the Technical Assistance for Developing Countries and Training Services unit at the ISO Central Secretariat.
The implementation of the ISO Action Plan for developing countries is financed from ISO member contributions to the Funds-in-trust, the ISO/DIN Endowment and international development agencies, governments and bilateral donor organizations.
Relationships with these organizations have been successfully intensified to ensure long-term viability of the technical assistance provided to developing countries and economies in transition through the ISO Action Plan.