Elevating Quality Infrastructure for Sustainable Development: Data as the Cornerstone of the IAF and UNIDO Collaboration
The International Accreditation Forum (IAF) and the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) underscore the transformative potential of robust quality infrastructure (QI) systems in driving sustainable development. Central to this partnership is the emphasis on data, which serves as the cornerstone for informed decision-making and impactful interventions.
The International Accreditation Forum (IAF) and the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) have decided to strengthen their collaboration to advance Quality Infrastructure (QI) as a driver of sustainable development. A pivotal step in this partnership will be the integration of IAF CertSearch, the global database of accredited management system certifications, into UNIDO’s Quality Infrastructure for Sustainable Development (QI4SD) Index.
The QI4SD Index, developed by UNIDO in collaboration with the International Network on Quality Infrastructure (INetQI) partners, evaluates the readiness of economies to support Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). By incorporating data from IAF CertSearch, the index will enhance its reliability and comprehensiveness, ensuring policymakers and stakeholders have access to credible information for strategic planning.
Accessible through the UNIDO Knowledge Hub, the QI4SD Index aggregates indicators across five key dimensions—Standards, Accreditation, Conformity Assessment, Market Surveillance, and Metrology—into a single composite score. This holistic approach provides actionable insights into how QI systems contribute to economic growth, environmental resilience, and social inclusion.
IAF has previously contributed data on IAF Multilateral Recognition Arrangement (MLA) signatories and their scopes of recognition to the QI4SD Index, supporting its robustness and credibility. Now, with the integrated implementation of IAF CertSearch, the index will acquire a new valuable and accurate data source to enhance its collection of information.
IAF CertSearch allows users to search and validate the status of accredited certifications issued by a certification body that has been accredited by an IAF MLA signatory accreditation body under the main scope ISO/IEC 17021-1. It currently aggregates data from 77 accreditation bodies, 2,364 certification bodies and 2.7 million certificates that have been uploaded (for all statuses).
By providing a simple means of validating an organization’s certification(s), IAF CertSearch allows businesses and governments that are demanding greater transparency across organizations and their supply chains to rely on accredited certifications to make important decisions when developing their supply chains. IAF CertSearch also provides organizations with information about the accredited network, which includes a list of all accreditation bodies and certification bodies across the globe in all types of Management Systems certifications.
With access to this new data, UNIDO and the INetQI, can refine and enhance the QI4SD Index, ensuring it remains a reliable tool for guiding quality infrastructure development globally. Accurate, complete, and up-to-date data from certification and accreditation bodies is increasingly vital to advance the Index and support evidence-based decision-making for sustainable development.
Both IAF and UNIDO share a commitment to leveraging QI as a multidimensional framework that supports global trade, fosters innovation, and strengthens industrial competitiveness. By combining their expertise, they aim to create robust systems that align with national priorities while addressing global challenges such as climate change and digital transformation. This collaboration underscores the critical role of accurate data in shaping resilient QI systems capable of driving sustainable development.
Link to IAF CertSearch: https://www.iafcertsearch.org/
Link to the Quality Infrastructure for Sustainable Development Index: https://hub.unido.org/qi4sd/?year=2024
