African Accreditation Cooperation AFRAC

21/07/2025

Upcoming AFRAC Training

Join us on Monday, 28 July 2025 from 12:30 to 16:00 EAT for a virtual workshop on Strategic Communication and Digital Branding for Accreditation Bodies. The session will be led by Dr. Aparna Dhawan, an expert in accreditation and a seasoned APAC trainer.

This interactive session will explore effective communication, digital visibility, and stakeholder engagement in the accreditation space.

Whether you're crafting your accreditation body’s voice or boosting your online presence, this session is a must-attend!

📌Who should participate:
AFRAC members, peer evaluators, communications leads, and digital branding professionals in the accreditation community.

16/07/2025

🌍🤝 Advancing Conformity Assessment and Accreditation in Africa

SADCAS has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the African Organisation for Standardisation (ARSO) aimed at strengthening Africa’s quality infrastructure through improved conformity assessment frameworks.

📌 The agreement enables the integration of ARSO’s Conformity Assessment Programme (ACAP) certification schemes into SADCAS’s accreditation services. This strategic alignment supports the expansion of credible, internationally aligned accreditation services across the continent.

16/07/2025

🇩🇿 Algeria Marks World Accreditation Day 2025 with Major Milestones

Under the theme “Accreditation: Empowering SMEs”, ALGERAC celebrated World Accreditation Day 2025 with remarkable achievements that reflect the growing strength of Algeria’s quality infrastructure. Held in Algiers under the patronage of the Minister of Industry, the event highlighted the vital role of accreditation in supporting small and medium enterprises.

Among the key highlights were the issuance of ALGERAC’s first ISO/IEC 17065 accreditation to NORMISO SARL, its first international accreditation in Mauritania (SOMIR Laboratory), and recognition of the National Anti-Doping Laboratory — advancing Algeria’s leadership in sports integrity. ALGERAC also commemorated 20 years of impact and signed a landmark agreement with the Algerian Foundation for Youth and Entrepreneurship to boost SME access to accreditation.

AFRAC congratulates ALGERAC for its commitment to regional excellence, cross-border recognition, and empowering economic growth through accreditation.

11/07/2025

✈️ Accreditation in Action: Supporting Climate Goals in Aviation

The Nigeria National Accreditation System participated in the CORSIA Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) Regional Workshop, held in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire, from 25–26 June 2025, under the EU-CORSIA Africa-Caribbean Project.

As part of the ongoing implementation of CORSIA in Africa, the role of accreditation remains critical in ensuring credible, internationally accepted verification and validation of aviation emissions.

AFRAC continues to raise awareness on how accredited conformity assessment bodies are central to advancing climate accountability, building market confidence, and supporting the transition to low-emission aviation across the continent.

08/07/2025

🔐 Upcoming AFRAC TC Workshop Alert! 🌍

AFRAC invites all stakeholders to a Technical Committee (TC) Workshop on
ISO/IEC 27001: Information Security, Cybersecurity and Privacy Protection – Information Security Management Systems (ISMS).

📅 Dates: Monday 14th & Tuesday 15th July 2025
📍 Venue: Virtual
🧑🏾‍🏫 Facilitator: Nurein Banafunzi – Kenya Accreditation Service (KENAS)

This capacity-building workshop will strengthen AFRAC members’ understanding of information security frameworks, critical in today’s digital conformity assessment environment.

🔗 Details will be shared with all TC delegates.

30/06/2025

AFRAC is pleased to announce a two-day virtual training on ISO/IEC 17029 (General principles and requirements for validation and verification bodies) and ISO 14065 (Environmental information — Requirements for bodies validating and verifying environmental information).

🗓 Date: 1st – 2nd July 2025
🕘 Platform: Zoom
🎓 Facilitator: Eng. Hussein Fawzy, renowned expert in conformity assessment and environmental standards

This training will strengthen regional capacity in validation and verification activities, particularly in the context of environmental claims and sustainability initiatives.

Don't miss this opportunity to enhance your understanding of critical standards driving trust and transparency in climate-related information and services.

27/06/2025

26/06/2025

🎉 Celebrating African Day of Standardisation!

Session 2 focused on the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) and the implementation of Annex 6 on Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) — a key step toward unlocking Africa’s full trade potential.

As we harmonize standards, technical regulations, and conformity assessment procedures, one pillar stands out: accreditation.

✅ Accreditation ensures the competence and credibility of testing, inspection, and certification bodies — building trust across borders.
✅ It enables mutual recognition of conformity assessment results, reducing duplication and trade delays.
✅ And it strengthens Africa’s Quality Infrastructure, making intra-African trade more efficient, reliable, and competitive.

At AFRAC, we continue to support the full implementation of Annex 6 by promoting the value of accredited conformity assessment as a driver of trust, safety, and trade facilitation across the continent.

25/06/2025

As a key enabler of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), Annex 6 on Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) highlights the need for harmonized standards and mutual recognition across the continent.

🔎 At the centre of this is accreditation — the backbone of trusted conformity assessment.

Accreditation ensures that testing, certification, and inspection bodies operate competently and consistently. This builds confidence in products and services traded across borders, reduces unnecessary duplication, and removes technical barriers to intra-African trade.

AFRAC remains committed to:
✅ Enhancing mutual recognition of accredited conformity assessment
✅ Supporting implementation of harmonized standards and TBT frameworks
✅ Strengthening the Quality Infrastructure System in support of a fully functional AfCFTA

🤝 The successful implementation of Annex 6 depends on strong regional cooperation, capacity building, and the recognition of accredited systems across member states.

Let’s make accreditation work for Africa’s trade future.

Let’s break barriers through quality and trust.

20/06/2025

AFRAC congratulates SADC Accreditation Service-SADCAS for its impactful celebration of World Accreditation Day 2025 in partnership with the Botswana Ministry of Trade & Entrepreneurship!

Under the theme “Accreditation: Empowering SMEs”, the event showcased how accreditation drives quality, competitiveness, and market access for small businesses.

With 36 accredited facilities in Botswana, including BOBS, Sekgoma Memorial Hospital, and Water Utilities Corporation, the country is making strong strides in strengthening quality infrastructure.

🔗 Learn more about SADCAS and the value of accreditation at www.sadcas.org

19/06/2025

Proud to see Kenya Accreditation Service leveraging mutual recognition under AFRAC, ILAC, and IAF to advance global trust in African accreditation.

Through these partnerships, accredited bodies in Africa can issue certificates recognized beyond borders—boosting trade, safeguarding quality, and reinforcing the power of continental cooperation.

✅ Accredited once. Accepted everywhere.