Making Quality the Guiding Compass: UNIDO’s Global Quality and Standards Programme accelerates SDG Impact

Vienna, 30 July 2025 – Quality and standards shape every facet of life—from the safety of products to the strength of economies. A newly released video by the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) brings to life how the Global Quality and Standards Programme (GQSP) is helping countries harness quality and standards to drive progress across the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

The video showcases how the GQSP, a joint initiative between UNIDO and the Swiss State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (SECO), empowers small and medium enterprises (SMEs) across 13 countries enhance their competitiveness, while strengthening quality infrastructure systems. From Ghana to Vietnam, the programme demonstrates how standards and compliance mechanisms can drive inclusive and sustainable industrial development, improve livelihoods, and strengthen global market integration.

The GQSP emphasizes that quality is more than a technical standard—it is a foundational element essential for sustainable development. The video reflects the dedication to making quality a central force in driving global progress. Through real-world success stories, it illustrates the GQSP’s impact across sectors and SDGs:

• In Ghana, sustainable certification for palm oil producers has raised incomes and improved rural livelihoods (SDG 1).
• In Ukraine, enhanced food safety and quality standards in the berries and nuts sector reduced losses and increased resilience (SDG 2).
• In Albania and Georgia, education and gender equality initiatives are strengthening human capital (SDGs 4 and 5).
• In Vietnam, tropical fruit producers access high-value export markets thanks to upgraded testing laboratories (SDG 9).
• Across Colombia, South Africa, Indonesia and Costa Rica, the GQSP fosters climate resilience, biodiversity protection, and responsible production (12–15).

These efforts are also reflected in the QI4SD Index, developed by UNIDO and INetQI, the tool assesses a country's readiness to leverage quality infrastructure for sustainable development.

The GQSP underscores UNIDO’s integrated approach to the 2030 Agenda and reaffirms that investment in quality is an investment in people, planet, and prosperity.

Watch the full video here: 

Link for the English Version

Link for the Spanish version

For more information, contact: D.NATI [at] unido.org (Dorina Nati)