Revised Quality Policy Trilogy Launched to Drive Sustainable Trade and Industrial Transformation
Vienna, 20 April 2026 – The United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO), in collaboration with the International Network on Quality Infrastructure (INetQI), has launched the revised Quality Policy Trilogy, equipping policymakers and practitioners worldwide with an updated framework to build quality infrastructure (QI) systems that are resilient, sustainability-oriented, and fit for a rapidly changing global economy.
Amid geopolitical shifts, reconfigured global supply chains, and escalating climate challenges, countries are under increasing pressure to rethink their economic transformation pathways. Robust and credible QI systems play a central role in enabling trade, supporting industrial competitiveness, and advancing sustainable development. This growing recognition is reflected in the World Bank's recent report "Industrial Policy for Development: Approaches in the 21st Century", which identifies quality infrastructure as a strategic industrial policy instrument.
The Trilogy, comprising the QP Guiding Principles, the QP Guide on Structure and Content, and the QP Practical Tool, has informed national quality policy development in many countries across Africa, Asia and Latin America. The updated edition strengthens coverage of sustainability, digitalization, and the growing interplay between voluntary standards and regulatory frameworks, ensuring the documents remain a relevant and practical reference for countries at all stages of QI development.
"Quality infrastructure is increasingly recognized as a cornerstone of effective industrial policy. The revised Trilogy gives policymakers a practical, forward-looking framework to build QI systems that stimulate innovation, strengthen competitiveness, and advance more sustainable and inclusive forms of industrial development," said Alejandro Rivera Rojas, Chief of the MSME Competitiveness, Quality and Job Creation Division at UNIDO.
The revision was carried out jointly with the INetQI following an Expert Group Meeting (EGM) held in Vienna in November 2024, where key stakeholders identified priority areas for update. This collaborative process ensures alignment with international consensus and the evolving priorities of institutions supporting QI development.
Key updates include a more logical and accessible presentation of QP guiding principles, a rebalanced perspective that goes beyond conformity assessment to embrace a holistic QI approach, and significantly expanded guidance on sustainability considerations. The QP Practical Tool has been aligned to ensure full consistency across the suite.
The Quality Policy Trilogy is available on the Knowledge Hub
QP Guide on Structure and Content
For more information, please contact Dorina Nati d.nati [at] unido.org
