African Organisation for Standardisation (ARSO)

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African Organisation for Standardisation (ARSO) The fundamental mandate of ARSO is to develop tools for standards development, harmonization...

The African Organization for Standardisation, formerly the African Regional Organisation for Standardisation (ARSO) traces its genesis to the unfolding events and the prevailing mood of the African socio-political and economic Pan-Africanism of the 1970s and the culmination of which at a Conference held at the historic and important city of Accra, Ghana. The idea of a continental standardisation body had received considerable impetus from the buoyant and optimistic mood that characterised the post-independence period in most of Africa. The mood then, under the Organisation of African Unity (OAU), was one of pan-African solidarity and collective self-reliance born of a shared destiny with standardisation viewed as a guidepost of the destiny and bedrock of African Economic Integration Agenda and a route to linking up of the fresh Africa’s economy with the rest of the world and to deliver the African Common Market for economic prosperity of the continent.

26/10/2026

🌟 Thank You for Prioritizing Quality, Safety, and Standards Across Africa! 🌍✨

To all our consumers, partners, and community members—THANK YOU for engaging with us throughout our Consumer Awareness Campaign! 👏

Your questions, feedback, and active participation underscored a vital truth: An empowered consumer is the catalyst for a safer, quality-driven Africa.

Together with our key partners—the African Organisation for Standardisation (ARSO), the Pan-African Quality Infrastructure (PAQI), the African Union Commission (AUC), and the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO)—we are working to ensure that quality infrastructure directly protects consumer health, safety, and economic well-being across the continent.

Together, we build the ! 🚀🌍

Driving Business Growth in Africa: ARSO at the Africa Prosperity 7 Conference!This week,(Oct 20–22),The African Organisa...
21/10/2026

Driving Business Growth in Africa: ARSO at the Africa Prosperity 7 Conference!

This week,(Oct 20–22),The African Organisation for Standardisation (ARSO) is on the ground in Monrovia, Liberia for the Africa Prosperity 7 conference, convened by the The Pan African Chamber of Commerce and Industry - PACCI under the powerful theme: "Built for Business Growth in Africa."

A key focus of the deliberations? Unpacking the reality of the for African businesses—what’s working, what isn't, and what is preventing firms from fully tapping into the continental market.

At the event, ARSO shared its perspective on the critical role of standardization within the framework. We highlighted where harmonized standards are successfully easing cross-border trade, and where standards and conformity assessments still pose a binding constraint for businesses.

Beyond the conference, ARSO took the opportunity to conduct targeted capacity-building sessions for the technical staff at the Liberia Standards Authority (LiSA). By deepening their understanding of ARSO's harmonized African standards, conformity assessments, and certification schemes, LiSA is now better equipped to implement these frameworks. This will play a vital role in supporting Liberian industries as they scale and access regional and continental markets under the AfCFTA.

Standardization isn't just about compliance; it's the bridge to unlocking Africa's trade potential!



African Export Import Bank - Afreximbank

19/10/2026

🚀 Débloquer le commerce transfrontalier en Afrique grâce au Programme d’évaluation de la conformité d’ARSO (ACAP) !

L’Organisation africaine de normalisation (ARSO) organise une série de formations virtuelles GRATUITES en deux parties, conçue pour renforcer les capacités et former des formateurs sur l’ACAP à l’intention des organismes de certification (OC) et des organismes d’accréditation (OA).
Acquérez une expertise pratique pour délivrer des certifications reconnues à l’échelle continentale qui facilitent un commerce transfrontalier fluide dans le cadre de la ZLECAf !

📅 Calendrier de la formation (11h00 – 15h30 EAT) :
* Module 1 (Perspective de certification | ACAP 1-1 & 1-2) : 21 – 22 octobre 2026
* Personne ressource : Mme Susan Munyiri (Secrétariat de la ZLECAf)
* Module 2 (Perspective d’accréditation | ACAP 1-3) : 28 – 29 octobre 2026
* Personne ressource : M. Michael Talam (KENAS)

💡 Points forts :
* 🆓 Formation virtuelle 100 % gratuite
* 🌐 Interprétation simultanée en anglais et en français
* 📜 Options d'attestation de participation et de certificat de formation des formateurs disponibles

📲 Inscrivez-vous / Nominez des participants ici : tinyurl.com/acap2026training

19/10/2026

🚀 Unlocking Cross-Border Trade in Africa through the ARSO Conformity Assessment Programme (ACAP)!

The African Organisation for Standardisation (ARSO) is hosting a FREE two-part virtual training series designed to build capacity and train trainers on ACAP for Certification Bodies (CBs) and Accreditation Bodies (ABs).
Gain working-level expertise to deliver continentally recognized certifications that unlock seamless cross-border trade under the AfCFTA!

📅 Training Schedule (11:00 – 15:30 EAT):
Module 1 (Certification Perspective | ACAP 1-1 & 1-2): 21st – 22nd October 2026
Resource Person: Ms. Susan Munyiri (AfCFTA Secretariat)

Module 2 (Accreditation Perspective | ACAP 1-3): 28th – 29th October 2026
Resource Person: Mr. Michael Talam (KENAS)

💡 Key Highlights:
🆓 100% Free Virtual Training
🌐 Live English and French Interpretation
📜 Certificate of Participation & 😭 Certificate options available

📲 Register / Nominate Here: tinyurl.com/acap2026training

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15/10/2026

Did you know?

African Standards ARS 1088 Dairy permeate powders — Specification

This African Standard specifies requirements, sampling and test methods for dairy permeate powders intended for further processing and/or as ingredient in other foods.

🌍 Happy World Standards Day 2026! 🌍Today, 14th October 2026, the African Organisation for Standardisation (ARSO) joins t...
14/10/2026

🌍 Happy World Standards Day 2026! 🌍

Today, 14th October 2026, the African Organisation for Standardisation (ARSO) joins the global standardisation community in celebrating World Standards Day under the theme - ✨ "A Shared Vision for a Better World: Spotlight on SDG 7 – Affordable and Clean Energy."

This theme highlights the critical role of standards in driving the UN 2030 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the African Union’s Agenda 2063 (Aspiration 1) for inclusive growth, sustainable development, and climate-resilient economies.

⚡ Targeting SDG 7 Goals by 2030:

Universal access to affordable, reliable, and modern energy services.

A substantial increase in the share of renewable energy in the global energy mix.

Doubling the global rate of improvement in energy efficiency.

🌍 Powering Africa’s Energy Future - ARSO aligns these efforts with the African Renewable Energy Initiative (AREI), which aims to harness the continent’s vast renewable potential to generate at least 300 GW by 2030.
Standards ensure energy systems, appliances, and digital power connections are safe, efficient, and seamlessly integrated. Beyond technical compliance, standards serve as strategic tools for industrialisation, consumer protection, market access, and policy implementation.

👏 Tribute to Our Experts - We extend our gratitude to the thousands of experts globally and across Africa who collaborate tirelessly to develop these essential benchmarks. Special recognition goes to the experts across over 100 ARSO Technical Committees—including ARSO/TC 71 (Energy Management and Energy Efficiency)—who work continuously to harmonise African Standards and conformity assessment systems.

Together, we build a safer, cleaner, and more sustainable future for Africa and the world! 💡🌱


14/10/2026

🎥 RECAP - Regional Training Masterclass | The Food Establishment
From world-class infrastructure to strict compliance, our masterclass trainees came together to elevate standards across the regional food sector! 🍽️✨

Here are the 4 Key Takeaways shared by our participants:

1️⃣ Infrastructure Powers Quality - A well-designed facility isn’t just about aesthetics—it’s the backbone of food safety, smooth workflow, and operational efficiency.

2️⃣ Service Excellence is Non-Negotiable - Great food gets customers through the door, but exceptional service and guest trust bring them back every time.

3️⃣ Regulatory Rigour Builds Trust - Compliance isn’t a hurdle; it’s a competitive advantage. Mastering food safety standards and regulations protects consumers and unlocks growth.

4️⃣ Integration is Everything - Success happens at the intersection of robust facilities, top-tier service delivery, and strict regulatory standards working in harmony.

💡 Standardisation in action across our region! 🌍

👇 Check out the video below to hear key insights directly from our trainees!



Ghana Standards Authority African Export Import Bank - Afreximbank

Today, 13th October 2026, the African Organisation for Standardisation - ARSO Central Secretariat played a host to a de...
13/10/2026

Today, 13th October 2026, the African Organisation for Standardisation - ARSO Central Secretariat played a host to a delegation of the Institute Of Trade Development comprising the professional trade and transport trainees representing key commercial, maritime, and cross-border regulatory bodies (The Togo Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCIT); The Nigerian Shippers’ Council (NSC); The South Africa Cross-Border Road Transport Agency (C-BRTA)) across West and Southern Africa, a technical benchmarking session and briefing meeting, with the discussions focusing on the need and importance of a continent-wide harmonisation of standards, conformity assessment, and technical regulations (in such sectors as agriculture, manufacturing, logistics, and automotive) under the Annex 6 on Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT), to drive product compliance, mutual recognition, and trade expansion across African corridors and focused on boosting intra-African trade flows.

The meeting highlighted the trade bottlenecks and the need to streamline border inspections and implementation of coherent regulatory frameworks to reduce compliance costs and delays for traders in the across the border trade. With the African regions, including , , and .


Address

ARSO Central Secretariat, International House 3rd Floor
Nairobi
P.O.BOX57363-00200CITYSQUARE,NAIROBI,KENYA.

Opening Hours

Monday 08:30 - 17:00
Tuesday 08:30 - 17:00
Wednesday 08:30 - 17:00
Thursday 08:30 - 17:00
Friday 08:30 - 17:00

Telephone

+254203311608

Website

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