Assessing the Impact of the Benefits of Accreditation in the Arab Region

In recent years, the Arab region has experienced drastic changes, with a heightened focus on economic development, trade, and the growth of the private sector. The Arab Accreditation Cooperation (ARAC) was created in order to encourage the harmonisation and mutual recognition of accreditation in the Arab region, as accreditation is considered to be a major factor in these goals.

Within the broader context of a multi-year project led by the United Nations Industrial Development Organisation (UNIDO), we were commissioned to conduct an impact assessment of accreditation in the Arab region.

This impact assessment comes after several evaluations and technical reports on the progress of the project notably in 2021, 2022 and 2023 phases of the project, which have included project level monitoring and evaluation. This study will investigate the link between the advancement of accreditation in the Arab region in recent years and the potential contributory results on the economy, trade, environment, health, end consumer satisfaction and private sector growth. It is not a project evaluation, though at times it may adopt similar approaches.