Standards Alliance Phase 2 (SA2), a public-private partnership between the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) and the American National Standards Institute (ANSI), will kick off a number of initiatives that support training related to standards, good regulatory practices, and an ongoing project that supports medical devices and the response to COVID-19.
Supporting the Harmonization of Petroleum Standards in West Africa
SA2 partners ASTM International and the American Petroleum Institute (API) are implementing a Petroleum Standards Harmonization Project in four of the top oil-producing/extracting countries in Sub-Saharan Africa. To support this ongoing initiative, on March 20-22, 2023, ANSI will facilitate SA2 training with ASTM International and API in Senegal, with representatives from Nigeria, Ghana, and Cote d’Ivoire participating.
Ultimately, this workshop serves as an opportunity for members of the national petroleum committees to meet and discuss potential next steps for the regional harmonization of petroleum testing methods. It will promote additional awareness and understanding of relevant international standards for petroleum quality, safety, and management systems as well as their connections to WTO obligations such as notification and international standards.
Supporting COVID-19 Medical Devices Regulatory Convergence (MDRC) Project
The SA2 COVID-19 Medical Devices Regulatory Convergence (MDRC) project will include trainings in South Africa and Kenya on April 17-28, 2023. The two-week series will provide intensive training in both the horizontal standards and good regulatory practices and the vertical medical regulatory convergence subject areas of the MDRC, and will include participation by private sector, regulatory agencies, and standards bodies in both partner countries.
The MDRC project focuses on reducing barriers to countries' importation of U.S. medical devices that aid in the fight against COVID-19. A partnership between ANSI and USAID, MDRC is spearheaded by the Advanced Medical Technology Association (AdvaMed).
Implementing Action Plans to Work Together in Africa
SA2 will provide final trainings with African utilities, in partnership with the American Water Works Association (AWWA), on April 24-26, 2023, in Livingstone, Zambia. As part of this activity, AWWA previously hosted two virtual workshops with water utility managers and officers in Zambia, Lesotho, and Malawi on a series of AWWA Utility Management Standards. The culminating activity will provide an opportunity for project participants to report on their progress implementing best practices from these AWWA standards. Participants will develop “action plans” to assist them in achieving management goals for their utilities, as well as solidify plans to work together going forward.
About the Standards Alliance Phase 2
The Standards Alliance: Phase 2 (SA2) is a public-private partnership between U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) and the American National Standards Institute (ANSI). SA2 builds upon the success of Phase 1 to support the capacity of developing countries in the areas of legal and regulatory framework, standards development, conformity assessment procedures, and private sector engagement.
SA2 involves collaboration with U.S. private sector partners, U.S. government experts, and USAID eligible countries and regions between 2019-2024. These regions include Latin America, Middle East, North Africa, sub-Saharan Africa, and Indo-Pacific.
A key goal of SA2 is to help increase the capacity of developing countries to implement accepted international best practices to reduce instances of poor quality and unsafe products, services, and infrastructure. Project activities will help developing countries prevent and remove non-tariff barriers and stimulate economic growth, while also preserving and expanding markets for U.S. businesses.
If you or your organization would like to get involved in one of the Standards Alliance's project activities, please contact [email protected] and reference the activity of interest. Access more information about ongoing progress and activities on the Standards Alliance Phase 2 website.