Lome (Togo) hosted, from 10 to 13 September 2019, a regional training session on quality and international quality standards. The training organized by the WAQSP, was intended for teachers of universities and colleges of higher education in the sub-region.

Three (03) international standards will be the subject of this workshop: ISO 9001 on Quality Management System (QMS), ISO 45001 on Occupational Health and Safety Management System (OHS) and ISO 14001 which certifies the Environmental Management System (EMS). The goal for the initiators is to strengthen the culture of quality, a factor necessary for the survival, credibility and competitiveness of a company.

"Togo has taken into account this parameter through its law on a national strategy for standardization, accreditation, certification and quality promotion", said the representative of the Minister of Trade at the opening of the session. Another step is then taken by the WAQSP in the resolute march towards the establishment of a culture of quality in the region of West Africa.

Participants adopted the draft guide with strong recommendations: Explain the content of the guide to public procurement stakeholders; Train and sensitize public procurement stakeholders on issues of standards, certification and accreditation; request standardization bodies to publish and regularly update a database of existing standards and certificates; and finally to establish collaboration between standardization bodies and public procurement stakeholders.