The Global Quality and Standards Programme (GQSP) is a large-scale programme, which was designed to encourage systematic trade development along specific value chains by strengthening quality infrastructure institutions and service providers, enhancing the compliance capacity of private sector actors, particularly SMEs, and creating a culture of quality among all stakeholders. The GQSP is funded by the Swiss Confederation, through the Swiss State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (SECO) and implemented by UNIDO. The implementation is done is close collaboration with the Department of Trade, Industry and Competition (the dtic), Directorate Chemicals, Cosmetics, Plastics and Pharmaceuticals and the Directorate Technical Infrastructure.
The GQSP-South Africa project supported the formation of the Multistakeholder Quality Forum (MSQF).
The objective of the GQSP South Africa (GQSP-SA) project is to strengthen the quality and standards compliance capacity to facilitate market access for SMEs in the essential and vegetable oils value chain destined for food, health and cosmetic markets.
The project has three complementary outcomes:
Outcome 1: The technical competence and sustainability of the National Quality Infrastructure System and the conformity assessment services that serve the selected value chains is enhanced.
Outcome 2: SME compliance with international standards and technical regulations is enhanced.
Outcome 3: A culture for quality is promoted.