Collaborating for success on World Standards Day
Collaboration and partnerships are powerful tools for making progress in any area, but particularly when it comes to tackling global challenges. International Standards are essential to achieving the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), in part because they are key enablers of collaboration. They provide shared frameworks and a common language that help the world work together effectively.
Which is why the theme for this year’s World Standards Day is collaboration, focusing on the UN SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals, which aims to ‘Strengthen the means of implementation and revitalize the Global Partnership for Sustainable Development’.
2025 theme: Partnership for the Goals
Collaboration and partnerships form the foundations of standardization and are embedded in IEC work. IEC also partners with organizations on specific projects to help us turn our work into tangible benefits for society. Some examples include:
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IEC Global Impact Fund: The first project is bringing reliable, clean electricity to rural schools and clinics in Kenya, empowering communities with improved healthcare and education. Our second project aims to accelerate access to clean cooking solutions in Asian communities through conformance to international standards.
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Standards Pavilion at COP: IEC is partnering with standards organizations to demonstrate how standards are already helping deliver climate action solutions, such as ensuring the safety and interoperability of renewable energy systems, supporting smart grids and sustainable infrastructure.
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AI and Multimedia Authenticity Standards Collaboration (AMAS), which is mapping standards gaps, and guiding future solutions for authentic, transparent AI use.
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Building a more inclusive world through gender-responsive standards. Through the Joint Strategic Advisory Group (JSAG), a collaboration between IEC and ISO, we offer guidance and practical tools to support technical committees in integrating gender considerations throughout the standards development process, while also promoting greater participation of women in leadership and committee roles.
World Standards Day also recognizes the tireless efforts of the thousands of experts around the world that come together to develop international standards.
Learn more about World Standards Day 2025.