The project on the uptake and use of ISO 26000 on social responsibility within the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) regions was implemented from 2011 to 2014 and targeted eight pilot countries – Algeria, Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon, Morocco, Tunisia and Syria (currently suspended from AISI membership). It was funded by the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (Sida).

The project goal was to contribute to achieving sustainable development through effective integration of social responsibility principles and practices (ISO 26000) in the MENA region, using the national standards body (NSB) as the central pivot. This project sought to build local capacity on ISO 26000 and its application to help organizations embed social responsibility principles in their operations.

Some highlights of the project results are:

• 109 national project experts trained on ISO 26000
• Over 4 600 participants at national awareness events on social responsibility
• 91 pilot organizations applying ISO 26000
• Regional exchange mechanism created