The Independent Election Commission (IEC) of #Jordan on October 30th received the official #ISO accreditation for its yearlong efforts in implementing the ISO TS/54001:2019.
This rewards the Commission’s abidance by the highest international standards for electoral organizations, based on the International Organization for Standardisation (ISO) classification. The IEC hereby becomes the first #Arab Electoral Management Body (EMB) and the first outside the Americas to receive such an accreditation!
This accreditation process was supported by the European Centre for Electoral Support (ECES) which is the consortium leader of E.U. JDID.
Khalid Al-Kalaldeh, Chairman of the Board of Commissioners of the IEC, stated during the award ceremony: “The International Accreditation Certificate (ISO) is a prize for every employee of the IEC and a source of pride for all of you, putting you all facing a real challenge to redouble your efforts in the next phase.”
Efforts of the IEC were supported by ECES whose project coordinator for EU JDID Gorka Gamarra, noted “I would like to acknowledge the tremendous efforts of everyone involved in this yearlong process, a process that is only beginning. The most important challenge starts just now, in the implementation and the maintaining of the quality demonstrated by the IEC in obtaining this certification.”
“This certification process has allowed the IEC to improve the way the processes and all the departments here work together in order to achieve the expected results. I can say that I have seen the gains of this process for the IEC; not only the confidence the staff has gained knowing they have a Quality Management System but also the fact that they know the responsibilities and importance of the deliverables they each bring to the other parts of the processes.
I now wish on behalf of the project a successful and effective use of this quality management system and look forward to further cooperation with the IEC.”
For his part, ECES co-founder and Executive Director Fabio Bargiacchi, expressed his pride in the collaboration, saying: “I am extremely happy to see Jordan join the group of countries with an ISO accredited Electoral Management Body (EMB), as this is an aspect of electoral support that is very dear to us at ECES. This is the first time ever that an EMB outside of the Americas receives such an accreditation, which makes us, at ECES, very proud to have been at the forefront of this drive. ECES has signed a unique agreement with the Organisation of American States (OAS) to bring ISO certification on elections to many parts of the world.
We strive to see collaboration with national partners like the IEC result in achievements such as the ISO certification. Today, the IEC proudly reinforces its status as a centre of excellence in the region by becoming the first Arab accredited EMB.”