ACQ

ACQ – African Center for Quality

The African Center for Quality is one of the specialized professional centers affiliated with the EGYAFRICA system for joint academic and diplomatic cooperation. It is dedicated to promoting a culture of quality and institutional trust, developing voluntary benchmark standards, building professional capacities, and supporting institutional excellence and continuous improvement across various sectors within the African continent.

Preamble

In recognition of the fact that quality has become one of the most important pillars of sustainable development, and that institutional trust constitutes a fundamental basis for regional cooperation, investment, and the enhancement of institutional performance; and in light of the importance of building bridges of cooperation between institutions, experts, and stakeholders involved in development across Africa, the African Center for Quality (ACQ) has been established as a specialized professional center that contributes to promoting a culture of quality, strengthening institutional trust, developing voluntary benchmark standards, and building professional capacities in support of development and excellence across various sectors within the African continent.

The Center operates within a framework of cooperation, integration, and exchange of expertise, while fully adhering to respect for national laws and regulations and the mandates of the competent official authorities in each country, and in pursuit of strengthening positive partnership and integration with national and regional standardization and quality bodies

Institutional Origins of the Center

The idea of joint academic and diplomatic cooperation began within the International Academic Cooperation Sector of Al-Wefaq International University (UPEI), which was established in 2018. This pathway was further developed under the supervision of the sector as one of the dimensions of international and African cooperation aimed at strengthening partnerships, exchanging expertise, and supporting development and capacity building across the African continent.

Within this framework, the Director of the International Academic Cooperation Sector concluded a number of joint academic and diplomatic cooperation agreements with African entities and partners, including cooperation agreements with the Embassy of the Republic of Niger. The first agreement was signed on 3 November 2019, followed by a supplementary agreement on 18 November 2019. These agreements formed the foundation for the launch of the EGYAFRICA system for joint academic and diplomatic cooperation, in accordance with Diplomatic Document No. 00050/ANC/2021.

EGYAFRICA is an African cooperation framework aimed at supporting initiatives, programs, and specialized centers that serve development, integration, and the exchange of expertise among African countries and institutions.

Building on this framework, the African Center for Quality (ACQ) was established as one of its affiliated specialized professional centers (Center No. 18 out of 28 centers, pursuant to Article Four of Diplomatic Document No. 00050/ANC/2021). The Center aims to support quality and institutional trust, develop voluntary benchmark standards, enhance institutional efficiency, and promote best professional practices across various sectors.

Legal Status

The African Center for Quality (ACQ) is a specialized professional center operating within the EGYAFRICA Joint Academic and Diplomatic Cooperation Framework. The Center enjoys full professional independence in managing its activities, programs, and technical initiatives, as well as in developing its voluntary reference standards.

The Center is not a governmental body, regulatory authority, accreditation body, or inspection agency, and it does not exercise any powers or responsibilities assigned to national, regional, or international authorities responsible for standardization, conformity assessment, accreditation, licensing, inspection, certification, regulation, or official approvals.

Furthermore, the Center’s activities, programs, certificates, standards, frameworks, or professional recognitions shall not be considered a substitute for any licenses, accreditations, permits, approvals, registrations, or legal and regulatory requirements imposed by competent authorities in any country.

Rather, the Center seeks to operate in a complementary and supportive capacity by providing voluntary professional services, capacity-building programs, technical guidance, quality enhancement initiatives, and professional recognition frameworks that contribute to the promotion of quality culture and institutional excellence

Vision

To become one of Africa’s leading professional centers in promoting a culture of quality, institutional trust, and organizational excellence, while advancing continuous improvement practices that contribute to sustainable development and regional integration across the African continent.

The African Center for Quality (ACQ) seeks to achieve this vision through constructive collaboration and positive engagement with all stakeholders involved in quality, standardization, conformity assessment, and institutional development at both the national and regional levels.

Mission

To contribute to building a more efficient, reliable, and trusted institutional environment across Africa by developing voluntary reference standards that are appropriate to the African context, implementing professional capacity-building programs, conducting objective professional assessments, issuing trust and recognition certifications, and promoting the exchange of knowledge, expertise, and best practices among institutions, experts, and strategic partners.

The African Center for Quality (ACQ) is committed to working in a complementary and supportive manner with the official authorities responsible for quality, standardization, conformity assessment, and institutional development at both the national and regional levels.

Core Values

The African Center for Quality (ACQ) is guided by a set of fundamental values that shape and direct all of its activities, programs, services, and professional practices:
Integrity
Professionalism
Independence
Impartiality
Transparency
Credibility
Collaboration and Partnership
Innovation
Responsibility
Continuous Improvement

Institutional Framework

The African Center for Quality (ACQ) operates within an integrated institutional framework designed to ensure professional independence, transparency, and effective governance. The framework consists of the following components:
First: United Peace International University (UPEI)
Established in 2017, United Peace International University (UPEI) received an accreditation decision from the Ministry of Higher Education, Scientific Research and Technological Innovation of the Republic of Niger under Decision No. 092/MES/R/I/SG/DGE/DL/DESP/DESPRI. A diplomatic confirmation document was subsequently issued by the Embassy of the Republic of Niger under No. 0090/ANC/2020, affirming the University’s accreditation.
The University serves as the parent academic institution from which several international academic cooperation initiatives originated and provides academic support for scientific, training, and research activities associated with the Joint Academic Diplomatic Cooperation Framework.
Second: International Academic Cooperation Sector
Established in 2018, the International Academic Cooperation Sector serves as the supervisory body for international academic cooperation initiatives and joint academic diplomatic cooperation programs.
The Sector coordinates partnerships, programs, and related initiatives. It was granted the authority to appoint and accredit lecturers and professional trainers pursuant to an official university document issued on 17 January 2024, subsequently authenticated by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation of the Republic of Niger in February 2024, the Embassy of the Republic of Niger in Cairo, and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Arab Republic of Egypt under authentication numbers 35235 and 35234.
Third: Joint Academic Diplomatic Cooperation
Joint Academic Diplomatic Cooperation represents a specialized model of international cooperation developed through the International Academic Cooperation Sector to promote African collaboration, facilitate the exchange of expertise, and support joint professional, scientific, and developmental initiatives.
This concept was formally introduced for the first time through the supplementary agreement signed on 18 November 2019.
Fourth: EGYAFRICA Framework
EGYAFRICA is an institutional umbrella framework encompassing specialized centers and initiatives established under the Joint Academic Diplomatic Cooperation model.
The framework was established pursuant to Diplomatic Document No. 00050/ANC/2021 and aims to support development, capacity building, and regional integration throughout the African continent.
Fifth: African Center for Quality (ACQ)
The African Center for Quality (ACQ) is one of the specialized centers operating under the EGYAFRICA Framework. It is designated as Center No. 18 out of 28 centers pursuant to Article Four of Diplomatic Document No. 00050/ANC/2021.
The Center is responsible for:
Developing voluntary reference standards and frameworks.
Managing trust and professional recognition certification programs.
Conducting professional assessments, evaluations, and review activities.
Supporting organizational excellence and quality improvement initiatives.
Providing professional consulting and advisory services.
Delivering training and capacity-building programs.
Developing initiatives related to quality, institutional trust, and professional development.
Accrediting lecturers and professional trainers within the scope of its approved programs and regulations.
Sixth: African Experts Network
The African Experts Network consists of a distinguished group of experts and specialists from various African countries.
The Network contributes to:
Developing reference standards and professional frameworks.
Conducting professional reviews and assessments.
Providing technical and professional advisory services.
Supporting training and capacity-building activities.
Participating in technical, advisory, and specialized committees.

Strategic Objectives

The African Center for Quality (ACQ) aims to achieve the following strategic objectives:

Promote a culture of quality and institutional trust across various sectors throughout the African continent.

Develop voluntary reference standards that are tailored to the specific needs and environments of African societies and institutions.

Strengthen institutional trust through professional assessment tools and credible certification systems.

Build professional capacities and deliver high-quality specialized training programs.

Support institutional performance development and improve operational efficiency within African organizations.

Advance digital transformation and transparency in assessment and certification processes.

Enhance cooperation and integration with national and regional bodies specialized in quality and standardization.

Expand African cooperation and establish sustainable professional partnerships.

Support scientific research and knowledge exchange in the fields of quality and institutional excellence.

Fields of Work

The African Center for Quality (ACQ) operates across a wide range of professional and technical fields, including:

– Developing voluntary reference standards tailored to African contexts and environments.
– Issuing institutional and professional trust certifications based on objective assessment processes.
– Implementing specialized training and professional capacity-building programs.
– Conducting professional assessment, evaluation, and review of institutions and programs.
– Providing institutional consultancy services in the fields of quality, excellence, and organizational development.
– Developing electronic verification, validation, and documentation systems.
– Supporting applied studies and research in the field of quality.
– Publishing the African Journal of Quality and Standards as a peer-reviewed scientific journal for the dissemination of research, studies, and practical experiences.
– Organizing professional and specialized conferences, forums, and knowledge-sharing events.
– Launching institutional excellence awards and recognition programs.
– Implementing development initiatives related to quality and institutional trust.
– Accrediting and qualifying professional lecturers and trainers within the scope of the Center’s approved programs, ensuring their preparedness and competence to participate in the delivery of training activities.

The Center carries out all these activities through an integrated and collaborative approach in partnership with governmental authorities, regulatory bodies, and relevant African institutions.

Accreditation and Qualification of Lecturers and Trainers

As part of its professional activities and programs, the African Center for Quality (ACQ) is responsible for preparing and qualifying lecturers and trainers across various professional fields through specialized training programs and competency standards approved by the Center. These programs are designed to enhance the quality of training delivery and ensure that lecturers and trainers adhere to high professional and ethical standards within the Center’s activities and programs.

The Center grants professional accreditation to lecturers and trainers who successfully meet its prescribed assessment and qualification requirements. Accredited individuals are subsequently included in the Center’s Register of Accredited Lecturers and Trainers. This accreditation qualifies them to work with the African Center for Quality (ACQ) and the International Academic Cooperation Sector of the University of Peace International (UPEI) in the implementation of training programs and activities organized, supervised, or conducted by the Center, including those delivered in cooperation with its partners.

This accreditation constitutes a professional institutional accreditation specific to the African Center for Quality (ACQ) and the International Academic Cooperation Sector of the University of Peace International (UPEI). Its effect is limited exclusively to the scope of the Center’s programs, activities, and jointly implemented initiatives. It shall not be construed as a general license to practice the profession of training or teaching, nor shall it be considered a substitute for any accreditation, licensing, certification, or professional classification issued by competent national, governmental, regulatory, or professional authorities in any country.

This system aims to ensure the quality of training outcomes, enhance the competence of trainers and lecturers, and establish a pool of qualified professional experts capable of delivering programs in accordance with the quality standards and institutional trust principles adopted by the Center.

Relationship with Official Authorities

The African Center for Quality (ACQ) affirms its full respect for the mandates, authorities, and responsibilities of national, regional, and international bodies competent in the fields of quality, standards, standardization, accreditation, licensing, and regulatory oversight.

The Center operates within a framework of professional cooperation and institutional complementarity with these entities, particularly the African Organisation for Standardisation (ARSO) and national standards and quality authorities across African countries. This cooperation is pursued through the exchange of expertise, the development of strategic partnerships, and the support of joint initiatives that contribute to sustainable development and the enhancement of institutional performance.

The Center is committed to ensuring that all its activities, programs, and voluntary reference standards serve as complementary and supportive mechanisms to official efforts, without creating any conflict, duplication, or interference with the legal, regulatory, or statutory mandates of competent authorities in any country.

Call for Cooperation

The African Center for Quality (ACQ) invites all public and private institutions, universities, training centers, experts, professional organizations, and civil society organizations across Africa and beyond to collaborate, exchange expertise, and actively participate in initiatives and programs aimed at promoting a culture of quality, strengthening institutional trust, and advancing excellence and sustainable development throughout the African continent.

The Center is committed to building integrated strategic partnerships with all relevant stakeholders in order to achieve broader and more sustainable impact across various development sectors in Africa. Through such collaboration, ACQ seeks to foster knowledge sharing, support innovation, enhance institutional performance, and contribute to the achievement of shared development goals at the national, regional, and continental levels.

ACQ African Center for Quality

A specialized professional center operating under the EGYAFRICA Joint Academic and Diplomatic Cooperation System, established within the framework of the Joint Academic and Diplomatic Cooperation Initiative launched by the International Academic Cooperation Sector of the University of Peace International (UPEI), and founded pursuant to Diplomatic Document No. 00050/ANC/2021.

The Center serves as a professional platform dedicated to promoting quality culture, strengthening institutional trust, supporting professional excellence, and fostering sustainable development across Africa through capacity-building programs, institutional assessment, professional certification, knowledge exchange, and strategic partnerships.

Quality Builds Trust … Broad-Spectrum Cooperation … Trust Supports Development.

Established in 2021

ACQ