ARSO and AfDB Donate Laboratory Equipment to Zambia Bureau of Standards
The African Organisation for Standardisation (ARSO), in partnership with the African Development Bank (AfDB), has handed over 14 pieces of laboratory equipment to the Zambia Bureau of Standards (ZABS) through the Zambia High Commission in Nairobi.
The donation, made under the SADC ProFishBlue Project, is aimed at enhancing Zambia’s capacity in testing, standardisation, and quality assurance within the fisheries sector — a vital area for food security, job creation, and export diversification.
Speaking during the handover ceremony, ARSO Secretary General, Dr Hermogene Nsengimana, said the initiative forms part of ongoing efforts supported by AfDB and the Southern African Development Community (SADC) to harmonise standards and conformity assessment across Africa under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) framework.
“We are implementing a project supported by AfDB and SADC to create a single standard for the African continent, thereby reducing the need for multiple testing and certification of products traded across borders,” said Dr Nsengimana.
He added that Zambia has already adopted more than 200 of the over 2,400 harmonised standards in the area of food, noting that the project specifically targets the fisheries sector — a key component of the SADC economy.
Dr Nsengimana also announced ARSO’s ongoing initiative to certify Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) under the Africa Mark, a quality mark that demonstrates conformity to African standards in alignment with AfCFTA objectives.
Receiving the donation on behalf of the Government of the Republic of Zambia, Mr Exnobert Zulu, Chargé d’Affaires at the Zambia High Commission in Nairobi, expressed gratitude to ARSO and AfDB for their continued support in strengthening member states’ standardisation and quality infrastructure.
“It is my distinct honour and privilege to receive this important donation on behalf of the Zambia Bureau of Standards,” said Mr Zulu. “This milestone reflects the tangible benefits of African institutions working together to promote industrial development and trade facilitation.”
He added that the donation would significantly boost Zambia’s capacity to ensure the safety and quality of fisheries products, contributing to national goals of economic diversification and improved livelihoods.
The equipment — including autoclaves, digital laboratory incubators, and analytical balances — will be installed at ZABS laboratories in Lusaka to support enhanced product testing and certification processes.
