GQII Paper Series

The GQII Data and Analytics Paper Series consists of a series of studies that deepen the research on topics and phenomena related to Quality Infrastructure. Thus GQII expands its efforts to contribute to the advancement of QI as a field of study and data transparency within the global quality infrastructure.


Accreditation, an essential pillar of international trade confidence, serves to verify the independence and technical proficiency of conformity assessment bodies. By means of mutual recognition agreements, accreditation bodies facilitate streamlined processes, thereby reducing redundant certifications and transaction costs for companies. Utilizing data from the Global Quality Infrastructure Index (GQII) and the application of a Social Network Analysis (SNA) the study reveals the intricate network of cross-border accreditation patterns, providing unparalleled insights. The findings set the stage for well-informed discussions on the advantages and obstacles of cross-border accreditation.


This working paper uses a country-level approach to investigate whether Quality Infrastructure (QI) has any
impact on Global Value Chain (GVC) participation,
particularly for African countries, from 2010 to 2020. We
hypothesize that QI positively affects GVC involvement
and that it is therefore important for countries, especially
in Africa, to further develop their QI ecosystems to become
more integrated into GVCs. The country-level analysis relies
on decadal averages and Least Squares Between Effects
estimation strategy and covers 103 countries, 29 of which
are in Africa. The results indicate that QI plays a significant
role in GVC participation, with the positive effects being
driven by standardization and metrology. As such, all
countries seeking to become embedded in GVCs should
invest in developing their QI ecosystems.