The Sudanese Accreditation Council (SDAC) participated in the meeting of the African Accreditation Organization (AFRAC) through internet during the period 01-03 September 2020with More than 60 Participants from more than 15 African countries. The meetings included general committee meetings, technical committee meetings, and Marketing and Communication Committee (MCC)
During the meetings, the AFRAC technical committee (TC) held a training course on Proficiency Testing by Mr.Neville Tayler. Also, the Mrs.FelistaNyakoe was presented a training course on Uncertainty of Measurement.
Also, the Marketing and Communication Committee (MCC) held its meeting and during the meeting the eng. Mohamed Hassan presented Workshop on ASANA and Mr.Joshua Alhassan of NiNAS taking with AFRAC MCC – Marketing and Communication team and other interested parties about the Basics of Social Media workshop.
During the last day of meetings, the General Assembly (GA) makes decisions on the acceptance of applications to the AFRAC MRA and admittance, suspension and extension to the MRA and to oversee the implementation of AFRAC, ILAC and IAF resolutions relevant to the AFRAC MRA Signatories. Also, during the meeting the Sudanese accreditation council (SDAC) presented their report about (measures taken at SDAC regarding corona virus pandemic and the impact on accreditation activities) first discuses the restriction imposed before the lockdown:
The staff was divided into two groups so that each group was present at SDAC premises according to a biweekly alternating.
Second, during the lockdown period:
The availability of staff at SDAC premises was limited. SDAC staff mainly work from home.
Onsite assessment activities are ceased but accreditation activities that can be done electronically continued.
Correspondence with CABs regarding assessment outcomes is carried electronically.
No remote assessment has been conducted as SDAC had conducted the scheduled onsite assessment
Third, after the lockdown was lifted
People were allowed to return to workplaces provided that they adhere to social distancing guidelines and only at 50% capacity. So SDAC staff went back to office respecting the aforementioned measures.
Internal operations are going on as normal and some follow up on-site assessments have been conducted by SDAC assessors.
As a response to the risk of a second wave of Covid 19 and other types of force majeure a document addressing remote assessment techniques is under development.
Currently the staff is engaging in an extensive revision of SDAC management system; this revision is part of a project supported by UNIDO.
Finally at the end of days the AFRAC general assembly reviews different resolutions of meeting:
The GA noted that all voting members were in attendance and thus met the quorum, hence preceded with the meeting.
The GA congratulated Mr Celestine Okanya on his appointment as the PAQI Chair and wished him well in this leadership role.
The GA noted with appreciation the reports of the MRA Council, Secretariat, MRA Committee, Technical Committee and the Marketing and Communication Committee, and congratulated AFRAC . on the achievements made thus far.
The GA expressed its appreciation to all the AB members for presenting their AB reports which were very informative and serve as a platform for sharing experiences in coping with COVID-19, and which will feed into the development on an AFRAC document
