Harnessing Collaboration: ISO's Role in the World Bank's 2025 Development Report

Rakesh Dwivedi
6 days ago
3 min read

The World Bank’s World Development Report (WDR) is a key publication that shapes global understanding of development challenges and solutions. For the 2025 edition, the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) is playing a significant role in collaboration with the World Bank. This partnership highlights how global standards can support sustainable development and improve outcomes worldwide. This post explores the importance of this collaboration, the contributions ISO brings, and what it means for development efforts in the coming years.

!Eye-level view of a large conference room with delegates discussing development strategies

Why the World Development Report Matters

The World Development Report is an annual flagship publication by the World Bank that analyzes critical development issues. It influences policymakers, researchers, and practitioners by providing evidence-based insights and recommendations. Each edition focuses on a theme relevant to global development challenges such as poverty, climate change, or technology.

The 2025 report aims to address emerging challenges in sustainable development, emphasizing the role of standards and measurement in achieving development goals. This focus aligns well with ISO’s expertise in creating international standards that promote quality, safety, and efficiency across industries and sectors.

ISO’s Expertise in Global Standards

ISO is a non-governmental organization that develops voluntary international standards covering a wide range of fields, including technology, environment, health, and social responsibility. These standards help ensure products and services are safe, reliable, and of good quality.

ISO’s standards also support sustainable development by encouraging best practices that reduce environmental impact, improve resource efficiency, and promote social responsibility. For example, ISO 14001 guides environmental management systems, while ISO 26000 provides guidance on social responsibility.

By collaborating on the WDR 2025, ISO brings its deep knowledge of standardization to help frame how standards can be leveraged to support development goals globally.

How ISO Contributes to the 2025 Report

ISO’s collaboration with the World Bank on the 2025 report includes several key contributions:

Data and Measurement Frameworks

ISO helps develop clear, consistent methods for measuring progress toward development goals. Reliable data is essential for tracking impact and making informed decisions.

Best Practices for Sustainable Development

ISO shares examples of standards that have successfully improved environmental and social outcomes in various countries and sectors.

Policy Recommendations

Drawing on its global network and expertise, ISO advises on how governments and organizations can integrate standards into development policies and programs.

Capacity Building

ISO supports efforts to build local capacity for adopting and implementing standards, especially in developing countries where resources may be limited.

These contributions ensure the report offers practical, actionable guidance that can be applied worldwide.

Real-World Impact of Standards in Development

Standards have already made a difference in many development areas. For instance:

Clean Energy Access

Standards for solar panels and wind turbines ensure safety and efficiency, helping expand renewable energy in rural communities.

Water Quality

ISO standards for water testing and treatment improve access to safe drinking water, reducing disease.

Fair Trade and Labor Practices

Social responsibility standards promote fair wages and safe working conditions in global supply chains.

By highlighting these examples, the WDR 2025 will demonstrate how standards contribute to sustainable development and encourage wider adoption.

The Future of Development with ISO and the World Bank

The partnership between ISO and the World Bank signals a growing recognition of the role standards play in development. As countries face complex challenges like climate change, urbanization, and inequality, clear guidelines and measurement tools become even more critical.

The 2025 report will help governments, businesses, and civil society understand how to use standards effectively to: