The method Systemic Quality Improvement (SQI) involves a large number of organisations from different levels of a social system. These are continuously defining standards and objectives, measuring, learning and implementing change in a participatory way, and thus improve the quality of their outcomes. These standards and targets will be criteria in a voluntary competition in order to learn from each other and to improve the whole system.

GIZ has been developing the SQI approach since 2002. So far it has been applied in several countries at national level (Guinea, Morocco and Cameroon) and in Yemen and the Democratic Republic of Congo at regional or provincial level. In those countries the approach has mobilised a critical mass of players fostering public interest in the quality of public services. National expertise in quality management (QM) has been enhanced and reinforced.

Networking this existing SQI expertise leads to closer cooperation between the countries, strengthens the approach and expands its scope. The SQI network aims at encouraging the development of coordination and cooperation between countries promoting SQI approaches.

SQI network kick-off meeting, Casablanca, May 2008