Introduction

ISO 37101 is an international standard that specifies the requirements of and provides guidance on the establishment of a management system for sustainable development in communities. The standard aims to help communities establish a framework that allows them to improve their standing in their social, economic, and environmental aspects. The requirements of the standard can be applied to communities of all sizes in their sustainable development efforts towards smart, more resilient, and more efficient infrastructure and ultimately help improve their overall well-being. The standard addresses specific sustainability issues such as governance, education, innovation, health care, interdependence, safety, inclusivity, etc., and has the flexibility of adding other sustainability issues which may prove relevant to the community implementing it. 

The need for a more sustainable lifestyle in our communities is also reflected in the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs): Zero Hunger, Affordable and Clean Energy, and Sustainable Cities and Communities. The ISO 37101 standard takes these goals into consideration and adds its specific requirements with regard to making communities more sustainable. 

Benefits of implementing ISO 37101 in a community

By implementing a sustainable development management system based on ISO 37101, a community will:

• Build consensus on sustainable development within communities

• Put in place a system that takes into account the pillars of sustainable development (economic, social, and environmental aspects) as well as the UN SDGs.

• Improve the sustainability, smartness,and resilience of strategies, programs, projects, plans, and services that are under the direct responsibility of communities

• Preserve and improve the environment

• Improve resilience and optimize resource usage

• Foster a systematic approach to engaging all interested parties

• Increase the efficiency and attractiveness of communities

• Obtain international recognition

Objectives

• Learn how to support an organization in effectively planning, implementing, managing, monitoring, and maintaining an MSSDC

• Identify the correlation between ISO 37101 and other standards and regulatory frameworks

• Learn how to interpret the ISO 37101 requirements in the specific context of a community

• Master the concepts, approaches, standards, methods, and techniques used for the implementation and effective management of an MSSDC

• Enhance your expertise to advise a community during the implementation of an MSSDC

Target Audience

• Managers or consultants involved in sustainable development and management system standards

• Officials from the public sector are tasked with helping their communities become smarter, more sustainable, and more resilient

• Individuals from non-governmental bodies that seek to help their communities become more sustainable, resilient, and smarter

• Expert advisors seeking to master the implementation, operation, and maintenance of an MSSDC based on the requirements of ISO 37101

• Individuals responsible for maintaining conformity to MSSDC requirements

• Individuals that are part of sustainable development teams in local governments

Competencies 

• Principles and concepts of a management system for sustainable development in communities (MSSDC)

• Management system for sustainable development in communities (MSSDC)

• Planning an MSSDC implementation based on ISO 37101

• Implementing an MSSDC based on ISO 37101

• Performance evaluation, monitoring, and measurement of an MSSDC based on ISO 37101

• Continual improvement of an MSSDC based on ISO 37101

• Preparing for an MSSDC audit

Training Programs Outlines

Introduction to ISO 37101 and initiation of an MSSDC

• Standards and regulatory frameworks

• Fundamental concepts and principles of sustainable development

• Initiate the MSSDC implementation

• Understand the organization and its context

• Leadership and commitment

Planning the implementation of an MSSDC

• Scope of MSSDC

• Sustainability purposes and issues

• Policy

• Roles and responsibilities

• Risk management

Implementation of an MSSDC

• Strategy for sustainable development

• Resource management

• Awareness and communication

• Documentation management

• Operations management

MSSDC monitoring, continual improvement, and preparation for the certification audit

• Monitoring, measurement, analysis, and evaluation

• Internal audit h Management review

• Treatment of non-conformities

• Continual improvement

• Preparing for the certification audit

• Competence and evaluation of implementers and closing of the training