In accordance with the decision taken during the 8^th ARAC Executive Committee meeting held in Abu Dhabi, UAE on 12 February 2015, the ARAC Executive Committee has commenced the process to formulate a Strategic Plan for ARAC for the period 2016 – 2021.

The purpose of this Plan is to set out the strategic course for ARAC to meet Members’ expectations of what they want ARAC to be by 2021.  In addition, to fulfil the ILAC/IAF requirements related to the procedures for evaluation of Regional Accreditation Cooperation Groups.

For this purpose, an International Expert, Mr Graham Talbot, (formerly a member of the IAF and ILAC Executives and Chair of EA) selected to provide external assistance to the Executive committee members in formulating the Plan.

As a first step for the elaboration of the ARAC Strategic plan, a Route to establishing ARAC Strategic plan and questionnaires for ARAC Executive Committee and General Assembly members prepared by the Expert and sent to ARAC Executive Committee and General Assembly members in November 2015.

Based on the responses considered by ARAC Executive Committee and General Assembly members in December 2015 and April 2016, and following the discussions made between the Expert and the ARAC Executive Committee members, a 4^th draft of the ARAC Strategy 2016 – 2021 already prepared. The final draft of this strategy will be approved by ARAC General Assembly members by 5^th November 2016 and the action plans within ARAC committees to implement this Strategy will be developed.