Awareness: definition (ISO/UNDP 53001)
Awareness (French: sensibilisation) means that people working under the organisation's control know the SDG policy, the objectives relevant to them, their own contribution to the system and the consequences of not meeting its requirements. ISO 53001 treats it as a requirement separate from competence, in the support clause.
Updated: · edition covered: ISO/UNDP 53001:2026
In an ISO/UNDP 53001 audit
Awareness is often assessed far from the executive offices. The auditor asks an operator, a salesperson or a temporary worker about the organisation's SDG priorities and what their role changes. Vague answers from several people indicate that internal communication is not having the intended effect.
General knowledge of the 2030 Agenda is not being graded; what matters is that people know what applies to their own work. Subclause 7.3 of clause 7 sets out the principle, as in every standard built on the harmonized structure, the ISO/UNDP 53001 standard included.
Awareness beyond the payroll
Awareness also covers people who are not employees, such as temporary staff or contractors working under the organisation's control. The auditor may ask a contractor on site what the organisation expects of them on waste or safety, depending on the priority SDGs. Posters and intranet pages count only if the people interviewed can link the message to their own tasks.
See also
- Competence: definition (ISO/UNDP 53001)Competence (French: *compétence*) is the demonstrated ability to apply knowledge and skills to achieve an intended result.
- Policy: definition (ISO/UNDP 53001)A policy (French: *politique*) states the intentions and direction of an organisation, as formally expressed by its top management.
- Objective: definition (ISO/UNDP 53001)An objective (French: *objectif*) is a result to be achieved, set at a given level and for a given function.
- ISO/UNDP 53001 clause 7: what the auditor checksISO 53001 clause 7 groups the support requirements: resources, competence, awareness, communication and documented information.