DEI Certifications & Standards: Diversity, Equity, Inclusion

Take a structure approach to improve and integrate diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) into how you operate.

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DEI Certifications & Standards: Diversity, Equity, Inclusion

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Creating a diverse, equitable and inclusive (DE&I) workplace contributes to a stronger organizational culture and can support improved organizational outcomes. Research indicates that organizations with well developed DE&I practices are often associated with positive effects such as enhanced innovation, more robust decision making and increased stakeholder confidence.

As expectations from employees, customers, investors and regulators continue to grow, many organizations look to recognized frameworks such as ISO 30415 - Human resource management — Diversity and inclusion in order to demonstrate their commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion management.

What is the ISO 30415 standard?

ISO 30415 – Human Resource Management: Diversity and Inclusion – is an internationally recognized guidance standard for embedding diversity and inclusion (D&I) in the workplace and across an organization. It supports organizations in identifying and addressing inequalities in systems, policies and processes, fostering inclusive behaviours, and integrating D&I into governance, culture and decision-making.

The standard provides guidance on defining responsibilities and accountabilities, promoting approaches to value diversity, and setting objectives, risks, opportunities, actions and outcomes. ISO 30415 applies across your entire organization, including the human resource management lifecycle, the design and delivery of products and services, procurement and supply chain relationships, and engagement with external stakeholders, forming a foundation for building and sustaining an inclusive organization.

ISO 30415 sets prerequisites for and helps you in:

Recognizing diversity
Acting accountably
Working inclusively
Communicating inclusively
Advocating and championing D&I
Governing effectively

Although ISO 30415 is not certifiable, it is widely recognized as the primary reference for organizations seeking a structured approach to DEI.

In addition, several countries have developed national standards that complement ISO 30415, including:

NS 1120:2018 – Diversity Management System (Norway)
UNI/PdR 125:2022 – Gender Equality Management System (Italy)

These standards address specific DEI dimensions, while ISO 30415 provides a globally applicable framework. Organizations may reference these standards when considering national pathways related to diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI).

Value of the DEI-scored evaluation

DNV offers an independent, structured DEI assessment aligned with ISO 30415 or relevant national standards. This approach provides organizations with a transparent and evidence based understanding of their DEI maturity.

The assessment covers seven principal areas reflected in ISO 30415:

Accountability and responsibilities
DEI framework
Inclusive culture
Human resource management lifecycle
Products and services
Procurement and supply chain
External stakeholder relationships

Each principle area is scored based on the level of implementation and maturity. The results provide a clear view of the organization’s as is status, highlighting strengths and improvement opportunities.

At the end of the process, an Evaluation Report is issued.

Organizations meeting a defined minimum score across each area will receive an additional statement issued on DNV’s secure certificate storage platform for traceable and trusted sharing with internal and external stakeholders.

Trusted

A global partner locally before, during and after the audit

Knowledge

Solid auditor competence and industry experience

Innovation

Value adding services, solutions and digital tools

Experience

Commitment to a superior customer experience

80000

Customers

90000

Certificates

20000

People trained annually

180 +

Countries

Getting started with the DEI Standard

Obtain and understand the standard before starting to apply the guidance principles to your organizational systems, policies, processes and practices. The DEI-scored evaluation will support your journey by identifying what works well and where you may have gaps to be closed.

DNV is as a third-party certification body and can help you throughout your DE&I journey, from awareness training for managers and a foundation course based on ISO 30415 to self-assessment tools and the assessment itself. Provide proof to your stakeholders on your DE&I commitment and performance.

As a DNV customer, you also get access to a suite of digital tools that can help you ensure compliance, continually improve and manage your entire certification journey with us.

- Obtain the standard:
Get a licensed copy of the relevant standard and familiarize yourself with the requirements to decide if certification/registration to this standard makes good sense for your organization.
- Review available literature and apply digital tools
Explore available literature, guidelines from the standard owners (e.g. ISO/TS 9002 for ISO 9001, ISO 14004 for ISO 14001) and digital sources and tools that can assist with implementation. Note that as a DNV customer you get access to tailored tools that can assist you.
- Assemble a team and define strategy:
To implement a management system should be a strategic decision for the entire organization. Senior management must be involved in the decision, committed and involved in shaping the system. They decide the business strategy the management system should support. In addition, you need a dedicated team to develop and implement your management system.
- Determine competence needs:
First, your team implementing and maintaining the management system needs a thorough understanding of the chosen standards. Later on, the wider organization needs awareness training. DNV offers a variety of public and in-house courses worldwide that meets your competence training needs at all levels within your organization.
- Review consultant options:
Independent consultants can advise on a workable, realistic, and cost-effective strategy plan for implementation if you do not have this competence or capacity already.
- Develop management system documentation:
Decide on an appropriate platform for your documented information (e.g. software, process map- or SharePoint-based). The right platform is important to ensure effective management, communication and implementation.
- Determine, manage and document processes:
First identify key processes – what they are, how they work, and how they interact. Each process should have a clear purpose, defined responsibilities, and expected outputs. The level of documented information needed depends on the organization’s size, complexity, and the importance of each process, but must include relevant processes and other documented information needed to deliver on intended outcomes and comply with the chosen standard’s requirements.
- Implement management system:
Clear communication and necessary competence training are essential elements. During the implementation phase, you will work to ensure that your organization is working according to defined and documented processes. Once successful, you can prove system’s compliance and effectiveness.
- Select a certification body/registrar:
Selecting the right certification body/registrar can make a difference throughout your certification journey. DNV offers a trusted partnership approach, a risk-based approach and range of free digital tools that help you manage your certification journey before, during and after the audit.
- Consider a pre-audit gap analysis:
Consider a preliminary evaluation by your certification body/registrar to identify and correct nonconformities before starting the official certification process. The purpose is to identify areas of non-conformance or weaknesses, allowing you to correct these before you begin the official certification process.

DEI stands for diversity, equity and inclusion. It describes how organizations create fair, respectful and inclusive workplaces where people with different backgrounds and perspectives can contribute. Diversity refers to the mix of people, equity focuses on fair access and opportunities, and inclusion ensures that everyone feels valued and able to participate. Many organizations use guideline standards such as ISO 30415 and independent DEI assessments to structure and manage their efforts.
DEI stands for diversity, equity and inclusion, reflecting an organization’s commitment to representing different perspectives, ensuring fairness in systems and processes, and creating an environment where people feel respected and able to contribute. Standards such as ISO 30415 support organizations in embedding these principles into everyday practices, while independent assessments provide a structured way to evaluate DEI maturity, even though ISO 30415 itself is not a certifiable standard.
Diversity is important because it brings a wider range of perspectives and experiences, which can support stronger organizational outcomes. Research shows that diverse and inclusive workplaces are often associated with better innovation, more effective decision making and greater stakeholder confidence. Guideline standards such as ISO 30415 help organizations understand and improve how well diversity is supported across their culture, processes and relationships.