Understanding the certification process is crucial for project developers seeking recognition for their sustainable initiatives. This guide breaks down the comprehensive steps involved, as detailed in Riverse's Procedures Manual.
Step 1: Eligibility Assessment
This initial step ensures that projects align with fundamental eligibility criteria, setting a solid foundation for the certification journey.
- Project Application (PA) Submission: Project developers start by completing the PA form, which kickstarts the eligibility assessment.
- Presentation Meeting: A crucial meeting between the project developer and the Certification team occurs.
- PA Update and Validation: The project developer may need to update the PA based on feedback. It is then either validated or declined, with a review sent to the developer.
Step 2: Project Assessment / Pre-Certification
Detailed assessment at this stage is crucial for establishing the project's sustainability credentials and preparing it for certification.
- Access to Riverse Platform: Developers gain access to the Riverse certification platform.
- Detailed Project Description (DPD) Completion
- DPD Review and Pre-Certification: The Certification team reviews the DPD, possibly involving experts. Once validated, the project is pre-certified.
The DPD includes:
Step 3: Third-Party Validation and Stakeholder Consultation
Engaging a third party for validation and consulting stakeholders brings objectivity and inclusivity, enhancing the credibility of the certification process.
- Validation Audit Commitment: A contract is set up with a third-party validation and verification body (VVB).
- DPD Accessibility and Review: The DPD is accessible to the VVB on Riverse’s platform for queries and validation.
- Audit Summary and Certification: Post-audit, a summary is attached to the project’s certification report. Concurrently, a stakeholder consultation is conducted by the project developer. Following this, the project is certified.
Step 4: Monitoring & Verification
Ongoing monitoring and verification are key to maintaining transparency and integrity in the project's impact, ensuring that it continually meets certification standards.
- Annual KII Measurement: Developers measure Key Impact Indicators annually and upload data to the platform.
- Monitoring Plan Audit: The Monitoring Plan, including KIIs and sources, is audited by an accredited VVB.
- Credit Issuance: Credits are issued ex-post and marked as “verified” on the Riverse Registry, based on actual project outcomes. These credits can then be transferred or retired.
Conclusion
This process, detailed in the Procedures Manual, ensures a comprehensive and transparent approach to certifying sustainable projects. Adherence to these steps not only validates the project's environmental impact but also facilitates the issuance and management of carbon credits.
