PLAN PROJECT AND HOLD STAKEHOLDER CONSULTATION

Before the project starts, Project Developers should:

• Confirm the basic project design
• Assess against Gold Standard safeguards
• Estimate climate and sustainable development impacts
• Prepare a non-technical note of the project summarising the above

Hold a Gold Standard Stakeholder Consultation Meeting

To start the Gold Standard certification process, projects must open a registry account and pay the annual registry fee of ($1000). See Gold Standard Principles + Requirements for more details

PRELIMINARY REVIEW BY SUSTAINCERT

SustainCERT reviews draft documentation and requests clarifications where required.

Projects must:

• Submit a completed Stakeholder Consultation Report
• Submit Draft Project Design Document (PDD), including:
  – Safeguarding Principles Assessment
  – Estimation of climate and sustainable development impacts
  – Monitoring Plan
• Submit signed GS4GG Cover Letter
• Submit signed Gold Standard Terms & Conditions
• Pay Preliminary Review Fee ($900*)

PRELIMINARY DESIGN APPROVAL

Approval of the Preliminary Review by SustainCERT results in “GOLD STANDARD PROJECT LISTED” status, giving the project the green light to move forward.

THIRD-PARTY VALIDATION

Independent assessment conducted by a third-party validation and verification body. This consists of both a desk review and field visit and provides independent confirmation that the project is in line with the Gold Standard Requirements.

Projects must:

• Have “Gold Standard Project Listed” status
• Identify, contract and pay VVB to carry out validation – Find an approved VVB>>
• Provide a fully completed Project Design Document (PDD) and all relevant supporting documentation for VVB validation

PROJECT DESIGN REVIEW BY SUSTAINCERT

SustainCERT reviews documentation and requests clarifications and resolutions of corrective actions where required.

Projects must:

• Have a positive validation opinion from VVB
• Submit VVB approved Project Design Document (PDD) and all relevant supporting documentation
• Submit VVB Final Validation Report
• Pay Design Review Fee ($1000*)

DESIGN CERTIFICATION

SustainCERT certifies:

• Safeguards are covered by the project design
• Stakeholder inclusive design
• Robust monitoring plan
• Estimated climate and sustainable development impacts

Approval results in “GOLD STANDARD DESIGN CERTIFIED” status

PROJECT MONITORING 

Project Developer monitors project according to the approved monitoring plan.

Projects must:

• Continuously engage with stakeholders
• Submit Annual Reports in years when verification does not occur
• Prepare a Monitoring Report for verification to request issuance of impact statements and/or products

THIRD-PARTY VERIFICATION

Independent assessment conducted by a third-party validation and verification body. The purpose of verification is to assess if a project’s reported impacts are accurate and is in line with Gold Standard Requirements

Projects must:

• Have “Gold Standard Project Design Certified” status
• Identify, contract and pay VVB to carry out validation
• Provide a fully completed Monitoring Report and all relevant supporting documentation for VVB validation

PERFORMANCE REVIEW BY SUSTAINCERT

SustainCERT reviews documentation and requests clarifications and resolutions of corrective actions where required.

Project must:

• Have a positive verification opinion from VVB
• Submit VVB approved Monitoring Report and all relevant supporting documentation
• Submit VVB Final Verification Report
• Pay Performance Review Fee ($1000*)

PERFORMANCE CERTIFICATION

SustainCERT certifies:

• Adherence to safeguards
• Adherence to stakeholder inclusivity
• Climate and sustainable development impact achieved

Issuance of certified SDG impact statements and/or products

Approval results in “CERTIFIED GOLD STANDARD PROJECT” status and Gold Standard issuance of certified products and/or impact statements.