Validation & Verification

Validation

The validation process is to ensure that the on-ground implementation of the project is reflective of the PDD and adheres to the Plan Vivo Standard. For more information on validation, please read these read the Project Validation Guidance documentation.

Depending on the scale of the project, projects can take different validation and verification routes.

Microscale projects (generating <10,000 t/CO2eq per year) may opt to contract Independent Experts to conduct site visits, with the Plan Vivo Foundation overseeing the overall validation process.
All other projects (generating >10,000 tCO2eq per year) will have to contract a Validation and Verification Body (VVB) from the list of approved VVBs to conduct a validation.

Please consult the Validation and Verification Guidance on how to design an audit plan.

Verification

Verifications assess a project's continued performance against the Plan Vivo Standard and achievement of expected emissions reductions. Verification is required within 5 years of project registration and at least every 5 years thereafter. Verifiers are chosen by projects but must be approved by the Plan Vivo Foundation.

Depending on the scale of the project, projects can take different validation and verification routes.

Microscale projects (generating <10,000 t/CO2eq per year) may opt to contract Independent Experts to conduct site visits, with the Plan Vivo Foundation overseeing the overall validation process.
All other projects (generating >10,000 tCO2eq per year) will have to contract a VVB from the list of approved VVBs to conduct a validation.

Please consult the Validation and Verification Guidance on how to design an audit plan.

Approval of Verifiers and Validators

PVF requires that VVBs be accredited prior to the commencement of any validation or verification activities under the Plan Vivo Standard. Accreditations provide criteria for assessing and recognizing the competence of VVBs, thereby allowing for a consistent and comparable scheme across GHG programs. Accreditation reduces the risk to GHG programmes by providing assurance that VVBs are competent, and it helps establish trust within the Voluntary Carbon Market by ensuring impartiality in the validation and verification processes.

Plan Vivo accepts the following accreditation for VVBs:

Approval as a Designated Operational Entity (DOE) under UNFCCC-CDM (Scope 14 and 15)
Accreditation by an International Accreditation Forum (IAF) member body such as the American National Standards Institute (ANSI), the Organismo Nacional de Acreditacion de Colombia (ONAC) and the Standards Council of Canada (SCC) for ISO 14064 and 14065 with a scope that includes AFOLU projects.

VVBs must be approved by PVF prior to the start of any validation or verification activities under the Plan Vivo Standard. VVBs may apply at any time for approval to conduct validation and verification activities.

The VVB application form may be found here and shall be submitted along with all required supporting documentation to [email protected].

Required supporting documentation:

Evidence of accreditation;
Curriculum Vitae of all Lead Auditors and essential team members, including training and skills;
Evidence of professional service liability insurance. At the point of submission for VVB approval, a VVB must outline the staff members who will be Lead Auditors and Audit Team members. At least two Lead Auditors must be submitted (a Team Leader and Senior Internal Reviewer)
When a VVB has been contracted to undertake a particular project validation or verification, a Conflict-of-Interest form must be submitted to the Plan Vivo Secretariat on behalf of the proposed audit team.
The CVs of the audit team and other team members must be submitted and subsequently approved together with the CoI form by PVF in advance of any validation or verification activities. The lead auditors and essential team members proposed with the VVB application will be assessed against the competencies outlined in Section 4.3 in the Validation and Verification Guidance Manual.

Approval of Independent Experts

Independent Experts (IEs) can be individuals or teams of experts. IEs are embedded in the validation or verification audit for microscale projects, by carrying out site visits and recording findings in validation or verification ToRs. IEs must have the following qualifications and skills:

Education - Bachelors’ degree or higher in a subject relevant to the evaluation
Work Experience - At least five (5) years of work experience in a field related to the project type
Professional qualifications (at least one of the options outlined): Successful completion of the Plan Vivo Independent Expert Training including a Plan Vivo Independent Expert Exam (mandatory if none of the other options apply); Existing certification in relevant GHG accounting for forest and land-use projects, such as GHGMI; Evidence of relevant training for other Forest Carbon Standards; Membership in relevant professional associations.
Country-specific knowledge/language skills
Interviewing, listening, and observing skills
Sensitivity towards socio-economic matters and also environmental and social safeguards
No prior auditing experience is required to become an approved Plan Vivo Independent Expert and approval for Independent Expert status will be handled on a case-by-case basis by PVF.

Independent Experts can be proposed by projects or apply directly, which requires a Curriculum Vitae and evidence of their qualifications. This will be assessed against the required expertise outlined in Section 5.1 in the Validation and Verification Guidance Manual.

If the IE has no prior relevant qualifications relating to forest carbon audits, their approval is based on training administered by PVF to ensure that approved IEs in the Plan Vivo roster have the same level of knowledge and expertise and to ensure a threshold for quality of validation and verification site visits. PVF reserves the right to mandate specific training in areas where the IE has not demonstrated sufficient experience to certify projects, or to remove active site auditor status when reports of site visits are not completed in a satisfactory manner.

All IEs are required to schedule at least 3 information sessions with the Plan Vivo secretariat before carrying out individual audits. These include:

Training on the Plan Vivo Standard.
Relevant PV documentation and ToRs.
Project-specific information prior to site visits (to be completed once the IA has been contracted for a site visit).

Please consult the Validation and Verification Guidance for further details.

Once approved, the IE will be listed on a publicly-available roster of Plan Vivo-approved Independent Experts. No validation or verification activities shall take place prior to an Independent Expert’s approval by PVF and all contracts with Independent Experts should be co-signed by PVF. A Conflict of Interest (COI) form must be submitted to PVF when an IE is contracted for a site visit. The cost of the validation and verification audits to the project will include the cost of contracting the IE (paid directly to the IE), in addition to a validation and verification review fee raised by PVF.

Approved Validation & Verification Bodies

Under the Plan Vivo system, projects are independently validated by third party experts before a project is registered.

Verifications of registered Plan Vivo projects should take place at least every 5 years, in accordance with requirements outlined in the Plan Vivo Standard. The purpose of project verification is to ensure periodic, thorough, independent assessments of project design and implementation against the Plan Vivo Standard. Through these assessments, approved Validation and Verification Bodies (VVBs) confirm that project activities are described as stated in PDDs, that project partners have sufficient capacity to implement the project's objectives successfully, and that the ecosystem service benefits, e.g. emissions reductions, are being achieved as envisaged. Where a project is not meeting any particular requirement(s) under the Standard, corrective actions (CARs) with defined timescales will be imposed and progress against these monitored.

Cost and fees of verification will vary based on project size, scope and many other variables. It is recommended to start planning for verifications several months (6 months is advised) in advance of the desired verification visit. Projects may also contact the Foundation to request approval of additional VVBs, which will be assessed on an individual basis by the Technical Advisory Committee.

The Plan Vivo Foundation currently authorises the following organisations to conduct project verifications:

Organisation	Information
	4KES is a company started in 2018 to cater to the compliance assurance services for various areas in the Energy, Environment, Climate and Water sectors globally. With a deep knowledge and know how in the green business areas, we are a consortium of professionals with more than 2 decades of experience in project execution, compliance measurement, validation and verification services for renewable energy, community oriented, forestry, agriculture and socio-economic projects. Website: www.4kearthscience.com Email: [email protected] Phone: +91-80-43365728 Head office address No. 20, 'SNS Arcade', Old Airport Road, Bangalore, India, 560017
	The Spanish Association for Standardisation and Certification, AENOR (Asociación Española de Normalización y Certificación) is a non-profit private association. Website:www.aenor.es Email: [email protected] Phone: +34 91 432 60 00 Fax: +34 91 310 49 76 Address Asociación Española de Normalización y Certificación Génova, 6 ES-28004 Madrid
	Aster Global (recently acquiring Environmental Services Inc.) is a progressive leader in the development and provision of services within the international greenhouse gas (GHG) ecosystem services, carbon sequestration, and GHG validation and verification markets. From the small, forest service management company to the largest timber growers in the world, and from entrepreneurs forging new technologies in carbon sequestration to City, County, State, and Country governments, Aster Global provides services to a wide array of commercial, governmental, and social organizations seeking to create creditable projects and products. Website: www.asterglobal.com Email: [email protected] Phone: (+1) Head office address 3800 Clermont St NW, North Lawrence, OH 44666, United States
	Carbon Check (India) is a certification body with headquarters in New Delhi. Carbon Check is accredited, certified, and recognized by the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), VERRA - formerly known as Verified Carbon Standard (VCS), Gold Standard Foundation (GS), ISO 14065:2013, Global Carbon Council and Social Carbon for providing verification and validation services in each respective regime. Carbon Check is built on a philosophy of corporate responsibility, corporate accountability, technical excellence, and a commitment to consistent services. They are committed to enabling a future of continued growth and providing expert services to clients. Website: www.carboncheck.co.in Email: [email protected] Phone: + 91 120 4373114 Head office address 2071/38, 2nd Floor, Naiwala, India, 110005
	With its foundation in agriculture, Control Union Certifications has focused its efforts in developing services around the sustainability of the industry's supply chains which feed into the food, feed, forestry, biomass, bioenergy, social compliance and textiles markets. With 'boots on the ground' in more than 70 countries, Control Union Certifications is uniquely placed to manage challenges with today's global marketplace. For more information please contact Erdal Özer via email provided below. Website: certifications.controlunion.com/en Email: [email protected] Phone: +49 (0) 30 509 69 88 - 23 Address Control Union Certifications Germany GmbH Dorotheastr. 30 10318 Berlin / Germany
	Earthood offers Validations and Verifications of carbon offset credits across various programmes globally. The two co-founders Dr. Kaviraj Singh and Mr. Ashok Gautam have been involved in CDM validations and verifications since 2006. More information can be found at the Earthood website. Regd. Office: 424-A, Tower B3, Spaze I-Tech Park, Sector49, Sohna Road, Gurgaon-122018, India Website: https://www.earthood.in/ Email: [email protected] Phone: +91-124-4204599
	ECOLANCE PRIVATE LIMITED (EPL) is a legal entity registered under Companies Act 2013 and Companies Incorporation Rules 2014, of Ministry of Corporate Affairs, Government of India with its registered office in Mumbai, India. We are a neutral, technically high-qualified, multidisciplinary third-party certification body for greenhouse gas mitigation measures and other relevant activities. We offer validation, verification, auditing services and other relevant certification of climate change mitigation and adaptation projects as well as GHG inventories in conformance with international standards. At Ecolance, we have an eclectic mix of qualified and experienced auditors who demonstrate a proactive and value-added service at all times during our intervention. Website: www.eco-lance.com Email: [email protected], or [email protected], or cham[email protected] Phone: +91 86556 19393 Address HD-006, We Work ,4th Floor, Zenia Building, Hiranandani Circle, Hiranandani Business Park, Thane Maharashtra -400607
	EPIC Sustainability’s headquarters are located in India, a global award winning team of more than one hundred technical resources able to deliver quality services in all major languages across the globe. Website: www.epicsustainability.com Email: [email protected] or [email protected] or [email protected] Phone: +91-9482759072 Address EPIC Sustainability Services Pvt. Ltd. No. 41, Anugraha, First Cross Road, Sundar Nagar, Near BEL Circle, Bengaluru – 560054 Karnataka State, India.
	GHD is one of the world’s leading professional services companies operating in global market sectors of water, energy and resources, environment, property and buildings, and transportation. GHD has 200+ offices across a connected global network, operating across five continents. Website: www.ghd.com Email: [email protected] Phone: +1 519-340-3952 (Canada) or +61 418 200 513 (Australia) Head office address 455 Phillip St. Unit #100A Waterloo Ontario Canada N2L 3X2
	Based in Indonesia and serving the wider Asia region, PT Mutuagungn Lestari (MUTU International) is a conformity assessment body that has been accredited for ISO 14065, ISO 17021-1, ISO 17065, ISO 17025 and ISO 17020. MUTU International has been recognized by a third part entity for GHG programs Plan Vivo, Join Credit Mechanisms (JCM) and Social Carbon. Website: www.mutucertification.com Email: [email protected] Phone: (+62-21) 8740202 Head office address Jl. Raya Bogor No.19 KM 33, 5 Cimanggis, Depok, Jawa Barat 16453, Indonesia
	SCS Global Services (SCS) is a global leader in third-party certification, auditing, testing services, and standards. Established as an independent third-party certification firm in 1984, our goal is to recognize the highest levels of performance in environmental protection and social responsibility in the private and public sectors, and to stimulate continuous improvement in sustainable development. Website: www.scsglobalservices.com Email: [email protected] (Christie Pollet-Young, Director, Greenhouse Gas Verification) Head office address 2000 Powell Street, Suite 600, Emeryville, CA 94608 US
	The Sustainable Future Group (SFG) was created to provide the missing link for private sector organisations in the Asia Pacific region with a verification, validation & assurance body that exists to enlighten, engage and empower organisations by ensuring that sustainability is placed at the forefront of their businesses. SFG was one of the first in the region to be awarded ISO 14064 accreditation from the International Accreditation Forum (IAF) – the global governing body for accreditation of inspection, verification, testing and certification companies, through its local representative, the Sri Lanka Accreditation Board (SLAB). This enables SFG to provide verification and certification services for ISO 14064 - 1 & 2: Principles and Requirements at Organisation and Project Levels for Quantification and Reporting of Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Emissions and Removals. We conduct validation and verification according to the latest versions released for all applicable standards/protocols/methodologies/guidelines, and pride ourselves on the impartiality of our services. Website: https://www.sustainablefuturegroup.com Email: [email protected] Phone: +94 (0) 772 063 721 Head office address: 415 Galle Road, Colombo 4, Sri Lanka

N.B. Rainforest Alliance discontinued their auditing services in September 2017.