VALIDATION and VERIFICATION

During validation, a VVB determines whether a project meets all rules and requirements from the Verra programs. Once validation has been concluded, the project proponent may submit the project for registration with the respective program.

During verification, a VVB confirms that the outcomes set out in the project documentation have been achieved and quantified according to the requirements of the respective standard.

Suspension or Loss of Accreditation

A VVB becomes inactive when their accreditation is terminated or when they are suspended by the body under which they are accredited, or if Verra suspends or terminates its agreement with the VVB.

Verra doesn’t permit inactive or suspended VVBs to conduct any validation and verification audits or issue validation and verification reports until Verra reinstates their eligibility.

Verra’s VVB Performance Monitoring Program (PMP) is fundamental to Verra’s comprehensive oversight of VVB performance. The PMP enables Verra to monitor and strengthen VVB performance across all Verra standards programs.

The PMP uses 17 indicators from four oversight activity categories:

1. Project Reviews
2. Performance Observation Audits
3. Sanctions and Cooperation
4. Accreditation Body Feedback

Verra uses mostly quantitative indicators to monitor VVB performance, which allows for a systematic evaluation approach. Verra’s assessment of VVB performance in these categories is captured in individualized scorecards that are issued to VVBs at a minimum once a year, sometimes more often.

VVB performance scorecards allow Verra to determine how to strengthen VVBs’ overall auditing capacity under all Verra standards programs to ensure the integrity of Verra’s projects and the units Verra issues. These actions include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Providing VVB trainings
• Updating Verra program rules and methodologies
• Providing internal trainings for Verra staff
• Increasing and/or decreasing VVB oversight activities
• Sanctioning low-performing VVBs

OVERSIGHT ACTIVITIES

The PMP includes four categories of activities that inform the VVB performance scorecards. Together, these activities enable Verra to closely monitor the level of competence of each individual VVB and identify common issues across all VVBs:

1. Project Reviews: Verra conducts project reviews when project proponents submit registration and issuance requests to Verra, in accordance with the VCS Registration and Issuance Process (see the VCS Rules and Requirements page for the most recent version). The reviews ensure that the VVB has appropriately assessed, and fully described how it has assessed, the project’s conformance with the VCS Program rules and has provided a complete description of the assessment process.
2. Performance Observation (PO) Audits: During PO audits, conducted onsite or remotely, Verra staff witness VVBs conducting validations and/or verifications. PO audits are part of Verra’s continuous assessment process to verify the competence and effectiveness of approved VVBs in conducting validations and/or verifications within a defined scope.
3. Sanctions and Cooperation Activities
   • Section 6 Reviews/Quality Control Reviews: Verra may, at its discretion, review registered projects and VCU issuances where it has concerns about a project’s adherence to the VCS Program rules and the applied methodology. Conducted in accordance with the VCS Registration and Issuance Process (see the VCS Rules and Requirements page for the most recent version), a review may be triggered by any of the following:
     • A VVB identifies an error or quality issue in a previous validation or verification
     • A project proponent identifies an error or quality issue after the registration or issuance of the project
     • A stakeholder expresses concerns about a registered project
     • Verra itself identifies an error or quality issue as part of routine operations
   • Non-Conformance Reports: Verra issues non-conformance reports to VVBs if it identifies specific performance issues that are recurring, material, or severe in nature. VVBs must respond in writing to address the non-conformities to Verra’s satisfaction and include the following:
     • Investigation and documentation of the root cause of each non-conformity
     • Documentation of the corrective action taken to prevent the non-conformity from reoccurring
   • Other (Cooperation): Cooperation in responding to Section 6 Reviews/Quality Control Reviews, non-conformity reports and other ad hoc investigations related to VVB performance, e.g., Conflict of Interest investigations
4. Information Exchange with Accreditation Bodies: Relevant information about validation/verification bodies performance is shared between the respective accreditation body and Verra.

VVB Sanctions

Based on its validation/verification bodies oversight activities, Verra has sole discretion to apply sanctions to VVBs. These sanctions may vary depending on the severity of issues and/or non-conformance(s). VVBs may be found to conduct services not in conformance with the governing accreditation body and/or VCS Program rules or may be deemed by Verra to perform unsatisfactorily.

• Sanctions against VVBs may include the following:
• Issuance of a warning
• Referral to accreditation body
• Suspension
• Termination

VVB sanctions are described in detail in section 6 of the VCS Program Guide (see the VCS Rules and Requirements page for the most recent version).

VVBs may be located anywhere in the world and are eligible to provide validation and verification services under the VCS Program if they are accredited by a VCS-recognized accreditation body, have received Verra authorization, have signed the required agreement with Verra, and paid the annual validation/verification body fee.

Qualified validation/verification bodies (VVBs) also perform rigorous assessments of VCS methodologies and methodology elements to confirm that they conform with VCS Program requirements and sector-specific best practices. The contracted VVB must meet the eligibility criteria set out in the VCS Program Guide and must hold accreditation or approval for validation or verification (as applicable) for the sectoral scope(s) applicable to the respective methodology project. Where the methodology falls under more than one sectoral scope, the VVB body shall hold accreditation or approval for validation or verification (as applicable) for all relevant sectoral scopes.

The below overview of VCS and ANAB sectoral scopes informs for which VCS sectoral scopes ANAB-accredited VVBs can provide validation or verification.

Successful verification of a project to the CCB Standards certifies a projects’ climate, community, and biodiversity benefits for a specific period of time. Verification also enables the addition of a CCB label to credits that were generated during the same time period.

VVBs may be located anywhere in the world and are eligible to provide validation and verification services under the CCBS Program if they meet the criteria set out in the CCB Program Rules.

Successful verification of a project to SD VISta certifies a projects unique sustainable development benefits for a specific period of time. Verification also enables the addition of a SD VISta label to credits from approved programs that were generated during the same time period.

Projects that use an approved SD VISta methodology may generate SD VISta Assets that are specific to the chosen methodology. In order to generate assets the SD VISta validation and verification must assess whether the project also meets the requirements of the selected methodology and have monitored and accounted for the benefit accordingly.

Validation and verification must be performed by a VVB that has been approved by Verra as having expertise in the sectoral scopes of the project activities.

SD VISta Sectoral Scopes

Projects, activities or methodologies can be developed under any of the 14 SD VISta sectoral scopes. Additionally, these sectoral scopes have been mapped to the UN Sustainable Development Goals (opens on un.org website).

VVBs may be located anywhere in the world and are eligible to provide validation and verification services under the SD VISta Program if they meet the criteria set out in the SD VISta Standard.

VVBs are eligible to provide validation and verification services under the Plastic Program if they are accredited by a member of the International Accreditation Forum, have been approved by Verra and have signed the required agreement with Verra. See below for the VVBs currently approved to conduct validation and verifications under the Plastic Program.