The Sustainable Development Verified Impact Standard (SD VISta) is the premier standard for certifying the sustainable development benefits of social and environmental projects. The types of benefits that may be certified range from gender equity to economic development, affordable clean energy to wildlife restoration. SD VISta is the only certification standard that uses expert, third-party auditors to verify that a project advances the global Sustainable Development Goals set forth by the United Nations.
RULES AND REQUIREMENTS
The SD VISta Program rules define the standards and processes which all projects must follow to be certified. They include Requirements, and Templates and Forms.
These documents are updated periodically. Please check this page to ensure you are using the latest version of a given document.
METHODOLOGIES
Projects have the option to generate user-defined SD VISta assets that represent specific sustainable development benefits. To do so, projects must use an approved SD VISta asset methodology to quantify the specific social or environmental benefits that will be issued as assets.
ASSESSMENT
Qualified, independent third-party auditors (validation/verification bodies (VVBs) or Independent Expert Evaluators (IEEs) are tasked with assessing projects against the SD VISta Program rules and the requirements of the applied methodology. This independent assessment process is critical to ensuring the integrity of the projects registered with the SD VIsta Program.
VERRA REGISTRY
The Verra Registry is the cornerstone for the implementation of Verra’s standards and programs. It facilitates the transparent listing of information on registered projects and projects pursuing registration, issued and retired units, and enables the trading of units. It is the central repository for all information and documentation relating to Verra projects and credits. The Verra Registry also ensures the uniqueness of projects and credits in the system.
SD VISTA GOVERNANCE AND DEVELOPMENT
The SD VISta Program is managed by Verra with the support of the Sustainable Development Advisory Group, a multi-stakeholder, cross-sectoral group that helps ensure that SD VISta can promote and advance sustainable development through results-based market mechanisms.
Verra is committed to following ISEAL’s Codes of Good Practice in the ongoing development of the SD VISta Program.
COMPLAINTS AND APPEALS POLICY
Verra provides a Complaints and Appeals Policy that applies to all standards and programs managed by Verra.