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 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.
Requirements documents set out the core principles and criteria for developing projects and generating independently assessed sustainable development benefits and issuing registered SD VISta assets. All SD VISta projects are assessed against these requirements.
| SD VISta Program Guide, v1.0 | Issued: 22 January 2019
The Program Guide describes the constituent parts of the SD VISta Program and provides rules for all its actors. |
| Sustainable Development Verified Impact Standard, v1.0 | Issued: 22 January 2019
The Sustainable Development Verified Impact Standard provides the criteria for project design and benefits to people, their prosperity and the planet, as well as criteria for monitoring and assessment of projects and related claims and assets. |
| SD VISta Program Definitions, v1.0 | Issued: 22 January 2019
The Program Definitions provide definitions for terms used in the Program documents. |
| SD VISta Program Fee Schedule, v1.2 | Issued: 9 April 2020 Updated: 30 March 2023 The Program Fee Schedule sets out the fees applicable under the SD VISta Program. |
| Complaints and Appeals Policy, v1.0 | Issued: 22 January 2019
Verra’s complaints and appeals policy. |
Templates and forms are provided to ensure that users of the SD VISta Program have a consistent structure to work from when completing certain documents. These templates are required for the completion of project descriptions, monitoring reports, assessment reports and other required documentation.
SD VISta Projects
| Project Description Template, v1.0 | Issued: 22 January 2019 Project Description template |
| Monitoring Report Template, v1.0 | Issued: 22 January 2019 Monitoring report template. |
| Listing Representation (Single Project Proponent), v1.1 | Issued: 16 June 2020 Deed of representation issued in respect of listing a project on the Verra project database for a single project proponent. |
| Listing Representation (Multiple Project Proponents), v1.1 | Issued: 16 June 2020 Deed of representation issued in respect of listing a project on the Verra project database for multiple project proponents. |
| SD VISta Registration Representation (Single Project Proponent), v1.1 | Issued: 16 June 2020 Deed of representation issued in respect of the project for a single project proponent. |
| SD VISta Project Implementation Representation (Single Project Proponent), v1.0 | Issued: 29 June 2020 Deed of representation issued in respect of the project for a single project proponent. |
| Validation Report Template, v1.0 | Issued: 25 September 2019 Validation report template for use by a VVB |
| Project Design Evaluation Report Template, v1.0 | Issued: 01 July 2019 Project design evaluation report template for use by an independent evaluation expert |
| Verification Report Template, v1.0 | Issued: 25 September 2019 Verification report template for use by a VVB |
| SD VISta Validation Representation, v1.1 | Issued: 16 June 2020 Deed of representation issued in respect of validation. |
| SD VISta Verification Representation, v1.0 | Issued: 29 June 2020 Deed of representation issued in respect of verification. |
| Verra Image Submission, v1.1 | Issued: 22 January 2019This form is used by the owner of an image to grant Verra the right to use and display such an image.
(For example, project proponents interested in having an image of their project displayed on the Verra project database must first complete and submit this form before Verra will display the image.) |
Assessors
| Notice of Validation/Verification Services (NOVS) form, v1.0 | Issued: 29 August 2022 Notice of Validation/verification Services (NOVS) form |
| VVB Agreement Template, v1.2 | Issued: 30 November 2021Validation/verification body agreement template. |
| VVB Application Form, v1.2 | Issued: 27 July 2022Validation/verification body application form. |
| IEE Application Form, v1.0 | Issued: 22 January 2019Independent evaluation expert application form. |
Methodology
| SD VISta Methodology Concept Note Template, v1.0 | Issued: 22 June 2020Methodology concept note template |
| SD VISta Methodology Template, v1.0 | Issued: 5 June 2020Methodology template |
| SD VISta Methodology Element Assessment Report Template, v1.0 | Issued: 7 July 2021Methodology element assessment template |
Note that as the SD VISta Program rules are revised, previous versions that are no longer in use will be archived here.
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).
| 1. Agriculture, forestry and other land use (AFOLU) | 12. Responsible consumption and production; 15. Life on land |
| 2. Climate change adaption | 13. Climate action |
| 3. Education | 4. Quality education |
| 4. Energy | 7. Affordable and clean energy |
| 5. Food | 2. Zero hunger; 12. Responsible consumption and production |
| 6. Governance | 16. Peace, justice and strong institutions |
| 7. Health | 3. Good health and well-being |
| 8. Housing | 11. Sustainable cities and communities |
| 9. Infrastructure | 11. Sustainable cities and communities; 9. Industry, innovation and infrastructure |
| 10. Livelihoods | 1. No poverty; 8. Decent work and economic growth; 10. Reduced inequalities; 12. Responsible consumption and production |
| 11. Transport | 9. Industry, innovation and infrastructure; 11. Sustainable cities and communities |
| 12. Water Access and Sanitation | 6. Clean water and sanitation |
| 13. Oceans and Marine Resources | 14. Life below water |
| 14. Women’s empowerment | 5. Gender Equality |
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.
FAQs for Review Procedures
This frequently asked questions (FAQ) document addresses review procedures in the Verified Carbon Standard (VCS) Program; the Climate, Community & Biodiversity Standards (CCBS) Program; the Plastic Waste Reduction Program (Plastic Program); and the Sustainable Development Verified Impact Standard (SD VISta) Program.
Disclaimer: This FAQ document is current as of November 28, 2023. This FAQ document is provided for informational purposes only. The scope and nature of every review depends on the underlying facts and circumstances.