All information written in this document is taken from [Gold Standard for the Global Goals Principles and Requirements](https://https://globalgoals.goldstandard.org/standards/101_V1.2_PAR_Principles-Requirements.pdf). Refer to the document for more accurate information.

# Project Cycle

Gold Standard for the Global Goals Project Certification is based on a five year renewable certification cycle, with key features as follows:

* Validation must be completed within two years of the date of Listing and a subsequent Design Review
* Verification and Performance Review must be done at least once in each five-year period certification cycle.
* To retain certified design status, project must undergo design certification renewal at the fifth year
* Performance Certifications in a five-year certification cycle is not limited although it must take place at least once, no later than two years after the project implementation or design certification
* Design Certificate Renewal is governed by Activity and/or Product Requirements. If not available, project is limited to one renewal (i.e., maximum 10 years certification)

Notes regarding the *Start Date* of the project:

*Start date* : earliest date on which the PD has committed to expenditures related to the implementation of the project. Does not include the purhcase of land upon which the project is intended to take place.
* Regular - Stakeholde Consultation has been conducted before the Project Start Date
* Retroactive - Stakeholder Consultation has been conducted after the Project Start Date

Simplified Certfication decision making
Step 1: Appointment of VVB by project developer
Step 2: Validation or verification by VVB
Step 3: Design or performance review by SustainCERT
Step 4: Certification decision by SustainCERT
Step 5: Publication of certification decision on Impact Registry

## A. Preliminary Review
Requirements:
1. PD signs and submits Terms and Condition
2. Submit `Project Design Documentation (PDD)` including `Safeguarding Principles Assessment`
4. `Stakeholder Consultation Report`
5. Payment of required fee for Preliminary Review

Outcome:
Positive conclusion of Prelimnary Review means
1. Project obtains `Listed` status in the Gold Standard Registry
2. Project Information, Draft of PDD, and other relevant documents are made publicly available.
3. Project Developer may the promote the Project as a `Listed` status
4. Project may proceed to Validation

## B. Validation and Design Review (Design Certification Stage)

### Validation
Requirements:
1. Project must have a `Listed` status
2. Contact approved VVB for validation
3. Provide PDD and other relevant documentats to VVB

Process:
1. Site visit or Remote Audit of VVB to assess design (PDD) and monitoring plan
2. Validation must be completed within two years of successful listing of the project.
3. VVB submits a positive final `Validation Report` with no non-conformities(NCs) and/or Corrective Action Requests (CARs)

### Design Review:
Requirements:
1. Positive `Validation Report`
2. Payment of Required Fee

Process:
1. Review of `Project Design Document` and `Validation Report` done by GS

Outcome:
Positive conclusion of the design review:
1. Project Documentation, supporting documentation, `Monitoring and Reporting Plan`, `Validation Report` are all made public
2. Project becomes eligible for Performance Certification
3. `Gold Standard Certified Design` status project
4. Proceed to Verification stage

## C. Verification and Performance Review (Performance Certification Stage)


### Verification
Requirements:
1. Project achieved `Gold Standard Certified Design`
2. Contact VVB for verification
3. Provide `PDD`, `Monitoring Report and Reporting Plan` and other relevant documents to VVB
4. PD notifies GS regarding the start of the verification process

Process:
1. Site visit or Remote audit of VVB to assess the monitoring report and other supporting documents
2. Verification at least once during the five-year certification cycle.
3. First verification completed within the two years of project implementation date or design certification (whichever is later)
4. VVB submits a positive final `Verification Report` to GS.

### Performance Review
Requirements:
1. Positive final `Verification Report`
2. Payment of required fee

Process:
1. Review of `Monitoring Report`, `Verification Report`, and other relevant documents done by GS

Outcome:
Positive conclusion of Performance Review:
1. Project documentation, supporting documentation, and `Verification Report` are all made Public
2. Project can issue `Gold Standard Certified Products` or `Impact Statements` upon payment of fee

> Retroactive Performance certification or Impact Statement can be accounted given that the maximum period is two years prior the `Project Design Certification`.

## D. Other Reporting Cycles
### Annual Reporting
For projects that achieved Gold Standard Certified `Design Certification` stage or have successfully transitioned to Gold Standard for the Global Goals:

Annual report shall be submitted for each monitoring year by end of next calendar year for which verification is not completed.

Requirements:
1. Summary of recent activities, events, and actions related to the Project.
2. Clear statement on how stakeholders may provide inputs/grievances
3. List of inputs/grievances that have been received since last annual report together with respective answers/actions
4. Any legal contest or dispute
5. Any updates to the PDD, monitoring plan, and any other relevant documentation
6. Brief descriptive summary of all monitoring information collected during the year
7. Any update of the `Project Participants & Secured Titles`

Process:
* PD signs annual report attesting to the accuracy of the information.

Outcome:
* Annual reporting does not represent Certification nor any decision-making or agreement to any design change by GS

### Design Certification Renewal
A project must undergo `Design Certification` renewal after five years if it wants to maintain its `Gold Standard Certified Status Project`

Requirements:
1. Submission of Renewal of opinion by a VVB no later than the last date of current certification cycle.
> If Design Certification Renewal is completed after the last date of current crediting period, the renewal date is the first day after the end date of the current certification cycle.
> Delay in re-validation beyond the last date of current certification cycle shall result in a reduction of any issuance of `Certified Products` and/or `Impact Statements` available during following certification cycle.

Process:
*Same process as Validation and Design Review*
The scope of assessment is limited to:
1. Changes in Project's Eligibility Criteria
2. Incorporation of relevant updates to the Gold Standard Requirements
3. Re-definition of Baseline Scenario
4. Update of GS activity, product, and methodology
5. Demonstration of Ongoing Financial Need, if necessary

Outcome:
Five-year `Design Certification Renewal` cycle applies to all projects, though some project types are allowed for automatic renewal for a given number of cycles to remove the need for any or all assessment items listed above.

### Transition Projects
Transitioning projects maintaining their existing crediting cycle shall undergo Performance Certification no later than the first two years after project implementation or design certification, whichever is later.

Performance certification must be performed once every three years after the initial Performance Certification.

### Retroactive Design Certification
Retroactive projects must submit Preliminary Review withing one year of the Project Start Date.

### Combining Design Certification and First Performance Certification
PD's may choos to combine Design Certification with their first Verification and Performance Review. The VVB may combine site visit and consider their reports concurrently.

Process:
1. Concurrent Design Review and Performance Review commences when the VVB submits positive `Validation Report` and `Verification Report` at the same time to GS
2. GS conducts a review that covers both `Design Review` and `Performance Review`

Outcome:
Positive conclusion means both `Design Certification` and `Performance Certification` are approved concurrently including any issuance of GS Certified Impact and/or Products.