GS1247 VPA 208 Sierra Leone Safe Water

Audit Analysis

This Gold Standard safe water project in Sierra Leone displaces thermal energy (firewood/charcoal) used for water heating via boreholes. While additionality is VVB-confirmed and no reversal events occurred, the project carries an extraordinary volume of material findings (over 60) and open corrective actions (over 50), including 4,193 borehole failure days, a usage rate decline from 94% to 82%, and a reduction of the leakage deduction from 5% (PDD) to 0% (verification report). These operational and documentation issues significantly undermine confidence in the integrity and robustness of the claimed reductions.

Project Description

Red Flags

• ⚠Over 60 material findings and 50+ open corrective actions reported across verification and monitoring documents, indicating systemic documentation and implementation weaknesses
• ⚠Leakage deduction reduced from 5% in the PDD to 0% in the 2024 verification report, with justification described only as 'quantified' without visible quantification in the extracted record
• ⚠4,193 borehole failure days during the 2023–2024 monitoring period and a usage rate decline from 93.98% to 81.73% signal significant operational fragility
• ⚠Emission reductions were capped at 10,000 tCO2e per VPA due to a Gold Standard grievance review, and temporary caps on users per borehole and fuel consumption were applied
• ⚠Lack of an exit strategy for beneficiaries was flagged as a risk in the verification report

Credit Vintages