GS1247 VPA 25 Improved Kitchen Regimes - Dowa Boreholes, Malawi

Audit Analysis

This Gold Standard borehole and improved kitchen project in Malawi has VVB-verified additionality and no reversal events, but is burdened by an extraordinary volume of material findings, multiple non-functional boreholes, water quality failures, and parameter caps imposed after a grievance review. The 0% leakage deduction (contradicting the PDD's original 5%) and the project-specific baseline raise moderate concerns about the robustness of the credit claim. Documentation quality is undermined by dozens of open corrective actions, registry inconsistencies, and unresolved forward action requests.

Project Description

Red Flags

• ⚠Multiple boreholes reported non-functional or retired during 2025 (374-048, 374-082, 374-015, BORDOKA25 ran dry, BORDOKA1 offline 113 days), undermining the physical basis of claimed reductions
• ⚠Parameter caps on Wb,y, Wp,y, usage rate, and user numbers imposed after a Gold Standard grievance review, indicating the original ex-ante values were too generous
• ⚠Extensive list of material findings including formula errors in the ER calculation sheet, inconsistent values between the MR and ER spreadsheets, and registry methodology/SDG mislabeling
• ⚠Leakage deduction reduced from 5% in the PDD to 0% 'deemed negligible' in the 2026 verification report without a clear methodological justification for the change
• ⚠Negative SDG 5 impact recorded: increased time spent collecting water (75% reduction in time savings), suggesting the project is not delivering its co-benefit promise

Credit Vintages