GS1247 VPA 260 Improved Kitchen Regimes Multi-Country PoA - Dowa Boreholes, Malawi

Audit Analysis

This Gold Standard borehole project in Malawi has confirmed additionality and conservative verified emissions (97.3% of the ex-ante estimate for the monitoring period), but is undermined by 11 cross-document contradictions, a low extraction confidence rating, multiple borehole failures, a negative SDG 5 impact, and the absence of a stated buffer pool. The extensive list of corrective actions and material findings signals ongoing operational and documentation challenges that erode confidence in the project's long-term integrity.

Project Description

Red Flags

• ⚠11 contradictions across documents, including leakage deduction (0% in verification report vs 5% in PDD), fNRB method (national_default vs local_field), and crediting period dates
• ⚠Multiple boreholes removed or out of service (324-005 for water quality, 294-172 for extended period), with SDG 5 showing a 29–39% increase in water-collection time vs baseline
• ⚠Minimum extraction confidence rated 'low', indicating at least one key document was poorly readable
• ⚠Usage monitoring method contradicted: annual survey in the 2025 verification report vs smart meter in the 2025 monitoring report

Credit Vintages