GS5658 VPA 32: Improved Cookstoves for Environmental Conservation in Southern Ethiopia

Audit Analysis

This Gold Standard cookstove programme in Southern Ethiopia presents serious integrity concerns: the most recent verification report (November 2025) states that additionality was not confirmed by the VVB, contradicting the 2022 validation report, and the project carries 14 material findings and over 30 corrective actions covering calculation errors, methodology inconsistencies, and baseline deficiencies. While the verified emissions reductions for the 2024–25 monitoring period are broadly in line with the pro-rata ex-ante expectation, the claimed figure is more than double that expectation, and multiple contradictions across documents undermine confidence in the data.

Project Description

Red Flags

• ⚠Additionality was NOT verified by the VVB per the November 2025 verification report, directly contradicting the April 2022 validation report which confirmed it; the additionality test type is not stated in any available document.
• ⚠14 material findings and 30+ corrective actions span calculation errors (baseline fuel non-CO2 emission factor, usage rates, days), methodology version inconsistencies (v1.0 vs v1.1), and missing baseline survey data — indicating systemic MRV weaknesses.
• ⚠The claimed emissions reduction of 21,842 tCO2 is approximately 239% of the pro-rata annual expectation (~9,146 tCO2), while the verified figure is 10,000 tCO2 (~109%), a gap that raises over-crediting risk.
• ⚠FPIC was not conducted, and the PDD (October 2020) states no grievance mechanism existed, contradicting the 2026 verification report.

Credit Vintages