Validation and Verification Body (VVB)
The accredited independent auditor that checks a project against its methodology, first at design stage (validation) and later against actual performance (verification). VVBs are accredited independently and approved by the programme they audit under.
Why the validation and verification body matters for carbon credit buyers
The VVB is the only party that inspects a project on the ground before a registry issues credits, so its work underpins everything the registry publishes. Auditors are accredited against international standards such as ISO 14065 and must be approved by the programme, but they are contracted and paid by the project developer, a structure the market continues to debate. Registries manage that tension through rotation requirements, sampling, and their own internal review before issuance. When comparing projects, it is worth noting who the VVB was, when the most recent verification took place, and whether any findings were raised and closed.