Registration and Issuance Team
The Registration and Issuance Team (RIT) is established to assist the Executive Board to consider requests for registration of project activities and requests for issuance of CERs submitted to the Executive Board by designated operational entities (DOEs) (EB 29, Annex 14, paragraph 1).
The RIT operates under the guidance of the Executive Board (EB 29, Annex 14, paragraph 6). The secretariat reports periodically to the Executive Board regarding the operation of the RIT and the performance of its members (EB 29, Annex 14, paragraph 16).
The terms of reference and procedures for the RIT are contained in EB 29, Annex 14. This is version 5.1 of the procedures and replaces earlier guidance in EB 22 Annex 19, EB 23 Annex 34, EB 24 Annex 27 and EB 25 Annex 43.
Role of the RIT
The functions of the RIT are as follows:
The RIT, serves the following purpose of assisting the Executive Board in its task referred to in Paragraph 1 above, by:
- To prepare appraisals of requests for registration submitted by DOEs assessing whether the validation requirements are met and/or appropriately dealt with by DOEs;
- To prepare appraisals of requests for issuance of CERs submitted by DOEs assessing whether the verification and certification requirements are met and/or appropriately dealt with by DOEs; and
- [To] identify general issues related to registration and issuance for consideration by the Board (EB29, Annex 14, paragraph 5).
Each appraisal of a request for registration or issuance is prepared by one member of the RIT (EB 29, Annex 14, paragraph 9).
Composition and eligibility
The RIT is composed of a minimum of 20 members (EB 29, Annex 14, paragraph 7).
Applicants for the RIT are selected by the Executive Board based on applications to a public call for experts posted on the UNFCCC website, from a shortlist compiled by the secretariat. Selection will take into account the principle of regional balance (EB 29, Annex 14, paragraph 14).
Applicants must also:
- Demonstrate relevant working experience of at least four years on methodological issues and/or monitoring and verification related to project-based mechanisms;
- Demonstrate technical/scientific expertise, inter alia through publications, in at least one of the following areas:
- Baseline and/or monitoring methodologies; or
- Project activity implementation, including monitoring and verification;
- Have excellent drafting skills, strong operational and analytical skills, and ability to work as a member of a team; and
- Have an advanced university degree in economics, energy, social, environmental studies, natural sciences, engineering, development studies, or any related discipline ( EB 29, Annex 14, paragraph 13)
Members must also be frequently available to undertake appraisals of requests for registration and issuance and participate in electronic discussions (e-mail and/or phone) ( EB 29, Annex 14, paragraph 11(a)).
Payment of members
RIT members are paid USD 400 per day (EB 29, Annex 14, paragraph 18). For each appraisal task, if the appraisal is delivered in good quality and on time, the equivalent of one daily fee is paid to the member ( EB 29, Annex 14, paragraph 19). However, in order to reduce transaction costs, each member is paid after every ten appraisal cases, delivered on time and in good quality. At the end of each quarter, all completed but unpaid tasks are settled (EB 29, Annex 14, paragraph 20).
Quality issues
Members of the RIT must:
- Prepare appraisals in good quality and on time;
- Treat all information with strict confidentiality;
- Declare all conflicts of interest; and
- Be available to participate in review teams ( EB 29, Annex 14, paragraph 12).
If issues arise as to the quality of appraisals or fee payment, they will be dealt with by the Chair of the Executive Board (EB 29, Annex 14, paragraph 17).
Preparing an appraisal of a request for registration
Assignment of task
When a request for registration is made, the secretariat identifies the RIT member who is to be assigned the task, taking into account the sectoral scope of the project activity to be appraised and the expertise of RIT members (EB 29, Annex 14, paragraph 21).
The member assigned is then informed, and within 2 days must indicate whether they have a conflict of interest. If a conflict of interest is identified, another member will be assigned to perform the appraisal (EB 29, Annex 14, paragraph 22).
Content of an appraisal
The appraisal must indicate whether validation requirements have been met and/or appropriately dealt with by the DOE, and provide reasons if these conditions are not fulfilled. The appraisal must also cover whether additional guidance/clarification/revisions could avoid re-occurrence of the issues identified. The appraisal should assess in particular the application of the baseline and monitoring methodology, additionality, and determination of baseline. (EB 29, Annex 14, paragraph 23)
The appraisal must be prepared using the Appraisal of registration requests form (F-CDM-REGappr) (EB 29, Annex 14, paragraph 24).
Finalising the appraisal
On the basis of the appraisal, the secretariat prepares a summary note of the request for registration and forwards this note together with the member's appraisal to the Executive Board within 10 days (5 days for small-scale projects) (EB 29, Annex 14, paragraph 25). The Executive Board will then consider the request for registration and make its decision.
Preparing an appraisal of a request for issuance
Assignment of task
When a request for issuance is made, the secretariat identifies the RIT member who is to be assigned the task, taking into account the sectoral scope of the project activity to be appraised and the expertise of RIT members (EB 29, Annex 14, paragraph 27).
The member assigned is then informed, and within 1 day must indicate whether they have a conflict of interest. If a conflict of interest is identified, another member will be assigned to perform the appraisal (EB 29, Annex 14, paragraph 28).
Content of an appraisal
The appraisal must indicate whether verification and certification requirements requirements have been met and/or appropriately dealt with by the DOE, and provide reasons if these conditions are not fulfilled. The appraisal must also cover whether additional guidance/clarification/revisions could avoid re-occurrence of the issues identified. The appraisal should assess in particular the application of both the monitoring methodology and the monitoring plan. (EB 29, Annex 14, paragraph 29)
The appraisal must be prepared using the 'Appraisal of registration requests' form and must be submitted within 6 days (F-CDM-ISSappr) (EB 29, Annex 14, paragraph 24).
Finalising the appraisal
On the basis of the appraisal, the secretariat prepares a summary note of the request for issuance and forwards this note together with the member's appraisal to the Executive Board within 3 days (EB 29, Annex 14, paragraph 32). The Executive Board will then consider the request for registration and make its decision.
Input to requests for review
If a request for review is made and is placed Under Review by the Executive Board, the lead member of the review team may decide to seek the input of a member of the RIT. If sought, such input must be delivered within 2 working days (EB 29, Annex 14, paragraph 35-36).