Application for Accreditation

At its fourth meeting, the Joint Implementation Supervisory Committee (JISC) agreed on the procedure for accrediting independent entities by the Joint Implementation Supervisory Committee (JI accreditation procedure) and decided to start the joint implementation (JI) accreditation process on 15 November 2006. The JISC most recently revised the JI accreditation procedure at its twenty-sixth meeting to version 07 (Procedure for accrediting independent entities by the Joint Implementation Supervisory Committee (version 07)* (676 KB))

Paragraph 3 of Decision 10/CMP.1 stipulates that:

"(a) Designated operational entities under the clean development mechanism may act provisionally as accredited independent entities under Article 6 until the Joint Implementation Supervisory Committee has approved its procedures for accreditation; (b) Those designated operational entities that apply for accreditation under the approved procedures for accreditation may continue to act provisionally as accredited independent entities until a final accreditation decision is taken; (c) The determinations and relevant activities undertaken under these provisions shall be valid only after the accreditation of the independent entity is finalized".

Taking into account the above-mentioned paragraph, the JISC also agreed that the JI accreditation procedure would be effective as of 15 November 2006, to allow sufficient time for designated operational entities (DOEs) under the CDM to prepare their applications for the JI accreditation process, so that they could continue to act provisionally as accredited independent entities (AIEs) under JI in the mean time.

At its fourth meeting, the JISC established sectoral scopes for accreditation and clarified that DOEs may act provisionally as AIEs only for the same sectoral scope(s) and corresponding function(s) for which they are designated. The JISC further clarified that DOEs designated for the sectoral scope of afforestation and reforestation may act as AIEs for the sectoral scope of land use, land-use change and forestry for the designated function(s). The list of sectoral scopes is contained in appendix 1 of Procedure for accrediting independent entities by the Joint Implementation Supervisory Committee (version 07)* (676 KB).

The JISC also agreed on the application fee for the JI accreditation process, as contained in the Provisions for the charging of fees to cover administrative costs relating to the activities of the Joint Implementation Supervisory Committee (version 04) (146 KB). Furthermore, the JISC agreed on the level of fees to be paid to joint implementation assessment team by applicant independent entity or AIE, as contained in appendix 7 of Procedure for accrediting independent entities by the Joint Implementation Supervisory Committee (version 07)* (676 KB).

In order to apply for the JI accreditation process, independent entities shall:

Request from the secretariat the instructions for the payment of the non-reimbursable application fee (USD 15,000). The information can be requested by sending a message to the secretariat (secretariat@unfccc.int), indicating a fax number to which the information should be forwarded. In addition, a copy of the message should be sent to ji-accreditation@unfccc.int. Download and fill in the Form of application for accreditation by the Joint Implementation Supervisory Committee(F-JI-A) (160 KB) Submit to the secretariat eight copies of both the application form and the documents referred to in Part 5 of the form by post to the following address: UNFCCC Att. Mr. James Grabert P.O. Box 260 124 D-53153 Bonn Germany

According to paragraphs 22 and 23 of the Procedure for accrediting independent entities by the Joint Implementation Supervisory Committee (version 07)* (676 KB), the secretariat shall start processing an application upon receipt of the non reimbursable application fee and check the completeness and adequacy of documents and information submitted. The accreditation procedure shall be continued once all documentation is received.

The JISC, at its fifth meeting, agreed to introduce a provision by which applicant independent entities from non-Annex I Parties and Annex I Parties with economies in transition may have the possibility of paying 50% of the non-reimbursable application fee when the entities apply for accreditation, provided that these entities pay the remaining 50% once they are accredited. This provision is effective from 1 November 2006. Applicant independent entities wishing to use this provision are requested to indicate so in the message requesting the information on the payment of application fee referred to in the instruction above.

*Note: As of 22 June 2011, the following transitional measures for accrediting application independent entities (IEs) that have been issued an indicative letter but have not been accredited by the Joint Implementation Supervisory Committee (version 01) shall apply.