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How a project is certified against the Standards

Certification confirms that a project meets the Finance for Peace Standards. The Project Owner and a peace expert apply the Standards and submit an application, the Standards Committee decides, and an independent verifier checks every year that the Peace Plan is being delivered.

Six steps to certification

Step 01

Appoint the parties

The Project Owner appoints a peace expert with specialist knowledge of the context, and an independent verifier. The peace expert must be approved by Finance for Peace, and both must be independent of the Project Owner in their judgement.

Step 02

Analyse the context

The Project Owner and peace expert describe the project, confirm that no exclusion criteria apply, and assess the conflict risks around it: local drivers and grievances, the key actors and the project’s links to them. They map stakeholders, consult them inclusively, and identify the peace dimensions the project aims to influence.

Step 03

Design the Peace Plan

The Peace Expert designs peace measures against the risks the analysis found, each with a description, a risk-reduction mechanism, a budget and a timeline. Each measure is linked to Peace Impact Indicators with baselines, targets and a data collection method. Monitoring responsibilities and an independent complaints mechanism are set out.

Step 04

Submit the application

The application follows the form in the Standards, with supporting documents such as the conflict analysis, stakeholder engagement records and financial projections. It is signed jointly by the Project Owner and peace expert.

Step 05

Standards Committee decision

The Standards Committee reviews the application against all five sections of the Standards: whether the conflict-risk analysis is credible, whether the peace measures are concrete, resourced and linked to the risks, and whether the peace expert has the right experience. If the application is not ready, the Committee gives specific feedback and the applicant can resubmit. If approved, the project receives the Peace Stamp and a summary of the application and the certification decision is published.

Step 06

Report, review and renew

Within 120 days of each year-end, the Project Owner publishes an Annual Peace Impact Report, co-signed by the peace expert and verified by the independent verifier. The verifier reviews implementation, validates indicator data and consults communities independently. On that basis the Standards Committee decides. If the Standards are met, the Peace Stamp is renewed and this is publicly confirmed. If adjustments are needed, the Committee sets remediation within a defined timeframe, and the Stamp is withdrawn if they are not made. Major non-compliance requires corrective action within a set timeframe, and failure leads to withdrawal, with investors notified. A withdrawal should be treated like a downgrade of a financial instrument, and all decisions are documented and disclosed.

Who does what

The Project Owner

Responsible for the project and for raising funds. Before issuance, appoints the peace expert and the independent verifier, and analyses conflict risks and designs the peace measures and indicators with the peace expert. Submits the application to the Standards Committee. After issuance, implements and funds the peace measures, monitors them, and publishes the Annual Peace Impact Report. Co-signs the application and each annual report.

The Peace Expert

Leads the context analysis and stakeholder engagement, designs the peace measures and indicators, and supports implementation. Must have relevant field experience in conflict-affected contexts, conflict-analysis experience and a track record of inclusive community engagement, and be independent of the project owner. Co-signs the application and each annual report.

The Independent Verifier

Operationally and financially independent of the project owner and peace expert. Receives and reviews monitoring information regarding implementation and indicator data each year, consults communities separately from the peace expert, checks the complaints mechanism, and verifies the annual Peace Impact Report.

The Standards Committee

Reviews each application against the Standards, decides on certification and publishes a summary of each certified application. Renews, sets remediation for, or withdraws the Peace Stamp each year. Finance for Peace approves peace experts, and does not advise on, structure or place transactions.

Considering certification for a transaction?

Tell us about the project and we will explain what the Standards would ask of it, and what the route to certification involves. Finance for Peace sets the Standards and does not advise on, structure or place transactions.

Our partners

SidaGerman Federal Foreign OfficeSIPRIPeace Dividend InitiativeFAOKOISFund for PeaceAfrican Development Bank Group

The Finance for Peace Standards are set by an independent Standards Committee. No funder or partner shapes, approves or funds their content. Finance for Peace does not advise on, structure or make investments.

Phase 1 is supported by the Swedish Government.

© 2026 Finance for Peace. A not-for-profit company limited by guarantee registered in England and Wales, no. 16333210.

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