The Water Benefit Standard was launched in 2014 as the first globally consistent standard that certifies the positive water and socio-economic impacts of water projects.

Corporates have used the Water Benefit Standard to make the most of their investments in water management and stewardship. They have been able to certify their own best-practice water management efforts (e.g. in their value chains), as well as invest in certified project water benefits elsewhere that are generated through the annual verification of the impacts Water Benefit projects deliver.

The principles and safeguards from this innovative Water Benefit Standard have now been embedded into our broader framework, Gold Standard for the Global Goals. This ensures that any project that may have implications on water quality or access actively manages any risks. Developers may also choose to issue Water Benefit Certificates, which represent quantified and certified impacts to securing access to water, to attract funding to their projects from companies, governments or other institutions looking for verified contributions to water security. 

Review the Water Benefit Standard requirements and methodologies.

See the impact that Water Benefit projects deliver to communities around the world:

• Clean Water Access in India>>
• Sustainable Sugarcane Initiative in India>>
• Water Security in rural Uganda>>

The standard was developed with support from First Climate and in association with the Water Benefit Partners Programme.