A form to provide a short description of green business, products, services and picture to be display is suggested to participant during the free submission session. The form allow submitters to declare type and quantity of ecosystem, environmental, social or economic services value add (additionnality). Any other certification standard declared during submission of product or service is acknowledged. The platform also suggest links to various standard, tools and methodology to facilitate estimation of Environmental, Ecosystem or social Services as well as product/service carbon foot print. After the product or service is displayed online, an RSS flux alert is forward throw to the network to synchronize with Social Media, Mailing list and Mobile applications. Other build-in functions are activated to allow advertisement with options for participants to view, rate, like, rank, purchase or offer support to the summited product or service. Eco2africa Label is displayed online to attest that the product or service is guarantee for safe and free online transactions, trading, support or venture with supplier or proponents. This is done after a Verification and certification process ensured by the program representatives and experts at the product/service location. A collaborative and partnership framework at local, national and sub-regional levels with experts, NGO, small business, community organization and government authorities in different African traders or buyers. An Eco2Africa certificate is signed and logo displayed online to attest that the products or services is physically and legally in compliance with the product or service description, term and conditions.
The verification process is supported either by partner organizations, traders or buyers. Different electronic payment options are displayed during online transactions in compliance with international and national trading and financial regulations. Verification and Certification process fees are proportional to factors like product/service type, quantity, time, level of effort/expertise and geographic location. Other fees applicable for online transactions are included. It’s envisaged that all or part of these fees be supported throw different Corporate Environmental and Social Responsibility packages, public-private partnership programs and projects, as well as by different green or sustainable development or investment funds at regional, national and local levels. Verified/Certified product or service are purchase to suppliers throw B to B direct channel and financial instruments suitable to different countries context with the support of the platform facilitators at different levels.
Product/Service socio-ecosystem, environmental, social and economic services specifications. Please refer to the CITES (Common International Classification of Ecosystem Services): http://test.matth.eu/content/uploads/sites/8/2012/07/CICES-V4-3-_-17-01-13.xlsx
Categories (1), Sub Categories (2), ES Indicators (3), Product/Service Rate (4) In this section (see supply form), the submitter will specify the ES provided/content in a supplied product/service : (1) Type/quality (2) Quantity, (3) Standard and Norm of product and service. It aim at specifying the Environmental, Ecosystem, Economic or Social Service packaged in the supplied product/service/project in term of utility, additionnality (value add) and performance, etc.
All description will be subject to field verification. The CETES V4.3 (2013 version) categories, sub-categories, classes and groups are provided as guide to ensure the standardization of the ES characterization and measurement. CITES: Common International Classification of Ecosystem Services: http://test.matth.eu/content/uploads/sites/8/2012/07/CICES-V4-3-_-17-01-13.xlsx For the description and calculation of CO2 (Carbon), CH4 (Methane), N2O (Nitrous) mitigation or other substance, the FAO EX-Ante Carbon-balance Tool can be consider: http://www.fao.org/fileadmin/templates/ex_act/excel/Version_EX-ACT/EX-ACT-_v6.0.3.xlsx
Other measurement methods, standards and tool for mapping quality and and quantify of Ecosystem, Environmental, Social and Economic Services deliver by product or service package are welcome. e.g.: ES mapping platform: http://esp-mapping.net/Home/ ; http://ecoinformatics.uvm.edu/aries
Validation will only occurred after field/Lab verification by our network of experts and field partners.