ASSESSOR ACCREDITATION

Becoming an Accredited Assessor of the Hydropower Sustainability Standard offers a unique opportunity to contribute to sustainable hydropower development worldwide. Accredited Assessors play a vital role in evaluating projects against globally recognised environmental, social, and governance (ESG) requirements, ensuring best practices are met.

Why become an
Accredited Assessor?

By achieving this accreditation, you will:

✓ Gain Specialised Expertise: Develop in-depth knowledge of the Hydropower Sustainability Standard and its robust assessment framework, equipping you with the skills to evaluate projects effectively.

✓ Advance Your Career: As sustainability becomes a top priority in global energy development, Accredited Assessors are in high demand. This accreditation opens doors to new career opportunities, consulting roles, and project leadership positions.

✓ Join a Global Network: Connect with like-minded professionals committed to advancing sustainable hydropower practices. This network offers collaboration, knowledge-sharing, and opportunities to engage with industry leaders

✓ Contribute to Positive Change: Accredited Assessors play a pivotal role in ensuring hydropower projects are developed responsibly, with minimal environmental impact and strong community engagement. Your work will support hydropower’s role in achieving global climate and energy goals.

Categories of Assessors

Provisionally Accredited Assessor (PAA)

An assessor that has passed the Assessor training course but who has yet to fulfil, in a satisfactory manner, the practical training involved with becoming an AA. A PAA can make contractual arrangements with a client but needs to work with at least one AA. Their eligibility for full accreditation is subject to participating in at least one Official Assessment at which a positive appraisal is submitted by the ALA involved in the Official Assessments, through an evaluation form to the HS Secretariat for approval.

Internal Assessor
(IA)

An assessor that passes the Assessor training course but who does not hold the right credentials to become a PAA. An IA is able to conduct Internal Assessments and various capacity building work.

Accredited Assessor
(AA)

An assessor that holds a current accreditation for the use of the Standard. To maintain the status of a fully AA, the Assessor should conduct one Official Assessment per year (each annual period from the date of accreditation).

Accredited Lead Assessor (ALA)

An AA who has demonstrated the requisite skills and experience to conduct Official Assessments covering all topics in a range of assessment scenarios. ALA’s make up a reference advisory group to the HS Council for technical queries on Official Assessments, Standard performance requirements and other practical matters.

Responsibilities

✓ Conduct independent assessments against the HS Standard

✓ Verify project eligibility and scope with the Project Proponent

✓ Ensure that there is no conflict of interest when undertaking assessments

✓ Ensure appropriate verbal, visual and documentary evidence is available for review

✓ Identify any significant gaps against the HS Standard minimum requirements (good practice) and advanced requirements (best practice)

✓ Prepare an Assessment Report for the Project Proponent, and submit this to the HS Secretariat to be considered for certification

✓ Maintain a repository of evidence throughout the duration of certification

Steps to become an Accredited Assessor

To take the Accredited Assessor training, participants must have:
- Proficient knowledge of English
- Bachelor’s degree or equivalent
- At least 8 years of work experience in hydropower and/or in environmental and social impact assessment and management
- Certification from an IRCA-certified auditing course on Environmental Management Systems, Health and Safety or Social issues with sufficient content on ISO 19011 and/or 14001 and 40 hours in duration (e.g. EMS Lead Auditor course).
This application should include completed application form, CV and copies of relevant certifications.
Please note that prior to the start of the training, participants are also expected to have completed the HSS online course.
Once the training has been completed and the exam successfully passed, a 5-year PAA licence agreement is issued. Individuals are only awarded the PAA status if all relevant documentation is submitted including the ISO certificate.

*Please note that if the training has been successfully completed, but it has not been possible to complete the ISO course in time, then individuals will become an Internal Assessor (IA). They will not be able to participate in official assessments but they can conduct internal assessments and various capacity building work. Once the ISO certificate has been provided, their status will be updated to PAA.
PAA status allows individuals to make contractual arrangements with a client, however for full Assessor accreditation, PAAs are required to participate in at least one official Assessment using the HS Standard. During this assessment the PAA is mentored by an Accredited Lead Assessor(s) on the assigned topic evaluations and general performance.
After an assessment, a PAA evaluation form is completed and submitted by the Accredited Lead Assessor(s) to the HS Secretariat for approval. If a second official Assessment is deemed necessary then feedback will be provided and the ALA and HS Secretariat will work with the PAA on areas that require further development.
Once the appraisal has been approved, the HS Secretariat will update the status of the individual to Accredited Assessor. A new 5-year AA agreement will be signed, and an annual licence fee of EURO 250 will be paid.
To maintain these licences, PAAs and AAs are expected to comply with all the terms of the licences, including adherence to the code of ethics and continuous professional development through participation in focal area workshops and trainings.