Do I have to complete both stages now?

Information about stage completion requirements and timeline flexibility.

Last updated: March 18, 2025

Stage Completion Requirements

Flexibility in Project Development

Understanding the completion requirements for project stages and how they fit into your workflow.

Stage Completion Order

1

Sequential or Parallel Approach

No. You can complete Stage 1 first to meet carbon certification requirements, then return to complete Stage 2 once revenue use discussions with stakeholders are ready. Both stages must be completed before generating a full Theory of Change report.

2

Practical Implementation

This flexible approach allows you to:

  • Begin technical project development without delay
  • Meet certification timelines for carbon credit generation
  • Allow adequate time for thorough stakeholder consultations
  • Align benefit-sharing with actual (rather than projected) revenue
  • Adapt Stage 2 based on lessons learned in Stage 1

While you can complete the stages sequentially, the platform will store all your Stage 1 data, making it easy to reference when you return to complete Stage 2.

Completion Requirements

1

Stage 1 Completion

To mark Stage 1 as complete, you must:

  • Identify all relevant internal and technical stakeholders
  • Document their connections to the project
  • Assess their power and influence
  • Define their roles and responsibilities
  • Analyze potential risks and benefits
  • Complete all required fields in the stakeholder assessment
2

Stage 2 Completion

To mark Stage 2 as complete, you must:

  • Identify all external stakeholders and beneficiaries
  • Document how they connect to benefit-sharing
  • Assess their interests and influence in decision-making
  • Define their roles in outcome achievement
  • Analyze how they benefit from and contribute to the project
  • Complete all required fields in the stakeholder assessment

While the stages can be completed separately, skipping or inadequately completing either stage will limit your ability to generate comprehensive reports and may impact project quality.

Progress Tracking

1

Completion Indicators

The platform provides visual indicators of completion status:

  • Individual stakeholder completion percentages
  • Overall stage completion metrics
  • Required vs. optional fields remaining
  • Flagged items requiring attention
  • Approval status for each stage
2

Saving Partial Progress

You can save your work at any point:

  • All entries are automatically saved as you work
  • You can return to incomplete stakeholders later
  • The system tracks which user last modified each entry
  • Incomplete stages are clearly marked on your dashboard

Even if you plan to complete Stage 2 much later, it's valuable to create placeholder entries for key external stakeholders during Stage 1 to ensure they're not overlooked.

Interim Reporting

1

Stage 1 Only Reports

After completing Stage 1, you can generate:

  • Technical stakeholder maps
  • Project implementation plans
  • Certification roadmaps
  • Internal responsibility matrices
  • Preliminary risk assessments
2

Comprehensive Reporting

Once both stages are complete, you can generate:

  • Complete Theory of Change reports
  • Comprehensive stakeholder engagement plans
  • Detailed benefit-sharing frameworks
  • Full social and environmental impact assessments
  • Integrated monitoring and evaluation plans

Interim reporting options allow you to make practical use of Stage 1 data while working toward completion of Stage 2.

Linking Stages

1

Maintaining Consistency

When returning to complete Stage 2 after Stage 1:

  • Review Stage 1 entries to refresh your understanding
  • Ensure consistency in terminology and assessments
  • Look for connections between internal and external stakeholders
  • Consider how Stage 1 implementation affects Stage 2 expectations
2

Bridging Documentation

The platform provides features to help bridge the stages:

  • Cross-references between related stakeholders
  • Timeline integration showing dependencies
  • Relationship mapping across stages
  • Shared risk and benefit tracking

Consider creating a transition plan that outlines how you'll move from Stage 1 to Stage 2, including key milestones and communication strategies.

Approval Considerations

1

Staged Approval

Each stage can be submitted for approval separately:

  • Stage 1 can be approved independently of Stage 2
  • Approvers may set conditions for Stage 2 completion
  • Stage 1 approval may be sufficient for certain technical project aspects
  • Final project approval requires both stages to be complete
2

Review Standards

Review standards vary by stage:

  • Stage 1 reviews focus on technical accuracy and completeness
  • Stage 2 reviews emphasize stakeholder inclusion and equity
  • Combined reviews assess integration and alignment between stages

While separate approval is possible, the most robust projects demonstrate clear alignment between Stage 1 technical elements and Stage 2 benefit-sharing plans.

Best Practices for Sequential Completion

When planning to complete stages sequentially:

  1. Communicate intentions clearly to all stakeholders from the beginning
  2. Document assumptions about Stage 2 even while focusing on Stage 1
  3. Establish timeframes for completing both stages
  4. Create placeholders for known Stage 2 stakeholders early on
  5. Revisit Stage 1 assessments when beginning Stage 2 work

The most successful projects maintain momentum between stages, ensuring that Stage 2 planning begins promptly after Stage 1 is complete rather than being indefinitely postponed.

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