Project Information Model Standard

A RICA Project Information Model is the formal project record used to test whether a rural climate adaptation asset is ready for financing review, monitoring, and later investor visibility. It combines project facts, evidence, technical design, operating model, financial model, governance, risk, compliance, and reporting obligations in one controlled document set.

The Project Information Model must be specific enough for a reviewer to test the project without relying on informal sponsor explanations. It must distinguish confirmed evidence from assumptions and must identify unresolved diligence items.

What A Project Information Model Is

A Project Information Model is a diligence document, not a fundraising story. It explains the asset, why it matters, how it works, who owns and operates it, how it generates cash flow, how risks are controlled, and what evidence supports each claim.

In RICA, the Project Information Model also shows how the project fits a solution framework, how it supports community ownership or participation, how nature stewardship receives residual economics where applicable, and how the project record will be maintained in Atlas.

Maturity Levels

Level	Evidence Depth	Financial Model	Engineering Status	Approvals Status	Investor Use
Concept	Problem, sponsor, site, and solution hypothesis.	Initial cost and revenue ranges.	Concept layout or asset description.	Known requirements listed.	Early screening only.
Pre-Feasibility	Initial site, market, stakeholder, and technical evidence.	Driver-based model with stated assumptions.	Preliminary design basis and capacity logic.	Critical approvals mapped.	Origination pipeline review.
Investment-Ready Project Information Model	Complete evidence package, risk register, governance model, and Atlas mapping.	Full capex, opex, revenue, cash flow, loan, and sensitivity model.	Design sufficiently mature for financing decision.	Required permits submitted or conditions identified.	Financing review and credit memo input.
Approved Project Information Model	Reviewer comments resolved and decision conditions recorded.	Locked base case with approved sensitivities.	Approved design package and procurement plan.	Financing conditions and covenants identified.	Project loan execution support.
Operating Update	Project Information Model updated with as-built records, operating data, and material events.	Actuals compared to base case.	As-built and O&M records.	Operating permits and renewals tracked.	Servicing, purchase review, and investor monitoring.

Required Standard

Every RICA Project Information Model must provide enough evidence to answer four questions:

Question	Required Answer
Is the asset real?	Location, boundary, sponsor, operator, asset rights, design, and implementation plan are documented.
Is the asset financeable?	Revenue, cost, repayment, risk, governance, and controls are credible and testable.
Is the asset RICA-aligned?	It fits a solution framework, supports adaptation, maintains transparency, includes local participation, and defines stewardship treatment.
Can the asset remain visible?	Atlas records, reporting cadence, metrics, evidence updates, and material-event obligations are defined.

Required Evidence Discipline

Claim Type	Required Evidence	Atlas Location	Reviewer Test
Site control	Land title, lease, concession, right-of-use agreement, or equivalent.	Documents / Site	Does the sponsor have legal capacity to build and operate?
Sponsor capability	Track record, financial statements where available, governance documents, references, and key personnel.	Stakeholders / Sponsor	Can the sponsor deliver and remain accountable?
Revenue case	Contracts, letters of intent, customer data, pricing evidence, benchmark data, or survey results.	Financials / Revenue	Are volumes, prices, and collections supported?
Technical design	Drawings, specifications, capacity calculations, vendor quotations, and design review notes.	Documents / Technical	Is the design consistent with the operating model?
RICA alignment	Solution-framework mapping, adaptation outcomes, stakeholder structure, and stewardship design.	Project Profile / RICA Review	Does the project qualify as a RICA asset?

Version Control

Every Project Information Model must identify its version, date, preparer, reviewer, approval status, and open issues. Material changes after approval must be logged as amendments and connected to Atlas records.

Minimum Version Register

Version	Date	Prepared By	Reviewed By	Status	Material Changes
v0.1	[date]	[name]	[name]	Draft	Initial sponsor draft.
v1.0	[date]	[name]	[name]	Approved	Financing-review version.