iCAAFS is at present developed to a minimum viable prototype which includes basic documentation of philosophy and use, prototype badges design, platform use, basic business plan, and testing of technology needed to implement.

We are now rolling out iCAAFS to stakeholders representing the most diverse use cases we can imagine in order to test its limitations and discover new possibilities; as well as co-design the detailed documentation and strategy with the end users. We are also developing and launching an iCAAFS onboarding course in order to streamline the un/learning process for new badge designers and issuers.

We intend to set up an advisory board of indigenous and decolonial leaders to inform the direction and philosophy of the iCAAFS project. Partners, badge issuers, and un/learning providers will be invited to participate, create autonomous working groups, and propose designs/projects for iCAAFS for the long term direction. In order to do this we need to co-create a functional participatory organisational design and governance.

September Update:

This quarter, we focused on refining the Open Badges Design course, producing onboarding webinar content, and introducing badge templates for the community. A key development in our business model was the decision to sponsor a few case study partners over the next 15-18 months. This idea came from feedback that even small shared fees might be a barrier during the early launch phase. These partners will test the system and provide valuable feedback for case study documentation.

We’ve already signed up Ikhwelo Healers Collective, an indigenous knowledge collective of healers working on advocacy, social justice, climate change, permaculture, and environmental conservation in Southern Africa; who will use the badges for membership and plan to expand into a points-based system to track participation. This partnership is particularly exciting as it aligns with our focus on indigenous knowledge and un/learning. We hope this connection might extend into shared governance and advisory roles.

For CoLab members who have shown interest but haven’t signed up yet, we’re open to collaborations without shared fees at this stage and encourage members to reach out to the iCAAFS team or contact Vida on vida@gaiau.org

December Update:

This quarter has been a period of transition for iCAAFS, which continues to be incubated and co-funded by Gaia University. Following the passing of Liora Adler, co-founder of Gaia University, earlier this year, significant leadership changes have been implemented. Jennifer Morgan stepped in as co-leader of Gaia University in September 2024, with plans to assume full leadership in 2025. This shift has brought renewed governance structures and a leadership board to support iCAAFS in its journey toward becoming a self-sufficient entity by 2026. Plans are also underway to align iCAAFS with a like-minded membership association, ensuring independent governance while leveraging the expertise and network of seasoned educators and designers.

This transition has simplified objectives around governance, funding, and strategic planning, with the advisory board providing robust support to the project.

Key achievements this quarter include:

• Adding the iCAAFS website as a downloadable PDF asset, with plans for a live launch next year.

• Expanding webinar content and showcasing iCAAFS at the PAB Educator’s Gathering through a presentation on modular education.

• Drafting case study partner contracts and engaging in promising discussions with new collaborators.

• Finalizing additional course content & publishing a course PDF for the CoLab to further strengthen the onboarding program.

We are excited about the infusion of fresh energy and ideas, even as it introduces short-term adjustments, and look forward to welcoming new contributions from the Gaia University team in the coming year.

September Update

This quarter, we welcomed a new cohort from Green Silk Road. Eight participants from six different organisations across Asia, from the Auroville Foundation to HASAT Coop in Türkiye, took part in an orientation session. They were introduced to iCAAFS, explored how badges can support their projects, and learned to use the tools provided by the iCAAFS team. Participants also joined a Q&A, and received access to the iCAAFS badge creation course, badge templates, and the Open Badge Factory platform. Feedback forms have been shared with the group, and responses are being gathered.

In addition, the preparation, scheduling, and design of the participatory design session for a Modular Milestone Badge have been completed. This session will explore how a modular PDC can be designed using the iCAAFS Open Badge system. Permaculture educators and those interested in modular badges are warmly invited to join:

https://calendar.app.google/iKWkoRWove44PkoV8
When: September 19th, 6:00 PM CET

We remain on track to complete our remaining objectives this year, with strong foundations already in place to bring them to completion.

Final Update

This year marked a significant step forward in developing the iCAAFS badge ecosystem and its role in supporting modular, accessible learning pathways for the wider permaculture community. The team completed a full collaborative design process that produced a refined prototype for a Milestone Badge and strengthened the foundations for a future modular Permaculture Design Certificate (PDC). The work was supported by a detailed governance framework and a clear access model that will allow CoLab teams and partners to continue using the system beyond the funded period.

A major achievement was the onboarding of new case study participants: two CoLab teams and nine external organisations. Their feedback helped improve the clarity, usability, and real-world relevance of the system. Case studies also played a key role in demonstrating how badges can document skills, support learning journeys, and help practitioners communicate their capabilities more effectively.

The project also invested in refining its documentation, strengthening its brand identity, and improving the way it communicates the value of modular learning and verification. These steps have helped make the work more accessible to educators, organisations, and practitioners who are exploring new ways of recognising learning and experience.

Interest in modular education has grown across the network. The team contributed to conversations and participatory design processes with partners such as the Permaculture Association Britain, supporting wider exploration of modular pathways in permaculture training. Internal engagement within the CoLab also increased, with more teams recognising opportunities to integrate badge-based tools into their work.

As this phase of the project closes, the foundations are now in place for continued development. A model for continued access for CoLab members was developed and submitted to the community for feedback and consent. There is strong potential for further prototyping, community testing, and expanded collaboration with educators and organisations who want to explore modular learning and recognition. The work will continue to evolve through the wider iCAAFS and CoLab community as interest and capacity grow.

iCAAFS welcomes further collaboration and inquiries for badge creation, modular PDC design efforts and verification services. You can reach out to Jenn on jenn@gaiau.org

https://gaiauniversity.org/en/icaafs-open-badges-decentralized-accreditation-for-regenerative-un-learning/

We invite anyone in the permaculture/regenerative field with projects and offerings in the following areas:

1. Un/learning (including all types of alternative, indigenous, action and experiential un/learning as well as more formal avenues working on climate/land/community)

2. Certifications of quality for products, projects or organisations (i.e. replacing BCorp, Organic, Fairtrade etc.)

3. Monitoring, Impact and Evaluation

We would love to hear from you, get you involved in iCAAFS codesign, and see your project using open badges. We especially invite elders from decolonial-indigenous backgrounds, and un/learning/M&E/certification providers who are willing and able to contribute to the overall project, to reach out about board opportunities.

You can reach the project lead, Siobhan Vida Ashmole at vida@gaiau.org