SCB GLOBAL ACCREDITATION CHARTER

Specialty Coffee Barista (SCB)
Global Skills • Digital Trust • Livelihood Impact

Preamble

This Charter establishes the SCB Global Accreditation System for the Specialty Coffee Barista (SCB) certification.
SCB exists to recognize, validate, and advance practical coffee skills, ethical practice, and livelihood creation through an inclusive, innovation-first, and digitally verifiable framework.

SCB is issued and stewarded under Kenya Coffee School, with global applicability and regional adaptability.

Article 1: Purpose of the Charter

The purpose of this Charter is to:

1. Define the authority, scope, and governance of SCB accreditation
2. Establish global minimum standards for coffee skills certification
3. Ensure equitable access to professional recognition
4. Protect the integrity, credibility, and independence of SCB credentials
5. Enable international mobility, employability, and entrepreneurship

Article 2: Scope of Accreditation

SCB accreditation applies to:

• Individual professionals (baristas, roasters, brewers, trainers)
• Training institutions and community labs
• Mobile and non-traditional learning environments
• Digital, hybrid, and in-person instruction models

SCB accreditation is global by design and local by implementation.

Article 3: Accreditation Principles

All SCB accreditations shall be guided by the following principles:

1. Merit & Competency – Skills over status or geography
2. Inclusivity – Youth, women, informal workers, displaced persons
3. Livelihood Impact – Certification must improve real economic outcomes
4. Digital Trust – Transparent, verifiable, tamper-resistant credentials
5. Ethical Practice – Respect for people, product, and planet
6. Independence – Non-derivative, non-exclusive, non-gatekept

Article 4: Levels of SCB Accreditation

4.1 Institutional Accreditation

A. SCB Learning Hub

• Fixed or mobile training facility
• Approved equipment & safety standards
• Contextualized curriculum delivery

B. SCB Community Lab

• Grassroots, cooperative, or informal learning space
• Practice-first and apprenticeship-oriented

4.2 Individual Accreditation

A. SCB Accredited Trainer (SAT)

• Demonstrated professional competence
• Pedagogical ability
• Commitment to SCB Code of Ethics

B. SCB Professional Assessor

• Independent competency evaluation
• Portfolio- and performance-based assessment

Article 5: SCB Credential Levels

All credentials are stackable, modular, and upgradeable.

Article 6: Assessment & Quality Assurance

SCB assessments shall:

• Be practical and competency-based
• Include real-world application
• Use transparent marking criteria
• Allow recognition of prior learning (RPL)
• Be reviewed periodically for relevance

Quality assurance is maintained through:

• Peer review
• Periodic audits
• Public registry transparency

Article 7: Digital Verification & Registry

All SCB credentials shall be issued with:

• Unique Professional ID
• QR-code verification
• Public online registry listing
• Digital badge (shareable)
• Optional blockchain timestamp anchoring

This ensures global trust without centralized gatekeeping.

Article 8: Ethics & Professional Conduct

All accredited persons and institutions shall adhere to the SCB Code of Ethics, including:

• Fair labor and dignity
• Honest representation of skills
• Respect for diversity and inclusion
• Responsible sourcing and sustainability
• Zero tolerance for fraud or misrepresentation

Violations may result in suspension or revocation.

Article 9: Independence & Legal Standing

SCB is an independent professional certification system.

• Not owned or governed by any trade association
• Not dependent on proprietary curricula
• Not restricted by geography or currency
• Open to public, private, NGO, and community actors

This Charter protects SCB from exclusivity, capture, or monopolization.

Article 10: International Recognition & Equivalency

SCB may establish:

• Equivalency mappings with other systems
• Recognition agreements with institutions
• Alignment with TVET, SDGs, and labor frameworks

Such recognition does not compromise SCB autonomy.

Article 11: Amendments & Review

This Charter shall be:

• Reviewed every 3–5 years
• Updated through transparent consultation
• Published publicly for accountability

Amendments must uphold SCB core principles.

Article 12: Adoption

This Charter is adopted as the foundational governance instrument of the SCB Global Accreditation System.

Effective Date: Upon publication
Issuing Authority: Kenya Coffee School (SCB Division)

Official Closing Statement

SCB accredits skill, not privilege.
It validates work, not paperwork.
It certifies people, not markets.