# External Validation Standard

_Last updated: 16 August 2026_

External validation is a program, not a badge.

## Reviewer pool

Target operating pool: 15–25 people capable of bounded source, coding, methods or reproduction checks. Most are reviewers for specific objects, not advisors.

Eligible bounded tasks include:

- source audit of a defined observation sample;
- clean-environment reproduction;
- methodology critique;
- country-source review;
- independent second coding;
- replication of one table or result;
- procurement identity-normalization review.

## External review record

A review record contains reviewer, affiliation where publishable, date, scope, sample examined, method, issues found, severity, Lab response, corrections, attribution permission and version reviewed.

`EXTERNAL REVIEW` may be shown only when that record exists.

## Independent reproduction

Independent reproduction is distinct from review. The reproducer starts from the published instructions/materials and independently attempts to regenerate the defined outputs.

A reproduction record contains environment, starting materials, commit/release tested, success/failure, elapsed time, differences and unresolved issues.

`INDEPENDENT REPRODUCTION` may be shown only when that record exists.

## Advisors

Advisors are not counted as reviewers merely by holding a title. The target advisory layer is three active roles: Methods & Reproducibility, Regional Data, and Governance & Open Research. Appointments require explicit acceptance and a public appointment record.