Verified suppliers earn the badge by being personally onboarded by the Afrikoni team — business validation, product review, and a direct conversation with the supplier before listing. Payments routed through Afrikoni checkout sit in regulated escrow — funds release only on confirmed delivery. Disputes go to a structured 14-day resolution process before any money moves; high-value cases route to physical inspection plus independent SGS verification. Formal multi-step KYB checks are the next-phase upgrade as Afrikoni scales.