C4 completed a Feasibility Study for Reforest’Action to design and implement a carbon project for the Albertine Rift Conservation Society (ARCOS Network) in Rwanda, East Africa. The project area is situated around the Mukura natural forest and will cover the Rutsiro District and a small part of the Ngororero District. The project aims to restore the degraded landscape and create sustainable value chains for timber, coffee, tea and fruit for an expected 30,000 beneficiaries. The C4 team conducted a field mission to: i) consult with stakeholders and community members; ii) investigate landscape dynamics and ensure all carbon pools are considered; iii) consider the feasibility of alternative economic practice; and iv) investigate the opportunities and risks for a carbon project.

C4 developed a Project Identification Form (PIF) for this GEF-funded project in Rwandas Southern Province. This project will be reviewed by the GEF Secretariat at the December 2023 Board Meeting, pending approval. The objective of the project is to enhance community climate resilience by supporting livelihood security and improving land and natural resource management. This objective will be achieved by integrating economic incentives like agricultural inputs and livelihood assistance along with advanced technologies to alleviate pressure on natural resources and reduce vulnerability to climate hazards. Under the project interventions, local communities will be empowered to adopt climate-smart and sustainable livelihoods, including circular agriculture activities. To support this, community-led organisations will take on a fundamental role in facilitating peer-to-peer learning. In addition, the proposed project will create opportunities for enterprise development and attract private investment geared towards climate-resilient resource management and livelihoods.

C4 led the development of 10 Scoping Studies across Africa, Asia and Latin America to determine the potential for implementing carbon sequestration projects. The objectives for each Scoping Study were to: i) quantify land use classes for each landscape; ii) identify broad historical trends from satellite data; iii) estimate carbon sequestration potential primarily for afforestation, reforestation and revegetation activities using the Ex-Ante Carbon Balance Tool; and iv) identify significant factors influencing carbon storage potential. These studies helped ReforestAction decide whether a project proposed by a project developer was worth pursuing. Assessed landscapes included degraded forests, agricultural land and mangroves.

C4 led the development of a Feasibility Study of the projects proposed EbA interventions. The assignment included determining the feasibility of interventions, designing the interventions that are found to be feasible and developing a long-term research programme to study their benefits and cost-effectiveness. The project currently assists the Government of Rwanda in implementing the NAP process by strengthening its: i) technical and institutional capacity for medium- and long-term adaptation planning; ii) technical capacity to mobilise funding for climate change adaptation; and iii) scientific capacity to monitor, evaluate and generate knowledge on adaptation interventions. Such strengthening will be achieved through three components, namely: i) technical and institutional capacity for the NAP process in Rwanda; ii) advancing climate-resilient technologies and practices; and iii) monitoring, reviewing and knowledge-sharing to learn from the NAP process in Rwanda.

C4 co-developed a Readiness and Preparatory Support Project Document for this GEF-funded project, approved for implementation in January 2019, that will increase Rwandas capacity to advance its National Adaptation Plan process. The project objective is to assist the Government of Rwanda in implementing the NAP process by strengthening its: i) technical and institutional capacity for medium- and long-term adaptation planning; ii) technical capacity to mobilise funding for climate change adaptation; and iii) scientific capacity to monitor, evaluate, and generate knowledge on adaptation interventions. This strengthening will be achieved through three components, namely: i) technical and institutional capacity for the NAP process in Rwanda; ii) advancing climate-resilient technologies and practices; and iii) monitoring, reviewing and knowledge-sharing to learn from the NAP process in Rwanda.

C4 developed the Concept Note and a Project Proposal which was approved for funding by the Adaptation Fund in May 2017. This project will increase climate resilience in the Lake Victoria Basin at both a regional and local level by implementing regional and community-based climate change adaptation interventions.

C4 developed a Project Identification Form for this GEF/LDCF-funded project, approved in November 2016, which supported the implementation of the NAP process in Rwanda. The project focused on: i) capacity building; ii) fundraising; iii) monitoring and reporting on Rwandas experience regarding medium- and long-term adaptation; iv) sharing knowledge on the NAP process nationally and globally; and v) promoting the implementation of medium- and long-term interventions for adaptation to climate change such as EbA interventions in the country.

C4 conducted a Baseline Study for this GEF/LDCF-funded and African Adaption Programme project. This involved conducting vulnerability assessments of rural communities during a three-week mission to revise the original project indicators. Additionally, a vulnerability index was developed to assist in monitoring and evaluating the indicators.

C4 conducted a Baseline Study for this GEF/LDCF-funded project. The project aimed to strengthen national and local capacities to deliver functional early warning and disaster preparedness systems. The objective was to reduce the vulnerability of the Gishwati ecosystems and associated Nile-Congo crest watersheds to increased flooding and droughts resulting from climate change.

C4 developed a Project Identification Form and a Project Document for this GEF/LDCF-funded project, approved for implementation in November 2015. The project reduced the vulnerability of rural communities to climate change by enhancing the capacity of national and local institutions to implement EbA activities. These activities had the objective of restoring degraded ecosystems and establishing climate-resilient ecosystems in the wetlands, forest, savannas and mountains of Rwanda.

C4 is developing technical reports (~75 so far) that quantify the fraction of non-renewable biomass at a national level. These reports contribute to the development of Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) emission reduction projects that aim to reduce fuelwood consumption. Such projects achieve this by distributing improved cooking stoves to households using fuelwood as a primary energy source. This also reduces deforestation and forest degradation, improves health outcomes and support sustainable development.

Weblinks:
https://cquestcapital.com/
http://www.icecapltd.com/
http://www.co2balance.com/
http://www.korea-carbon.com/
https://www.mkaarbonsafari.com/
https://burnstoves.com/
https://www.carbonvietnam.com/
https://livelihoods.eu/
http://icebergchina.com/en/index.html
https://tasc.je/

The proposed project will introduce an integrated approach to landscape management that will strengthen food and livelihood security under future climate conditions. This integrated approach aims to build resilience across several sectors, landscapes and value chains in Rwanda’s Southern Province and will: i) respond to capacity needs for implementing national climate strategies at the local level; and ii) provide technical assistance and build capacity for local communities and stakeholders to support improved water and land resources management. Such assistance is underpinned by a sustainable finance model that secures private-sector partnerships and investments — both of which support climate-resilient value chains and systems, sustaining climate-resilient livelihoods in the future.