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Our carbon expert desk

Vi Agroforestry supporting Sida & Embassies in sub-Saharan Africa with expertise in carbon markets and AFOLU projects.

OUR EXPERIENCE AND APPROACH IS WORTH SHARING

Supported by Sida, Vi Agroforestry operates an expert desk where we provide support, knowledge and experience regarding holistic, inclusive, and sustainable agricultural, forestry and other land use (AFOLU) carbon projects. Specifically, within the following thematic areas:

Vi Agroforestry has been a pioneer in combining agroforestry, Sustainable Agricultural Land Management (SALM) practices, and climate finance through voluntary carbon markets, with our first project initiated in 2009. We co-developed the first SALM methodology (VM0017) with the World Bank – a methodology that has been in use under the VCS up until 2023 and used by not only carbon projects, but also other interventions related to climate action and land use.

With three active carbon projects (Tree Sustain Life, Kenyan Agricultural Carbon Project, and Mount Elgon/ Livelihoods funds), we deliver start-to-end expertise in AFOLU carbon initiatives – from project design, implementation and monitoring to issuance of credits and benefit-sharing. Our approach integrates only smallholder farmers, ensuring inclusive carbon offset projects that empower marginalized groups.

Our work strengthens climate resilience, food security, and incomes for farming families across Sub-Saharan Africa. We adopt a human rights-based approach which benefits women, men, youth, and children alike.

OUR SUPPORT

We support Sida staff and Swedish embassies with expertise in managing and integrating carbon-related issues at all levels, including policy, strategy, program and project level.

Our tailored support includes a wide range of services:

  • Advisory services: Customized consultations, review of programme and project proposals, capacity-building events, and direct coaching for programme officers and partners.
  • Knowledge resources: Development of targeted materials such as reports and learning videos to address Sida’s specific needs in AFOLU-related carbon projects.
  • Operational guidance: Support in areas such as benefit-sharing mechanisms, carbon project design, MRV systems setup, compliance with standards (e.g., Gold Standard, VCS, Plan Vivo), etc.
  • Policy support: Insights into climate policy trends, voluntary carbon market development, including guidance on biocredit development.
  • Market expertise: Guidance on selling carbon credits, compliance with Swedish regulations, semantics of carbon offsetting, and conducting customer due diligence to ensure a focus on emission reduction over mere compensation.
  • Our assistance is adaptable to any phase of the programme cycle and customized to meet your specific requirements.

Meet our Experts

Matilda Palm

Strategic ECCR Advisor
Email

Rashid Malya

ECCR Tanzania
Email

Ferdinand Okinyi

Project Manager Livelihoods, Mount Elgon Project
Email

Peter Wachira

Carbon Expert
Email

Monica Nderitu

ECCR Advisor
Email

Linnea Pasquier

Expert Desk Coordinator and ECCR Uganda
Email

Wangu Mutua

Deputy Regional Director
Email

Academic insights on carbon are abundant but often complex and difficult to apply. Practical, long-term experience across all stages of the carbon value chain remains rare. Take a look below at the expertise we have gathered over the years:

Operative level: 

  • Benefit Sharing mechanisms
  • Community Engagement
  • Data Collection (additional to carbon stock)
  • Carbon Monitoring
  • Feedback/Grievance Mechanism (Farmer inclusion /Engagement throughout the longevity of a carbon project)
  • Tracking of Farms and System Boundary Changes
  • Farmer Contracting

More operative level:

  • Carbon project design & implementation (project boundaries)
  • MRV systems (set-up)
  • Standard compliance (specifically Gold Standard, VCS, Plan Vivo)
  • Risks and pitfalls
  • Compliance to national policies and institutional frameworks
  • IT-systems
  • Verification processes

Policy level

  • Climate policy, trends
  • Carbon market development
  • Standards (theoretical)
  • Certification (banking the credits)
  • Climate financing (PES)
  • Biocredit development
  • Development of carbon-stock monitoring (remote sensing etc.)

Market level

  • Market and selling of credits
  • Compliance with swedish regulations
  • Due diligance/ background checks of corporates

Knowledge library

Our information materials developed during the project are available here:

Knowledge library

HOW TO GET OUR SUPPORT

Send us an e-mail or a short Terms of Reference of your needs.
In your email, provide the following information:

  • A brief summary of the request: Background, Key questions
  • Requested deadline
  • Relevant documents, if applicable, for background

You don’t need to have a complete idea of your request. For any matter that relates to carbon issues, contact us and we can explore it together.

We respond promptly
You will receive confirmation of your message, normally within 2 working days.

We shape the details together
Together, we will determine your needs and outline how we can best support you. All requests will begin with an introductory meeting with ViA staff to clarify the request and determine deliverables.

HOW TO CONTACT US

Receiving our support is simple, free of charge, and includes any kind of carbon-related matter. We support all staff at Sida and Swedish embassies with anything from 10 minutes to 10 days.

The costs are already covered by the agreement between the Helpdesk and Sida’s Regional Team Environment Africa.

While we are here to help, please keep in mind that our capacity is limited, and we prioritize assignments on a first-come, first-served basis. To ensure we can support everyone effectively, we kindly ask that requests remain manageable and not overly extensive, as this could impact our ability to assist others. You are welcome to contact us!

SEND YOUR QUESTIONS TO:

expertdesk@viskogen.se 

with Team Environment in CC:
robert.muthami@gov.se 
ulrika.akesson@gov.se 

If the total time allocation within the agreement is reached, we will be unable to take on additional assignments.

Disclaimer

All informational material (text, graphic material, etc.) produced by Vi-skogen is the exclusive property of Vi-skogen. Should an interested party wish to use our material, they must request and obtain approval from Vi-skogen.
The use of our logo or any other indication that suggests the interested party has received advice from us (e.g., for marketing purposes) is strictly prohibited. Such use can harm our brand as we cannot guarantee the credibility or quality of the organization receiving the advice.