African Union Development Agency (AUDA-NEPAD)

Africa’s participation in global carbon markets has long been constrained by the absence of a framework tailored to the continent’s ecological, economic, and social realities. Without an Africa-specific standard, the continent risks underutilising a multi-billion-dollar climate finance opportunity, while communities miss out on potential socio-economic benefits.

AUDA-NEPAD, the technical arm of the African Union, engaged VIISAUS to address this challenge. Together, they developed the African Gold Standard, a credible, inclusive, and context-appropriate carbon offset framework designed to enhance Africa’s leadership in global carbon markets.

The project combined technical rigour with broad stakeholder engagement. It delivered a validated framework with eligibility criteria, monitoring, reporting and verification (MRV) mechanisms, and a governance architecture aligned with both African development priorities and international norms. Through workshops, pilot validations, and feedback loops, governments, private sector actors, and civil society organisations were engaged to ensure buy-in and practical adoption.

By creating the African Gold Standard, VIISAUS and AUDA-NEPAD provided the continent with a tool to unlock new climate finance streams, strengthen credibility in carbon markets, and channel resources toward sustainable development outcomes for African communities.