Development of Kenya’s REDD+ Registry at Conservation International

Project Overview

• A REDD+ registry is a data management platform that integrates technology, policies, and operational procedures to document, approve and track the development, compliance, performance, purchase, and retirement of emissions reductions (or removals) through either national, compliance, or voluntary markets or systems. It constitutes a crucial part of the infrastructure needed for realizing and consolidating REDD+ in a country. It ensures that all the relevant data and information linked to REDD+ implementation is captured, processed, and stored in a centralized repository which is accessible to various categories of stakeholders and end-users for decision-making purposes. Information contained in a REDD+ registry can be used to demonstrate compliance with policies at various scales including conformance with UNFCCC guidelines, internal country policies, and bilateral agreements, track progress in emission reductions relative to a negotiated reference level and reduce the potential for counting the same credit twice (double counting). Registries should also record the physical location of REDD+ activities to ensure there is no overlap.
• REDD+ registries aim to serve as a repository of reliable, easy-access information, to ensure accurate accounting of emissions reductions from projects or programs, and to foster compliance with established regulations and standards. As such, a REDD+ registry enables a country (or jurisdiction) to be fully informed of all REDD+ activities taking place within its boundaries, to vouch for the quality, value, and impact of projected or reported emissions reductions or removals, to follow the issuance and trading of REDD+ credits/units and the issuance and transfer of results-based payments, irrespective of where the units are transacting within a market framework.

To date, there are very few operational, if any, REDD+ registries in Africa. At the global scale, however, many countries are in the process of establishing national and jurisdictional (sub-national) registries, depending on their respective REDD+ architectures. Registries are also being used in the voluntary market, under the Clean Development Mechanism and, in other sub-national markets focused on jurisdictional REDD+.

• Registry design can share information of site- or subnational-scale REDD+ activities and support nested accounting that keeps track of emission reductions and carbon stock increases that accrue from site-scale projects, separate from those resulting from national policies and programs. Registered nested accounting may also permit adjustments to resolve data discrepancies and failure of parties to perform, based on policy rules made at the time of system design. Registries are used to track buffer reserve accounts comprised of non-tradable credits that are held as insurance against project failure, to keep the atmosphere “whole” if failed credits have been applied against an emission. Registries therefore provide environmental integrity to carbon programs and reduce risks to governments, stakeholders, investors and the atmosphere.
• In September 2023, Kenya enacted the Climate Change (Amendment) Act, 2023 which provides for the establishment of a REDD+ registry under section 23(G)(3)(b) with authorization from the CS as per section 6(B)(i). The REDD+ registry, as will be the case with other sector registries, will feed into the National Carbon Registry. In furtherance to this, Conservation International is supporting the Ministry of Environment, Climate Change and Forestry through the State Department for Forestry to develop Kenya’s REDD+ registry.
• In this regard, Conservation International is seeking to engage a consultant to develop a National REDD+ registry for Kenya. This registry aims to track, verify, and report greenhouse gas emissions reductions and removals resulting from REDD+ activities. Specific objectives and outcomes of this consultancy are outlined below.

Terms of Reference, Deliverables and Deliverables Schedule

The consultant will, with the guidance of Conservation International and the State Department for Forestry:

• Facilitate stakeholder consultations and engagement to identify the most appropriate design options for Kenya’s REDD+ registry including:
  • Functionality of the registry including user/account registration, project management, regulatory approval, credit management, transfer, cancelation and retirement, report generation, public views and necessary information, etc.
  • Technology requirements and registry infrastructure including hosting and maintenance requirements.
  • Required software and hardware and hosting platform.
  • Operational and administrative support requirements
  • Alignment with the policy, legal and regulatory framework relevant to REDD+ in Kenya including linkages with the national carbon registry and other registries as may be appropriate.
  • Defining roles and responsibilities of various stakeholders to be involved and their management, coordination and implementation responsibilities.
  • Required data and institutional inputs (incl. relevant information of programmes, projects and subnational initiatives, emission reductions and removals generated, transferred and/or paid for at national and subnational levels, projects, transactions, finance, social and environmental safeguards, among others.)
• Conduct a thorough assessment of existing forest carbon accounting and MRV systems at the national or subnational level. This includes evaluating data collection methods, reporting mechanisms, and institutional arrangements related to REDD+ activities that will be relevant for the registry.
• Registry Design and Development: Based on the assessment and feedback/input from stakeholders, the consultant shall propose a design for the REDD+ registry that aligns with Kenya’s policy legal and regulatory framework and international standards and best practices. This involves outlining the technical specifications, data management protocols, and user interface requirements for the registry.
• Stakeholder Engagement: The consultant shall facilitate stakeholder consultations to gather input on the design and functionality of the registry throughout the development process. This may involve engaging with government agencies, civil society organizations, indigenous communities, and other relevant stakeholders to ensure their perspectives are incorporated throughout the registry development process.
• Capacity Building: As part of the consultancy, the consultant shall provide training and capacity building support to relevant personnel who will be involved in operating and maintaining the REDD+ registry. This includes guidance on data entry, quality control procedures, and regular updates to the registry.
• Documentation and Reporting: The consultant should prepare comprehensive documentation outlining the technical specifications, operational procedures, and guidelines for using the REDD+ registry. Additionally, they should establish reporting mechanisms to track the performance and impact of the registry in supporting REDD+ objectives.