- Carbon Markets Africa Summit 2026 will take place in Kigali, Rwanda, from October 13–15, bringing together governments, investors, developers and buyers.
- The summit will focus on turning Africa’s carbon-market policies into investment, projects and real transactions, with emphasis on Article 6, MRV, climate finance and market integrity.
Africa’s carbon market is moving into a new phase as governments strengthen regulations and investors look for projects that can attract credible climate finance.
The shift will take centre stage at the Carbon Markets Africa Summit 2026 in Kigali, Rwanda, from October 13 to 15. The event will bring together policymakers, investors, project developers, corporate buyers and other market participants.
The summit comes as countries across the continent move from preparing carbon market frameworks to implementing them. The African Union is advancing its Action Plan on Carbon Markets. Meanwhile, countries such as Ghana are developing project pipelines and systems for authorising carbon transactions.
AUDA-NEPAD has also introduced principles that emphasise market integrity. These include stronger governance, transparency and community benefit-sharing. However, policy development alone will not create a functioning market. African projects still need financing, credible measurement and verification systems, reliable buyers and clear rules before they can scale.
The summit will therefore focus on how countries can turn carbon market policies into actual transactions. Participants will examine the requirements for projects to secure investment and attract long-term buyers. Article 6 of the Paris Agreement will feature prominently. The framework allows countries to cooperate on emissions reductions and, under certain conditions, transfer carbon credits across borders.
The aviation sector’s CORSIA scheme will also form part of the discussions. Participants will consider how both systems can move beyond policy frameworks and support real projects.
Another major issue will be measurement, reporting and verification, commonly known as MRV. African markets need strong local capacity to measure emissions reductions and verify project results. Without that capacity, investors and buyers may struggle to assess the quality of projects.
The summit will also examine how developers can make projects more attractive to lenders and investors. Key issues include transaction certainty, insurance, regulatory approvals and access to early-stage finance. More than 10 African governments and over 20 investors and financiers are expected to participate. The programme will include leadership discussions, investor roundtables, project showcases, technical workshops and deal rooms.
A Nature Deal Room hosted by the United Nations Environment Programme will focus on nature-based carbon projects. It will connect governments, corporate buyers, investors and market intermediaries around potential transactions. The summit has attracted support from several international and African institutions. Rwanda’s Ministry of Environment will host the event, while the United Nations Development Programme and African Development Bank will serve as host organisations.
The Development Bank of Southern Africa will act as a host partner, with AUDA-NEPAD serving as a strategic institutional partner. Other participating organisations include GIZ, BeZero Carbon, FSD Africa, UNEP and Carbon Standards International.
For Africa, the stakes extend beyond carbon credits. A stronger market could channel private capital into renewable energy, forestry, agriculture and other projects that support emissions reductions while creating economic opportunities.
Yet the continent will need to address concerns around market credibility and the distribution of benefits. Investors want confidence that projects deliver genuine emissions reductions. Communities, meanwhile, need assurance that they will share in the economic benefits.
Shikha Sharma, Global Technical Lead for Offsets and Removals at SGS, said Africa could play a major role in shaping global carbon markets if it builds strong governance and local expertise.
UNDP Rwanda Resident Representative Fatmata Lovetta Sesay said carbon markets should help finance national priorities, create jobs and strengthen livelihoods.
The discussions in Kigali will ultimately test whether Africa can turn its growing carbon market potential into investable projects and measurable economic benefits. For that to happen, governments, investors and project developers will need to move from commitments to implementation.