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Background and rationale

The UN-REDD Programme is the UN's leading platform for forest-based climate solutions, aiming to reduce emissions from deforestation and degradation, enhance carbon sequestration, and promote biodiversity conservation and social equity. In partnership, the UN-REDD Programme and the African Forest Forum have been implementing a three-year project titled "Strengthening REDD+ Implementation in Africa: Capitalizing on Lessons Learned for an Evolving Environment". The project's objective is to build the capacities and knowledge of African countries on REDD+, enhance policy dialogue, and promote the cross-sectoral integration of REDD+ into national development strategies.

Benefit-sharing mechanisms (BSMs) are critical for achieving equitable, effective, and sustainable REDD+ outcomes. As African countries increasingly engage with high-integrity carbon markets and results-based climate finance, transparent and fair benefit sharing has emerged as a non-negotiable requirement. Without credible benefit-sharing arrangements that reach Indigenous Peoples, local communities, women, youth, and other rights-holders, countries risk undermining both the legitimacy of their forest carbon policies and programmes, as well as the trust of both communities that steward forest ecosystems and forest carbon credit buyers. The operationalization of Article 6 of the Paris Agreement at COP29, evolving jurisdictional REDD+ (jREDD) market requirements, and growing corporate demand for high-integrity carbon credits have raised the bar for what constitutes credible benefit-sharing.

Equitable benefit-sharing in REDD+ involves the careful balance of efficient fund flow, fairness among beneficiaries, and sound governance. Eligibility determination can be complex due to diverse stakeholders, including Indigenous Peoples, customary groups, and private actors, as well as overlapping land tenure and carbon rights. Ensuring transparent and inclusive participation, while recognizing communities' contributions to emission reductions, requires thoughtful planning and coordination across sectors and governance levels. Administrative requirements and the timing of payments can affect how benefits are received, and communities' priorities—such as tenure security, infrastructure, or livelihood support—need to be considered alongside financial incentives. When these bottlenecks are not fully addressed, they can hinder efforts to scale jurisdictional REDD+ transactions, limit access to result-based carbon finance and broader climate finance opportunities, and reduce countries' ability to position forests as strategic assets for climate action and sustainable development. A well-designed mechanism balances efficiency, equity, and oversight, ensuring benefits reach communities in a timely, fair, and transparent manner while supporting national REDD+ objectives.

This event builds on the momentum of previous regional exchanges—the Abidjan workshop (2024), the Community of Practice virtual event on social inclusion (2024), and the global benefit-sharing exchange (2025). Following immediately after COP30, 'the Forest CoP', this is a timely opportunity to integrate fresh insights and strengthen collective action on equitable jREDD benefit-sharing. This workshop responds directly to African countries' call for practical, peer-to-peer problem-solving focused on co-create actionable solutions, tools, and country-specific roadmaps.

From exchange to action: A hands-on workshop format

The event is designed as a highly interactive, intensive, participatory peer-exchange where African REDD+ practitioners diagnose challenges, discuss solutions, and build concrete pathways to solutions together. Through keynotes, case studies, simulation games, country clinics, and collaborative roadmap development, participants will discuss solutions for design and implementation bottlenecks around benefit sharing.

The Regional Exchange centres on benefit-sharing as a gateway to climate finance. Sessions will address operational challenges including financing social inclusion at scale; managing consultation costs and processes; linking BSMs to carbon rights and tenure; bridging national frameworks to community-level implementation; and making benefit-sharing arrangements meet market and donor requirements.

Why attend?

• Solve real problems: Work through your country's specific BSM challenges with structured peer feedback in clinic sessions
• Access practical tools: Co-develop checklists, templates, financing pathways, and governance models you can adapt immediately
• Navigate integrity requirements: Understand how to demonstrate and verify equitable benefit-sharing to meet market standards and expectations
• Build regional solidarity: Strengthen connections with African peers facing similar challenges and opportunities
• Leave with a roadmap: Each country will develop a concrete action plan with immediate next steps (6 months), medium-term priorities (1-2 years), with technical support needs identified
• Showcase success stories: Share and learn from African case studies on how inclusive BSMs are delivering real benefits for communities and forests
• Bridge national to local frameworks: Learn how to operationalize national benefit-sharing plans at the community level through practical governance structures and transparent financial flows

Target participants: National REDD+ focal points, safeguards specialists, and representatives from Indigenous Peoples and Local Communities

Languages: English and French

Venue: Twangale Resort & SPA, Plot PP Mukwa Drive, Eureka Park, Lilayi

Agenda:

Monday 24th November

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Tuesday 25th November

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Wednesday 26th November

FIELD EXCURSION

Field visit to the Luangwa Community Forest Project (LCFP) -- Mpanshya Community Forest Management group (CFMG), Rufunsa District, organised by the BioCarbon Project.

The full day trip will take us to:

• Mpanshya where we could meet CFMG Board for overview of partnership with BCP covering key interventions, stakeholder engagement approaches, community forestry, governance, rights, benefits lessons emerging from REDD+ implementation in Zambia.
• Chansanje VAG for meeting with beneficiaries and appreciation of the Wildlife Corridor along the way
• Rufunsa for meeting with Lead Farmers and at a Field School/See some nearby water points and interact with beneficiaries

The trip will also serve as opportunity to visit Mpanshya Palace with possibility to pay a courtesy visit to the HRH Chieftainess

Necessary information: consider bringing your Sun protection cream, Sunglasses; Hat; Insect repellent; Warm clothes.

Thursday 27th November

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