Course Outline
Module 1: Global Climate Policy, Carbon Markets, and Article 6
This module establishes the strategic framework for everything that follows. It moves beyond introductory
policy narrative to address the detailed mechanics of Article 6.2 bilateral carbon trading, the Article 6.4
centralized mechanism and its Supervisory Body, and the concept of corresponding adjustments and
what they mean for carbon credit integrity. The module examines the architecture of both compliance and
voluntary carbon markets, the role of key registries and standard bodies, Africa’s current positioning in
international carbon trading, and the strategic entry points available to climate evidence infrastructure
businesses operating in this space.

Module 2: Climate Evidence Infrastructure and DMRV Systems
This module provides a deep technical and institutional examination of Measurement, Reporting, and
Verification systems and their digitalization. It covers the specific MRV and data transparency
requirements of Article 6.2 and 6.4, the technologies underpinning DMRV platforms, including satellite
remote sensing, IoT sensors, and AI-driven emissions estimation, and the governance requirements for
climate data systems: chain of custody, audit trails, tamper resistance, and open-data principles. The
module maps national MRV system architectures, climate registries, and the institutional gaps across
Africa that represent both a challenge and a business opportunity for organizations building climate
evidence infrastructure.

Module 3: Carbon Credit Project Development
This module walks through the full carbon project development lifecycle from concept to credit issuance
under VCS and Gold Standard. It covers methodology selection from the VCS VM series and Gold
Standard Activity Requirements, Project Design Document structure and common deficiencies, baseline
determination and additionality demonstration, monitoring plan design, leakage assessment, permanence
provisions and buffer pools, and the validation and verification processes through to registry submission
and credit serialization. The module draws on African project examples across REDD+, clean cookstoves,
improved water access, and renewable energy to ground the technical content in the continent’s project
landscape.

Module 4: Renewable Energy and Solar Projects as Carbon Assets
This module examines in detail how renewable energy projects are structured, quantified, and financed as
carbon credit-generating assets. It covers applicable methodologies, including ACM0002 and AMS-I.D.,
grid emission factor determination in contexts where national data is limited, additionality demonstration
for solar projects, carbon credit generation calculations for both utility-scale and distributed solar, and
programmatic VCS Programs of Activities for bundling small-scale distributed generation. The module
addresses carbon finance structuring, including forward purchase agreements and carbon-backed debt,
the Article 6.2 implications for sovereign trading of renewable energy credits, and the minigrid
opportunity in off-grid African communities. Case studies are drawn from solar projects in Kenya, Nigeria,
Senegal, and South Africa.

Module 5: Validation and Verification Bodies (VVBs)
This module provides a comprehensive examination of VVB operations, accreditation requirements, and
the strategic opportunity for African verification capacity. It covers the international accreditation
framework under IAF, ILAC, and ISO 14065, the national accreditation bodies currently active in Africa,
and the gaps in VVB capacity on the continent, the approval processes of Verra and Gold Standard, and
the emerging requirements of the Article 6.4 Supervisory Body for third-party verification. The module
addresses the practical steps to establishing a VVB, including legal structure, quality management
systems, auditor competency frameworks, and sector specialization strategies.

Module 6: Strategic Opportunities for Climate Infrastructure Enterprises
This module examines the commercial landscape for climate evidence infrastructure businesses and
maps the specific opportunities available to organizations operating at the intersection of data, credibility,
and climate markets. It covers the DMRV services market, carbon registry infrastructure, climate
technology competitive dynamics, B2B positioning across government, developer, financier, and corporate
client segments, and revenue models ranging from platform licensing and managed services to consulting
and transaction-linked fees.

Module 7: Capstone – Carbon Markets and Climate Evidence in Practice
This final session draws on the full program to consolidate learning and sharpen strategic thinking.
Participants will work through a structured discussion applying key concepts from preceding modules to
a realistic African climate market scenario, examining how carbon project development, DMRV
requirements, climate finance, and verification intersect in practice. The session also creates space to
revisit any topics requiring further clarity, explore questions that have emerged during the programme,
and reflect on the most significant opportunities and challenges in African carbon and climate markets
over the coming years. It is designed to be practical, conversational, and forward-looking.

What the Learner Will Be Able to Do
By the end of this program, the learner will be able to:
• Navigate Article 6 mechanisms and carbon market operations at a level of technical and
commercial depth appropriate for business positioning, partnership development, and client
advisory.
• Evaluate, design, and procure DMRV systems and climate evidence infrastructure, and identify
the commercial and institutional opportunities they create across African markets.
• Conduct and interpret carbon footprints for organisations and projects, and critically review GHG
inventories prepared by third parties.
• Assess and support carbon credit project development under VCS and Gold Standard, from
feasibility and methodology selection through to validation, verification, and credit issuance.
• Structure renewable energy projects, with particular focus on solar, as carbon assets and
evaluate their carbon finance potential and Article 6 implications.
• Navigate the climate finance architecture and identify appropriate financing instruments and
structures for climate infrastructure projects and carbon credit-generating investments.
• Understand the operational, accreditation, and business model requirements of Validation and
Verification Bodies, and assess the strategic case for establishing one in an African jurisdiction.
• Develop a credible, grounded strategic roadmap for Rana54 based on current market realities,
Article 6 regulatory developments, and the competitive landscape for climate evidence
infrastructure across Africa.