The project CASCADe has been launched in late 2007 and implemented in 7 Sub-Saharan African countries: Benin, Cameroon, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Gabon, Madagascar, Mali, and Senegal.
 
This website is dedicated to CASCADe in BENIN.
 
CASCADe is programme which primarily aims at enhancing expertise to generate African carbon credits in AFOLU (LULUCF) as well as bioenergy activities. It provides institutional support, training workshops, and both regional and international knowledge transfer.

Pilot projects and case studies in potential asset classes such as plantation forestry, agroforestry, and biofuels opens up opportunities for African participation in the CDM and the voluntary carbon markets. In addition, the project facilitates the establishment of a stakeholder network for technical cooperation and linkages between buyers and sellers.

Finally, the programme’s findings contributes to the policy debate towards a post-2012 climate regime, casting light on key issues such as eligibility of avoided deforestation and land degradation projects in CDM-type initiatives.
 
Implementation Approach
The project has been launched in late 2007 and implemented in 7 Sub-Saharan African countries: Benin, Cameroon, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Gabon, Madagascar, Mali, and Senegal. Implementation activities will be performed in three parallel tracks:
Track 1 Activities: Capacity Building
Enhancing CDM expertise in Sub-Saharan Africa through targeted seminars and support to nascent Designated National Authorities (DNAs).
Track 2 Activities: Project Development
Carrying out pilot projects to evaluate the applicability of existing CDM-LULUCF methodologies vis-ą-vis the Sub-Saharan African context, and putting "theory into practice" by working with project developers on specific pilot transactions engaging both the CDM and voluntary carbon markets.
Track 3 Activities: Knowledge Management
Establishing a collaborative network of experts for the promotion of LULUCF and bioenergy projects in Sub-Saharan Africa and promoting the “South-South transfer” of expertise and methodologies.
 
Implementing Agencies
UNEP-DTIE has been working with local entrepreneurs and the finance sector since the late 1990s to promote new approaches to financing sustainable energy in developing countries. Through its Renewable Energy and Finance Unit, UNEP has implemented a variety of technical support services and 'financial catalysts'- including seed financing and enterprise development, credit enhancements and carbon finance.
 
To assist countries of Sub-Saharan Africa currently overlooked by the majority of CDM investors, UNEP, in cooperation with the World Bank’s Community Development
Carbon Fund (CDCF), launched the CF-SEA ("Using Carbon Finance to Promote Sustainable Energy Services in Africa") program in May 2005. In each of its five target countries, UNEP works with international carbon specialists and project developers to identify and roll out an initial pipeline of CDM projects adapted to the African context, while reinforcing the capacities of local experts and government authorities through a series of targeted seminars.
http://www.uneptie.org/energy
 
The UNEP Risų Center has worked on capacity building and CDM awareness since this was originally introduced in the Kyoto Protocol. Activities have included regional awareness and information programmes in Africa, Asia and Latin America. Moreover, URC is one of the leading research providers working on key analytical issues related to implementation of CDM projects such as baseline methodologies, cost analysis, project screening and the definition of sustainable development indicators.
http://www.cd4cdm.org
http://www.uneprisoe.org
 
Since its inception in 1994, the French Global Environment Facility (FFEM) has been supporting projects for sustainable forest management, especially in the tropics, to help preserve biodiversity and the sustainable management of forest resources. Climate change projects in the FFEM’s portfolio contribute significantly to increased carbon sequestration and to reduced carbon emissions.
http://www.ffem.net
 
ERM has been appointed Program Manager & Technical Support coordinating consultant for the UNEP CASCADe Project for Senegal & Benin. The ERM Energy and Climate Change practice works worldwide with business and governments to identify risks and opportunities related to energy efficiency & greenhouse gas
emission constraints and new carbon trading regimes. ERM has an extensive list of major corporate and government clients for climate change services tailored to organisations’ own needs in different sectors and business lines. We evaluate viable options for reducing GHGs, working with clients to reduce costs and create value through risk management. ERM provides methods for organisations to screen investments for GHG sensitivity and their potential for GHG credits.
http://www.erm.com