Burundi Government has achieved a major milestone in Article 6 implementation with support from CACE

With support from the Climate Action Center Excellence (CACE), hosted by the Gulf Organisation for Research and Development (GORD), Burundi has taken a significant step toward operationalizing international carbon markets under the Paris Agreement with the successful validation of its Regulatory Framework for Carbon Markets, following a national workshop held last week in Bujumbura.

The workshop marked the formal validation of the Framework’s technical, institutional, and procedural design – developed with CACE’s technical guidance – confirming government readiness to move from policy development to implementation under Article 6 of the Paris Agreement. The Framework establishes clear institutional roles, project authorization workflows, project eligibility criteria, fee structures, and tracking arrangements aligned with Burundi’s Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) and development priorities.

Dr. Yousef Alhorr, Founding Chairman of the Gulf Organisation for Research and Development (GORD), which hosts CACE, said Burundi has taken a careful, thorough, and forward-looking approach to engaging with international carbon markets. “In just one year, Burundi has moved from initial engagement to a validated, implementation-ready framework,” he said. “This demonstrates what is possible when national leadership, institutional clarity, and international cooperation come together with integrity at the center.”

The collaboration between Burundi and CACE was formalized through a Memorandum of Understanding signed at COP29 in Baku, establishing a partnership to support the design and operationalization of Burundi’s Article 6 framework.

Mr. Astere Nindamutsa, Burundi’s Designated National Authority (DNA) for Article 6 of the Paris Agreement, emphasized the importance of the country’s Carbon Market Regulatory Framework to its climate strategy. “The validation of this framework confirms Burundi’s readiness to engage responsibly in cooperative approaches under Article 6,” he said. “It provides clarity for institutions, confidence for partners, and a practical pathway to mobilize international finance in support of our country’s mitigation priorities and national development objectives.”

The validated Framework reflects Burundi’s specific national context as a Least Developed Country, incorporating international provisions under Article 6.4, proportionate domestic safeguards, and cost-effective tracking solutions. It prioritizes environmental integrity while ensuring administrative feasibility and alignment with global requirements, including those recognized under CORSIA.

With validation complete, Burundi will now proceed to formal adoption, operationalization of institutional arrangements, development of project pipelines, and engagement with international partners under Article 6.2.

The workshop brought together representatives from the Designated National Authority, the Ministry of the Environment, Agriculture and Livestock, relevant line ministries and agencies, private sector stakeholders, project developers, and technical partners.