Who sets the rules for Africa's carbon markets? Kigali summit to address ownership, verification, and benefit-sharing

The value of a carbon credit is decided long before it reaches a buyer, through project ownership, finance, data, verification, and benefit-sharing. As African nations build carbon market frameworks under Article 6 of the Paris Agreement, a summit in Kigali this October will bring together governments, developers, investors, and buyers to set the terms for credible participation. East Africa shows early momentum: Rwanda and Singapore have opened applications for carbon credit projects that could offset up to 5% of taxable emissions for Singapore firms. Meanwhile, Kenya, Uganda, and South Africa are strengthening oversight and modernizing their credit ecosystems. The Carbon Markets Africa Summit 2026 runs from 13 to 15 October and will also feature examples like the Chinko Conservation Area in the Central African Republic, where carbon revenue funds community health projects. The question of who sets the terms, and who benefits, is central to whether carbon finance delivers real development outcomes.