By Abbas Nazil
African governments, investors, carbon credit buyers and project developers are set to gather in Kigali, Rwanda, from 13 October for the Carbon Markets Africa Summit (CMAS) 2026, as efforts intensify to attract investment and strengthen Africa’s role in global carbon markets.
The summit is expected to bring together participants from 24 African countries and 45 countries worldwide, including more than 100 speakers, over 50 investors, buyers and financiers, representatives of 20 African governments and more than 40 project developers.
The gathering will focus on building partnerships, mobilising finance and expanding credible carbon market projects across Africa, with participants expected to explore opportunities in nature-based solutions, agriculture, waste management, clean cooking and carbon dioxide removal.
Ibrahim Shelleng, Senior Special Assistant to the President of Nigeria on Climate Finance and Stakeholder Engagement, said the summit offers African stakeholders an opportunity to shape the future of carbon markets in ways that benefit the continent.
He stressed the importance of African ownership in developing market systems that respond to the continent’s priorities and deliver meaningful benefits to its countries and communities.
Maggie Kinyanjui, Sourcing Manager for Africa at Climate Impact Partners, said stronger engagement among project developers, buyers and investors was essential to building a more effective African carbon market.
She said Africa should move beyond participating in international carbon markets to helping shape their direction, while ensuring that investment supports credible climate action and creates value for communities implementing projects.
The summit comes as international carbon market rules and mechanisms continue to develop under the Paris Agreement.
The Article 6.4 Supervisory Body, which oversees the Paris Agreement Crediting Mechanism, is holding its 23rd meeting in Bonn, Germany, immediately before the Kigali gathering.
These international discussions are expected to provide an important context for African participants as they consider how evolving global standards and market rules could affect carbon projects and investment opportunities across the continent.
Amy Rhoades, Chief Communications and Engagement Officer at Carbon Standards, said engagement among policymakers, entrepreneurs and carbon credit buyers was vital to building a credible carbon removal sector in Africa.
She noted that African stakeholders were already developing the ecosystem needed to expand carbon removal solutions, making collaboration and participation in international discussions increasingly important.
Emmanuelle Nicholls, Portfolio Director of the summit, said bringing decision-makers, financiers, buyers and project developers together could help unlock investment, strengthen project pipelines and accelerate partnerships needed to expand African carbon markets.
The summit is hosted by Rwanda’s Ministry of Environment, with the United Nations Development Programme and the African Development Bank serving as host organisations.
The Development Bank of Southern Africa is the host partner, while the African Union Development Agency-New Partnership for Africa’s Development (AUDA-NEPAD) is the strategic institutional partner.
With participants expected to engage over three days at the Kigali Convention Centre, the summit aims to move discussions beyond broad commitments towards practical cooperation, investment opportunities and the development of carbon market projects.
The gathering comes amid growing international interest in carbon markets as a mechanism for mobilising climate finance, although their effectiveness depends on credible standards, transparent accounting and ensuring that projects deliver genuine emissions reductions or removals.
For African countries, the discussions present an opportunity to attract financing for climate initiatives while ensuring that the economic and environmental benefits reach the communities and countries hosting the projects.
