Benefit sharing mechanisms ? a core component of carbon project development
Vi Agroforestry
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Abstract: This document explores the pivotal role of benefit sharing mechanisms within voluntary carbon market projects, with a focus on agroforestry-led initiatives across East Africa. It defines benefit sharing as the structured distribution of social, environmental, and economic returns to communities engaged in carbon sequestration efforts. Economic benefits include direct payments based on carbon credits and indirect improvements through enhanced market access, agricultural productivity, and dairy value chain integration. Environmental co-benefits span land restoration, increased agrobiodiversity, and soil health improvement via climate-smart agriculture and sustainable land management (SALM) practices. Socially, the mechanism fosters gender inclusion, youth engagement through VSLAs, and community cohesion via farmer group empowerment. The report outlines implementation modalities such as ex-ante support, infrastructure development, and community-informed project design aligned with FPIC protocols. It details Vi Agroforestry?s approach through projects like Trees Sustain Life (TSL), Mt Elgon Livelihoods, and the Kenya Agricultural Carbon Project (KACP), emphasizing SALM metrics for benefit distribution.