Valuing Ecosystem Services

Methods for Valuation, Attribution and Compensation for Environmental Services in Eastern and Central Africa (VAC project)

Methods for Valuation, Attribution and Compensation (VAC) for environmental services in Eastern and Central Africa project was implemented in the transboundary landscapes of Mt. Elgon covering Uganda and Kenya and Albertine rift covering Uganda and Democratic Republic of Congo. The project was undertaken with support from the World Bank, through ASARECA by a consortium of 7 institutions; namely Moi University School of Environmental Studies, Kenya; Kenya Agricultural Research Institute (KARI), VIRED International, Kisumu – Kenya, Nature Harness Initiatives, Uganda; Environmental Conservation Trust of Uganda (ECOTRUST)-Uganda; University of Kinshasa & INERA,– DRC. The project aimed at enhancing utilization of Payments for Environmental Services (PES) approaches in East and Central Africa (ECA) by establishing robust frameworks for Valuation, Attribution and Compensation for carbon sequestration and watershed services.

The overall project goal was: Enhanced sustainable productivity, value added and competitiveness of the sub-regional agricultural system. The project targeted the following project outputs:

1.    Appropriate frameworks for valuation, attribution and compensation of environmental services developed, validated and promoted
2.    Policy briefs and institutional frameworks for payments of environmental services developed and shared
3.    Training of stakeholders on design and management of payments for environmental services schemes conducted
4.    Availability of information on approaches for valuation, attribution and compensation for environmental services enhanced