The high-level engagement brought together regulators, clean cooking developers, technology providers, standards organisations, development partners, investors and carbon market practitioners to address one of the most critical challenges facing Nigeria’s climate finance ecosystem: the need for a coordinated, credible and scalable Monitoring, Reporting and Verification (MRV) framework.

The workshop was designed to support the development of a practical, Nigeria-aligned MRV coordination framework capable of reducing approval bottlenecks, strengthening investor confidence, accelerating carbon credit issuance and unlocking climate finance opportunities for clean cooking projects across the country.

Sessions began with an overview of how trusted data can help unlock climate finance and serve Nigeria’s developing carbon market goals. The challenges of disjointed MRV strategies, inconsistent methods, and a lack of stakeholder alignment were identified as contributing factors to delays in project approvals and funding.

Chinonso Agbo, program ,anager at PACE, said during the workshop that MRV was “the missing link between projects and finance,” emphasising the need for reliable measurement to convert climate aspirations into investment opportunities.

Delivering the workshop’s technical lead presentation, Dr Mrs Bekeme Olowola, chief executive of FuelTree and a Lead Facilitator of the engagement, emphasised the central role of data integrity in the future of carbon markets.

She said,

“Carbon markets ultimately run on confidence. Investors, regulators, buyers and communities must all trust that the impact being claimed is real. That trust does not begin with carbon credits. It begins with credible data, transparent systems and verifiable outcomes. If Nigeria gets MRV right, we can unlock climate finance at a scale that transforms both livelihoods and energy access.”

The workshop explored a wide range of issues affecting the future of clean cooking MRV in Nigeria, including interoperability between platforms, alignment with local and international certification frameworks, gender inclusion, last-mile delivery considerations, onboarding pathways for project developers, e-cooking opportunities, offline functionality requirements and practical implementation costs.

A key theme that emerged was the need to promote indigenous innovation and create pathways for Nigerian-developed clean cooking and MRV technologies to compete at regional and global levels.

Similarly, stakeholders converged on interoperability being a key principle that will guide the sector in Nigeria to allow for different technology providers and project developers to plug into the national framework to drive market activities.

In his remarks, Engr. Ega Ijachi, who represented SON, stated that standards will play critical role in helping build assurance across the ecosystem, and there are existing standards like Nigeria biomass standards that will fit into national plans towards convergence of continental and international quality management systems.

Discussions during the workshop also took place on improving institutional coordination along varieties of topics, ranging from carbon registries, governance and approvals process, along with needed capacity building for regulators and project developers.

On his part, Dr Ewah Eleri, founder/chief executive officer, ICEED, reiterated the need for stakeholders to work together if we must have a sustainable carbon market ecosystem.

“Nigeria has the opportunity to build a carbon market architecture that reflects our realities while meeting international expectations. Achieving that will require collaboration between regulators, project developers, standards bodies, technology providers and investors. Strong MRV systems are not merely a reporting requirement; they are a foundation for market confidence, climate integrity and sustainable growth.”

The quality and diversity of participation further demonstrated the importance of the conversation. Participants included representatives from the Energy Commission of Nigeria (ECN), Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON), Federal Ministry of Petroleum Resources, Federal Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development, Federal Ministry of Environment, Renewable Energy Association of Nigeria (REAN), Shehu Musa Yar’Adua Foundation, and several leading clean cooking, renewable energy, technology and carbon market organisations including BURN, UpEnergy, Solar Sister, Roshan Renewables, Femabol Energy, and others.

The workshop concluded with broad consensus around several priority actions, including promoting interoperability, strengthening standards alignment, supporting local innovation, improving stakeholder knowledge and capacity, and developing the institutional frameworks necessary to support a thriving Nigerian carbon market.

The engagement forms part of an ongoing collaboration between FuelTree, PACE and ICEED to strengthen Nigeria’s clean cooking and carbon market ecosystem and contribute to the country’s energy transition and climate finance objectives

This committee; a collaboration between the Energy Commission of Nigeria (ECN) and the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) with financial support from the Clean Cooling Collaborative (CCC), aims to propel energy-efficient and climate-friendly cooling solutions across Nigeria.

Bringing together experts from various organisations, the technical committee serves as a platform for collaboration, knowledge sharing and strategy development, to scale up sustainable cooling practices.

The meeting provided a forum for stakeholders to align their efforts, ensuring a unified approach to achieving the climate-friendly cooling solutions project’s objectives.

Dr. Mustapha Abdullahi, the director-general of the ECN, the implementing institution for the project, highlighted the committee’s overarching goal.

He emphasised that the primary objective is to accelerate the adoption of energy-efficient air conditioners with climate-friendly, low-GWP (global warming potential) refrigerants in residential, commercial and public buildings.

This strategic shift aims to contribute significantly to Nigeria’s climate targets as outlined in its Nationally Determined Contributions (NDC).

The meeting marks a crucial step in the implementation of the sustainable cooling project, emphasising the commitment of both ECN and UNEP to advancing climate-friendly solutions in Nigeria.

By fostering collaboration among experts and stakeholders, the committee ensures a comprehensive and sustainable approach to meeting climate targets in the country.

As the project moves forward, the collaborative efforts of the committee will play a pivotal role in navigating the challenges associated with transitioning to energy-efficient and climate-friendly cooling solutions.

The commitment to a cost-effective and sustainable transition underscores the importance of aligning climate goals with practical, implementable strategies.

The committee meeting signified a concerted effort to drive positive change in Nigeria’s cooling practices.

By leveraging the expertise of diverse stakeholders, ECN and UNEP aim to contribute meaningfully to the country’s climate resilience and sustainability.

The project’s success hinges on such collaborative endeavours, reflecting a shared commitment to address climate challenges through innovative and impactful initiatives.