The Oromia State Forestry Agency in collaboration with FARM Africa / SOS Sahel implemented a REDD project to protect and rehabilitate the natural forests in the Bale Mountain Eco-Region of Ethiopia. The project covers an area of 0.5 million hectares. After a pre-feasibility study was conducted in 2008, UNIQUE was contracted to prepare the REDD project proposal and to identify investors. Additionally, the technical capacity of participatory forest management approaches was reinforced to integrate measures to reduce deforestation and forest carbon stock enhancement. The consultancy also included the identification of a trust fund structure for performance-based carbon transactions and of potential changes to be made in the future institutional set-up regarding general contract enforceability and issues of land ownership/rights.

• Analysis of emission reduction potential according to the Verified Carbon Standard (VCS).
• Elaboration of leakage mitigation measures.
• Calculation of detailed project costs, benefits and cash flow.
• Analysis of the legal and institutional framework addressing sovereign risk.
• Identification of investors and support project developers to negotiate an agreement.