The United Nations Development Programme has launched a Request for Expressions of Interest inviting private sector organizations to participate in the supply of Internationally Transferred Mitigation Outcomes under the cooperative approaches of Article 6.2 of the Paris Agreement. The initiative targets project developers operating in countries that have signed bilateral cooperation agreements with Switzerland and represents a key step in engaging private investment in international climate mitigation efforts.
This call marks an important milestone under UNDP’s High-Integrity Carbon Markets Initiative, implemented in partnership with Switzerland’s Federal Office for the Environment. It seeks to mobilize private sector investment in high-quality carbon mitigation projects that support sustainable development in host countries while contributing to Switzerland’s climate targets under its Nationally Determined Contributions.
Under Switzerland’s revised CO₂ Act, the country prioritizes domestic emissions reductions while allowing the use of internationally transferred mitigation outcomes through cooperation under Article 6 of the Paris Agreement. These cooperative approaches enable countries to voluntarily exchange verified emission reductions, enhancing global climate ambition while delivering development benefits at the local level.
Through the REOI, UNDP aims to identify private sector partners capable of designing and implementing high-integrity mitigation projects that generate verified and transferable emission reductions. Beyond emissions reduction, the initiative emphasizes co-benefits such as job creation, improved livelihoods, food security, and strengthened resilience, while upholding standards on human rights, gender equality, and environmental and social integrity.
The REOI represents the first stage of a multi-step process that will lead to a full Call for Proposals in selected countries. Initially focused on countries including Ukraine, Peru, Senegal, Georgia, Kenya, Tunisia, and Malawi, the process will assess market potential before evaluating the technical, financial, and operational capacity of project developers. Selected entities will enter into performance-based agreements, with payments made only after independent validation and verification of results.
Projects selected under this partnership will implement activities to supply mitigation outcomes through 2030, with UNDP aiming to procure up to 1.8 million mitigation units. Eligible project types include renewable energy, energy efficiency, electric mobility, and methane reduction in agriculture, while projects involving fossil fuels or certain high-impact technologies are excluded.
By leveraging results-based payments, UNDP and Switzerland aim to strengthen private sector engagement in climate action and create viable investment pathways for low-carbon solutions. The initiative supports UNDP’s broader mission to ensure carbon markets deliver transparent, inclusive, and high-integrity outcomes that align climate ambition with sustainable development goals.
