ESF was contracted to undertake environmental and social assessment, indigenous peoples framework and integrated pest management framework for the Kenya Agricultural Carbon Project. The assessment determined project effects as part of this study including restoration of degraded lands, preferably using ecosystem-compatible native species, and employing ecologically sensitive techniques for ground preparation, planting, and management can help to optimize environmental benefits such as watershed protection and control of erosion. The studies included social assessment include defining social groups (the inclusion of non-VI group members in the assessment is a must); and understanding the links between social groups. Projects affect social groups in a variety of ways. Identifying the different social groups that may be involved in or affected by project activities can be conducted along certain variables, including income level, land tenure, economic activities and forestry and land use. ESF completed these reports and submitted to the Bio Carbon Fund of the World Bank.

The overall goal of this Kenya Agricultural Carbon Project is carbon sequestration through the adoption of sustainable agricultural land management (SALM) practices in Western Kenya. The project developer – the NGO Vi Agro-forestry – proposed to promote the adoption of SALM practices on approximately 80,000 ha in Nyanza and Western Province. Expected outcomes include that smallholder farmers in Kenya will be able to access the carbon market and receive additional carbon revenue streams through the adoption of productivity enhancing practices and technologies. Hence, economic benefits will be based on increased yields and productivity; and additional income sources due to payment for environmental services. An important co-benefit will be enhanced resilience to climate variability and change. As an outcome indicator it is estimated that the project will generate about 500,000 tons of CO₂ equivalents per year.