EfD Nigeria and the National Council on Climate Change (NCCC) have signed a partnership agreement to strengthen climate policymaking in Nigeria and support the implementation of the country’s carbon market framework.
The agreement aims to ensure that government climate policies are guided by strong research evidence and reliable data, especially in the area of carbon markets.
The agreement was signed on February 27, 2026. Under the partnership, EfD Nigeria will provide technical research and policy advice to support the NCCC in developing and implementing key parts of Nigeria’s carbon market framework, which the government approved in October 2025.
Focus on carbon market implementation
A focus of the partnership is the development of Host Country Approval (HCA) guidelines for carbon credit projects in Nigeria. Host Country Approval is an official permission from the government that allows carbon projects in Nigeria to sell their carbon credits in international markets.
The initiative also supports Nigeria’s commitment under the Paris Agreement to participate in global carbon markets through Article 6, which allows countries to cooperate in reducing emissions.
Training and technical support
The partnership also includes a capacity-building program for the staff of the NCCC. At least four staff members of the council will participate in a three-part online training on how to use research evidence in policymaking.
EfD Nigeria will also guide the council on how to better understand and use research findings when making climate policy decisions.
Key outputs from the partnership
In the first phase of the agreement, EfD Nigeria will prepare several technical documents. These include a report on how other countries manage carbon markets, a draft checklist for approving carbon credit projects, and a guidance note on how different government institutions should work together in managing the approval process.
The partnership will also produce policy briefs and presentation materials that will help government officials discuss and make decisions about Nigeria’s carbon market.
Teams and funding support
Both organisations have set up teams to implement the agreement.
EfD Nigeria’s team is led by its Director, Nnaemeka Chukwuone, together with several research fellows. On the NCCC side, the Director-General, Omotenioye Majekodunmi, will coordinate the Council’s activities under the partnership.
The project will also receive financial support from the Partnership for Economic Policy (PEP), which will provide a grant of $15,000 to support staff participation, travel, and related activities.
“It is my pleasure to sign this partnership .It marks the beginning of more collaborations with EfD Nigeria,” Omotenioye Majekodunmi said.
EfD Nigeria has been working with the NCCC for over three years , and the partnership agreement has formalized the relationship.