Since the Kyoto Protocol was endorsed, URC has been involved in information, awareness raising and methodological development related to the Clean Development Mechanism (CDM). This activities are part of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and are funded by the Danish International Development Assistance (Danida).

CDM-related initiatives started in Zimbabwe assisting the private and public sectors to better understand and manage CDM issues. First results were presented at the workshop "CDM and Africa" held in 1998.

The initiative was later expanded to a project focusing on international climate change finance and sustainable development. Its purpose is to address, from a host country perspective, the analytical and institutional issues of CDM. The project has two components:

• National pilot studies on the opportunities, problems and requirements associated with the possible use of CDM
• Analytical studies and underlying methodology development to support the national studies and provide scientific input to the Kyoto Protocol process.

The national studies include four African countries: Gambia, Ghana, Uganda (PDF file), and Zimbabwe. The best identified opportunities will be translated into CDM projects in each country; the process will analyse how these projects could be organised, assessed, marketed and implemented under CDM.

The analytical part of the project aims to develop the sustainability, additionality and host country (selection, assessment and financing) aspects of CDM projects.