Photo: UNDP Zimbabwe
Dec 16, New York - The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) has launched a Request for Expressions of Interest (REOI) inviting private sector organizations to participate in the supply of Internationally Transferred Mitigation Outcomes (ITMOs) under the Cooperative Approaches of Article 6.2 of the Paris Agreement. The call targets project developers in countries that have signed bilateral cooperation agreements with Switzerland.
This initiative marks a significant milestone under UNDP’s High-Integrity Carbon Markets Initiative, in partnership with Switzerland’s Federal Office for the Environment (FOEN). It aims to mobilize private sector investments in high-integrity carbon mitigation projects that advance sustainable development in host countries while supporting Switzerland in meeting its climate targets.
Building high-integrity carbon markets for sustainable development
Switzerland’s revised CO₂ Act emphasizes that greenhouse gas reductions shall be mainly achieved domestically while also allowing the country to use ITMOs coming from international cooperation under Article 6 of the Paris Agreement to achieve its Nationally Determined Contributions (NDC).
These cooperative approaches allow countries to voluntarily exchange mitigation outcomes—known as ITMOs—to enhance global climate ambition and deliver sustainable development benefits.
Through the REOI, UNDP seeks to identify private sector partners ready to design and implement high-quality mitigation projects in eligible host countries. The projects will generate verified emission reductions that may be transferred to the Swiss government to contribute to its NDC.
Beyond reducing emissions, the initiative supports projects that create co-benefits for host countries, such as job creation, improved livelihoods, food security, and resilience building, while also prioritizing projects that uphold human rights, gender equality, and social and environmental integrity.
Selection process in four steps
The REOI is the first phase in a multi-step a selection process leading to a full Call for Proposals (CfP) in selected countries. It is a market scouting exercise to identify the potential for high integrity ITMO projects and is non-binding, carrying no legal commitments for UNDP, host countries,or Switzerland. The REOI is initially launched with a focus on Ukraine, Peru, Senegal, Georgia, Kenya, Tunisia and Malawi.
The second phase is the CfP which will launch in 2026 in host countries with interest and potential of high quality ITMO generation. The CfP will assess the technical, financial, and operational capacities of project developers to deliver measurable, additional, and verifiable ITMOs.
In a third phase, selected private sector entities from the CfP phase will enter into Performance-Based Payment Agreements (PBPAs) and will become responsible parties to UNDP. Under these agreements, payments are made only upon the independent validation and verification of the projects, ensuring a fully results-based, transparent, and accountable approach.
During the fourth phase, selected projects will implement activities to supply ITMOs with crediting periods extending until 31 December 2030 or until the end of the duration of the project/ program, whichever comes first.
UNDP aims to support the generation of up to 1.8 million ITMOs under this partnership. Eligible project types include renewable energy, energy efficiency, electric mobility, and methane reduction in agriculture. Projects involving fossil fuels, large hydropower, or certain biological sequestration methods are excluded.
Strengthening private sector engagement in climate action
Article 6 is the only instrument of the Paris Agreement that enables the mobilization of the private sector to invest in low carbon solutions, and UNDP acknowledges that carbon markets can contribute to overcome the barriers to private investments that will facilitate the achievement of the global climate goals.
By facilitating results-based payments for emission reductions, UNDP and Switzerland are building a business case for private investment in low-carbon solutions that deliver tangible social, economic, and environmental benefits. The initiative contributes to UNDP’s broader mission to ensure carbon markets work for host countries and communities—promoting inclusive, transparent, and high-integrity climate action aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
“This collaboration under Article 6.2 demonstrates how carbon markets can drive both climate ambition and sustainable development,” says Leticia Guimaraes, Head of Carbon Markets at UNDP. “Through this REOI, we aim to empower private sector actors to deliver real, verifiable mitigation outcomes that benefit people and the planet.”
How to participate
Private sector entities operating in countries that have signed bilateral cooperation agreements with Switzerland are encouraged to submit an Expression of Interest by 30 January 2026, 23:59 EST (New York time).
Submissions should be sent to:
📧 carbon.markets@undp.org
Subject line: UNDP/BPPS/ITMO-REOI: [Name of Country/Company/Sector]
An information session for interested applicants will be held on 14 January 2026, 8:00–9:30 a.m. EST. Participants can register by 7 January 2026 using the following form: UNDP/BPPS/Carbon-Markets/ITMO-REOI-InformationSessionRSVP.
For inquiries, please contact:
📧 carbon.markets@undp.org
Subject line: UNDP/BPPS/ITMO-REOI: Information Request / [Topic]
Download REOI Documents
📄 Click here to download the full Request for Expression of Interest (REOI)
About the UNDP High-Integrity Carbon Markets Initiative
Launched in 2023, UNDP’s High-Integrity Carbon Markets Initiative seeks to make carbon markets work for host countries, their NDCs, and the SDGs. It promotes supply-side integrity and equitable participation, ensuring that benefits from carbon finance remain within host countries and reach local communities, Indigenous Peoples, and women.
By supporting host countries and private sector actors to engage effectively and transparently, the initiative contributes to fairer market conditions, stronger safeguards, and measurable development impacts.
For more information:
🌐 UNDP Climate Promise – High-Integrity Carbon Markets Initiative
📧 carbon.markets@undp.org
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