About This RFP:
Wren is a climate action platform that connects individuals and businesses to high-quality carbon projects. For its 2026 cycle, Wren is seeking nature-based carbon credit projects that deliver high-impact emissions reduction and carbon removal. The RFP prioritises projects outside the United States that are scalable, durable, cost-effective, feasible, and community-led.
This is NOT a grant — it is a carbon credit purchase commitment. Wren will buy verified carbon credits from selected projects, providing $100,000–$500,000 per project over 3–12 months. The funding may be structured as a spot purchase, offtake agreement, or pre-purchase commitment.
Three Priority Project Types:
- Afforestation, Reforestation, and Revegetation (ARR): Planting trees on previously non-forested or degraded land to sequester carbon. Restoring degraded forests and landscapes. Revegetation of barren or degraded areas using native species. Must demonstrate additionality — the carbon sequestration would not have occurred without the project.
- Blue Carbon: Mangrove restoration and conservation. Tidal wetland protection and restoration. Seagrass meadow conservation. Note: Nepal is landlocked — blue carbon is NOT relevant for Nepal projects.
- Methane Reduction in Rice Cultivation: Alternate wetting and drying (AWD) techniques reducing methane emissions from paddy fields. System of Rice Intensification (SRI) reducing water use and methane. Improved rice cultivation practices with measurable methane reduction. Must have credible quantification methodology for methane avoidance.
Selection Criteria:
- Credible Carbon Standards: Projects must use recognised carbon crediting standards and methodologies (VCS/Verra, Gold Standard, ART-TREES, or equivalent). Methodology must be appropriate for the project type and demonstrate additionality, permanence, and leakage management.
- Monitoring and Verification: Clear MRV (monitoring, reporting, verification) systems must be in place or planned. Remote sensing, ground-truthing, and third-party verification expected.
- FPIC and Community Engagement: Documented Free, Prior and Informed Consent from affected communities. Meaningful community engagement throughout project design and implementation — not just consultation.
- Equitable Benefit-Sharing: Fair distribution of project revenues and co-benefits with Indigenous Peoples and Local Communities. Transparent governance mechanisms for benefit distribution.
- Climate and Co-Benefit Outcomes: Measurable carbon sequestration or emissions reduction. Additional co-benefits valued: biodiversity conservation, watershed protection, livelihood improvement, gender equity.
- Track Record: Proven experience in ecological restoration and/or carbon project delivery. Demonstrated ability to deliver verified carbon credits at scale.
- Scalability, Durability, Cost-Effectiveness: Projects should be replicable and expandable. Carbon sequestration must be durable (long-term permanence). Cost per tonne of CO2 must be competitive.
Eligible Regions:
- Global — except projects in countries at US State Department Travel Advisory Level 4.
- Nepal is NOT Level 4 — fully eligible.
- Projects outside the United States are preferred in this cycle.
Nepal Eligibility and Relevance:
Nepal is fully eligible and has two exceptionally strong project types for this RFP.
- Nepal Opportunity 1 — Community Forestry Reforestation/ARR:
Nepal's community forestry programme is one of the world's most successful models of community-led natural resource management. With 22,000+ Community Forest User Groups (CFUGs) managing 2.9 million hectares, Nepal has world-class community governance, benefit-sharing, and restoration track records. Several Nepal REDD+ and carbon projects already exist, and FECOFUN (Federation of Community Forestry Users Nepal) represents millions of community forest users.
- Why this fits Wren perfectly:
Community-led — CFUGs are the definition of community governance.
Scalable — 22,000+ groups, millions of hectares of potential.
Durable — community ownership ensures long-term permanence.
Benefit-sharing — CFUGs have built-in equitable distribution mechanisms.
FPIC — community forestry IS community consent in action.
Track record — decades of proven restoration and management.
Carbon standards — Nepal has VCS and Gold Standard methodology experience through existing REDD+ projects.
- Nepal Opportunity 2 — Rice Methane Reduction:
Nepal is a major rice producer — rice paddies across the Terai and mid-hills are significant methane sources. The System of Rice Intensification (SRI) and Alternate Wetting and Drying (AWD) techniques have been piloted in Nepal and can dramatically reduce methane emissions while maintaining or improving yields.
Scalable — millions of smallholder rice farmers across Terai.
Cost-effective — practice changes rather than expensive infrastructure.
Community-led — farmer cooperatives and groups implement changes.
Measurable — methane reduction methodologies exist (e.g., Verra VM0019).
Co-benefits — reduced water use, improved yields, lower input costs for farmers.
Nepal Potential Applicants:
- Carbon Project Developers: Organisations with VCS/Gold Standard registration experience. REDD+ Implementation Centre (government). Carbon consultancies operating in Nepal.
- Community Forestry Organisations: FECOFUN — representing 22,000+ CFUGs nationally. District-level CFUG federations with restoration programmes. Community forestry projects already generating or planning carbon credits.
- Environmental Organisations: ICIMOD — if developing carbon credit projects. WWF Nepal, IUCN Nepal — if carbon projects in portfolio. Nepal-based conservation organisations with restoration programmes.
- Rice/Agriculture Organisations: Organisations implementing SRI or AWD in Nepal's Terai. Agricultural research institutions with methane reduction programmes. Farmer cooperatives piloting climate-smart rice cultivation.
KEY DETAILS
- DEAL SIZE: $100,000–$500,000 per project
— Period: 3–12 months
— Structured as: spot purchase, offtake, or pre-purchase
— NOT A GRANT — carbon credit PURCHASE
- NEPAL: FULLY ELIGIBLE
— Not Level 4 travel advisory
— Projects outside US preferred
— Two STRONG Nepal project types
- THIS IS NOT A GRANT — KEY DIFFERENCE:
— You DELIVER verified carbon credits
— Wren PURCHASES them
— COMMERCIAL relationship — buyer-seller
— Must produce MEASURABLE carbon outcomes
— Must use CREDIBLE carbon standards (VCS, Gold Standard)
— Must have MRV systems
- THREE PROJECT TYPES (address one):
— AFFORESTATION / REFORESTATION / REVEGETATION Nepal (STRONG)
— BLUE CARBON (mangroves, tidal wetlands) — Nepal (landlocked)
— RICE METHANE REDUCTION — Nepal (STRONG)
- SELECTION CRITERIA:
— Credible CARBON STANDARDS (VCS, Gold Standard, ART-TREES)
— Clear MRV (monitoring, reporting, verification)
— Documented FPIC + community engagement
— Equitable BENEFIT-SHARING with IPLCs
— Measurable CLIMATE + CO-BENEFIT outcomes
— Strong TRACK RECORD
— SCALABLE, durable, cost-effective
- NEPAL COMMUNITY FORESTRY = PERFECT FIT:
— 22,000+ CFUGs managing 2.9M hectares
— COMMUNITY-LED governance (exactly what Wren wants)
— Built-in BENEFIT-SHARING mechanisms
— FPIC is inherent in CFUG model
— Proven RESTORATION track record (decades)
— SCALABLE across Nepal and replicable globally
— Existing REDD+ / VCS experience
- NEPAL RICE METHANE = STRONG FIT:
— Major rice producer (Terai)
— SRI + AWD techniques PROVEN in Nepal
— Millions of SMALLHOLDER farmers
— COST-EFFECTIVE practice changes
— Methane METHODOLOGIES exist (Verra VM0019)
— Co-benefits: water savings, yield improvement
- NEPAL APPLICANTS:
— FECOFUN (22,000+ CFUGs)
— REDD+ Implementation Centre
— Carbon CONSULTANCIES in Nepal
— ICIMOD, WWF Nepal, IUCN Nepal (if carbon projects)
— SRI/AWD AGRICULTURE organisations
— Farmer COOPERATIVES with climate-smart rice
- IMPORTANT NOTES:
— ROLLING — submit EARLY, don't wait
— This is a COMMERCIAL deal, not charity — deliver credits or no payment
— Must have or develop CREDIBLE CARBON METHODOLOGY
— VCS or GOLD STANDARD registration essential
— THIRD-PARTY VERIFICATION required
— FPIC documentation must be rigorous
— Community forestry is Nepal's STRONGEST asset here
— $100K–$500K is SIGNIFICANT for Nepal carbon projects
— This can become an ONGOING commercial relationship beyond one purchase
— Nepal's CFUG model is exactly what carbon markets value most
— Rice methane is EMERGING — early movers have advantage
— Co-benefits (biodiversity, livelihoods, gender) ADD VALUE to carbon credits
- CONTACT:
https://www.wren.co/blog/2026-request-for-proposals
- SOURCE: https://www.wren.co/blog/2026-request-for-proposals + LinkedIn post
