Meet Yvonne Lusungu Ng'oma — Projects Manager, iRise Carbon

At this point it would translate that the ten thousand households have been saved from indoor air pollution and will reduce household fuel consumption by up to 60 percent. That's a great win.

I witnessed how communities had been affected and are continuously being affected by the effects of climate change. In as much as our contribution to global emissions is quite small, our people and livelihoods are being heavily affected — and hence the need to advocate for climate justice.

If you ignore growth, the mission isn't sustainable. If you chase growth blindly, the mission gets diluted. Leadership requires that you align growth with the mission — not separating the two.

The most important thing is to recognise the tension early and make conscious trade-offs. Stay anchored in the mission while building a sustainable business.

In this space, success isn't just about technical delivery — it's about building trust from day one, overinvesting in transparency, and engaging stakeholders at the very beginning.

In five years iRise Carbon will not just be selling carbon credits but also known for high integrity and verifiable impact — standing out in a market where quality and transparency matter more than volume, operating multiple projects across the region delivering measurable emissions reductions and creating tangible benefits for local communities.

For this vision to become reality, integrity must be non-negotiable and robust measurement and verification systems should be put in place — as this separates credible organisations from questionable ones.

My biggest worry is the loss of trust due to low-integrity credits and inconsistent standards. If buyers feel that carbon credits don't represent real, measurable impact, demand could drop — or worse, the market could be seen as greenwashing.

What gives me hope is that the market is self-correcting and maturing. Buyers are becoming more sophisticated and asking harder questions — which is a good thing. Advances in technology such as satellite monitoring and data tracking make it easier to prove impact and build trust at scale.

In the beginning, I assumed that if a project looked strong on paper — clear emissions reductions and a good methodology — that would naturally translate into credibility and market acceptance.

In reality, community engagement and transparency in verification are just as critical. Success isn't just about technical delivery. It's about building trust from day one.

Projects work best when one connects purpose, value, and practical benefits. Joining or partnering with iRise Carbon isn't just about reducing emissions — it's a greater opportunity to create value and be part of the global solution that benefits the organisation, the environment, and the surrounding communities.