Senanga, Western, Zambia
Empowering rural youth to build wealth through carbon justice—training, reforestation, and digital carbon monitoring for equitable participation in climate finance and green job creation.
Proof of Concept
1-3 years
$80,000.00
Last update: October 05, 2023
Across rural Zambia, the impacts of climate change have become deeply intertwined with issues of poverty, inequality, and youth unemployment. Communities in areas such as Western, Central, and Southern Zambia face increasingly erratic rainfall, soil degradation, deforestation, and declining agricultural yields. These environmental stresses threaten not only food security but also local livelihoods that depend heavily on natural resources. Despite their proximity to forests, wetlands, and fertile plains, rural communities are largely excluded from climate decision-making and benefit-sharing processes. The global carbon market, currently valued at billions of dollars, remains inaccessible to them due to technical, institutional, and knowledge barriers.
The exclusion of local people from the carbon economy perpetuates what can be called carbon injustice—a condition in which those who contribute least to climate change shoulder its greatest burdens while being denied access to the financial mechanisms designed to mitigate it. Zambia’s youth, who make up over 60% of the population, are particularly affected. Most live in rural areas where formal employment opportunities are scarce. The rise of the green economy, however, offers a new frontier for inclusive development—if only young people can be equipped with the right skills, tools, and networks to participate meaningfully.
Currently, the majority of Zambia’s carbon projects are managed by international firms and urban-based organizations. Communities hosting these projects often receive minimal compensation, limited job opportunities, and negligible transparency regarding carbon revenues. This top-down model erodes trust and discourages community participation in sustainable land management. At the same time, youth organizations working at the grassroots lack the resources, technology, and technical capacity to enter the carbon market or advocate for fairer terms. The result is a widening gap between global climate finance flows and the local realities of those managing natural resources.
The Carbon Wealth Project addresses this inequity by reframing carbon not merely as an environmental metric but as a community-owned economic asset. By training youth in carbon accounting, measurement, and monitoring, the project seeks to democratize access to carbon finance. Young people will learn to quantify the carbon sequestration potential of their landscapes—whether through reforestation, agroforestry, or wetland restoration—thus creating verifiable data that can attract buyers and investors. This knowledge shift transforms youth from passive beneficiaries into active carbon entrepreneurs and community climate stewards.
The scale of the problem is both ecological and socio-economic. Zambia loses approximately 250,000 to 300,000 hectares of forest annually, primarily due to unsustainable agriculture and charcoal production. These losses not only release large amounts of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere but also destroy biodiversity and undermine local resilience. Meanwhile, rural unemployment and underemployment remain pervasive, particularly among young people aged 18–35. Without alternative income streams, many youth resort to activities that degrade the environment further, such as charcoal burning or overfishing. Climate adaptation and wealth creation are thus inseparable challenges.
The Carbon Wealth Project, implemented by Midwestland Youth Society, directly tackles this intersection by promoting community-led reforestation, youth-led nurseries, and local carbon enterprises. The project’s approach integrates environmental regeneration with digital literacy, entrepreneurship, and policy advocacy. Over 300 youth will receive training in carbon measurement tools, including Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and biomass assessment methods, empowering them to generate credible carbon data. Five community nurseries will produce over 50,000 seedlings annually, restoring approximately 100 hectares of degraded land while creating 150 direct green jobs in nursery management, planting, monitoring, and carbon data services.
Beyond physical restoration, the project will cultivate a new ecosystem of knowledge and agency. Through the formation of the Carbon Justice Advocacy Network, Midwestland Youth Society will connect trained youth, local cooperatives, and traditional leaders with policymakers and private sector actors. This network will champion equitable carbon pricing, transparent benefit-sharing mechanisms, and the inclusion of community carbon projects in national climate strategies. Policy briefs, position papers, and local dialogues will elevate grassroots voices into the national conversation on climate finance governance.
The project’s impact will extend across environmental, social, and economic dimensions. Environmentally, it will contribute to carbon sequestration and biodiversity recovery in degraded landscapes. Socially, it will mobilize young people as agents of change, fostering community ownership, pride, and cooperation in environmental restoration. Economically, it will open pathways for sustainable livelihoods by linking youth and community groups to carbon buyers, investors, and markets. Over time, this will demonstrate that climate action can be profitable, inclusive, and fair—turning carbon credits into community assets rather than corporate commodities.
Furthermore, the initiative will strengthen the enabling environment for climate justice in Zambia by generating empirical evidence from community projects. The data collected by trained youth will provide transparency on carbon performance and social impacts, influencing policy reforms and investor confidence. The model will be designed for scalability—allowing replication in other districts and across the SADC region where similar conditions prevail. Through partnerships with the Forestry Department, local authorities, and traditional leaders, the project will ensure alignment with Zambia’s national commitments under the Paris Agreement, Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs), and the National Youth Policy.
In the long term, Carbon Wealth envisions a future where youth and rural communities are no longer passive participants in externally driven carbon initiatives but co-owners of the climate economy. The project will pioneer a shift from extractive to regenerative wealth models, showing that climate resilience can be built not only through adaptation and mitigation but through justice, ownership, and opportunity. By linking digital innovation, ecological restoration, and inclusive finance, Midwestland Youth Society seeks to create a replicable blueprint for how Africa’s young generation can turn the carbon crisis into a wealth revolution rooted in fairness and sustainability.
Ultimately, this project challenges the notion that wealth is confined to capital flows and corporate markets. Instead, it defines wealth as the collective capacity of communities to sustain their environment, manage their resources, and benefit equitably from global transitions. Through this lens, Hacking Wealth becomes a call to reimagine prosperity—where every tree planted, every youth trained, and every carbon credit earned becomes part of a broader justice-centered movement for sustainable development.
The Carbon Wealth Project introduces an innovative, community-driven model that redefines wealth creation through carbon justice and climate resilience. The project’s solution integrates youth skills development, carbon market inclusion, technology-enabled monitoring, and policy advocacy to ensure that rural communities not only participate in but also benefit equitably from the carbon economy. It transforms marginalized rural youth from passive observers of climate change into carbon entrepreneurs, data collectors, and advocates for fair climate finance systems.
At its core, the project’s solution is to democratize access to the green economy by equipping young people with the knowledge, technology, and institutional support needed to manage and monetize community carbon assets. Through training, digital tools, and partnerships, the project establishes a self-sustaining ecosystem where reforestation and environmental restoration are directly linked to income generation, local ownership, and transparent carbon accounting.
This model simultaneously addresses:
-Climate mitigation through reforestation and improved land management.
-Economic empowerment through job creation and entrepreneurship in the carbon value chain.
-Governance reform through advocacy for transparent benefit-sharing and inclusive policy frameworks.
The methodology combines capacity-building, technology integration, ecological restoration, and participatory governance, implemented in four interlinked phases:
-Community Mapping and Mobilization: The project begins by identifying target communities based on deforestation severity, youth unemployment levels, and land restoration potential. Village meetings are conducted with traditional authorities, cooperatives, and local councils to co-design intervention sites and ensure community buy-in.
-Baseline Studies: Using participatory rural appraisal (PRA) and remote sensing tools, Midwestland Youth Society will establish ecological and socio-economic baselines—covering forest cover, soil carbon content, youth livelihood status, and local perceptions of climate finance.
-Stakeholder Partnerships: Formal collaboration agreements will be established with the Forestry Department, carbon auditors, and local cooperatives to support data validation, technical training, and carbon credit certification.
This phase ensures that the project starts with accurate data, shared ownership, and a governance framework that aligns with both local traditions and national policies.
-Carbon Skills Training: 300 youth (60% women) will undergo training on carbon accounting, biomass measurement, and carbon finance basics. Training modules will cover carbon sequestration science, GIS mapping, and community benefit-sharing mechanisms.
-Certification and Accreditation: Midwestland Youth Society will collaborate with national training institutions to develop a certified short course on Community Carbon Accounting and Monitoring. Graduates will form a pool of skilled youth capable of working as local carbon assessors or consultants.
-Digital Tools for Monitoring: Participants will be trained in using open-source GIS software and smartphone-based data collection tools (e.g., KoboToolbox, EarthRanger, or Mapillary) to record tree growth, plot coordinates, and carbon stock estimates. This data will feed into a centralized Carbon Wealth Dashboard, providing transparent and real-time tracking of carbon performance.
This phase bridges the technological divide, giving rural youth access to digital tools that enable participation in global carbon markets.
-Establishing Nurseries: Five community nurseries will be set up, each producing 50,000 seedlings per year. The nurseries will focus on indigenous and fast-growing species suitable for reforestation, agroforestry, and wetland restoration. Seedlings will be distributed free or at subsidized rates to farmers, schools, and community groups.
-Reforestation and Land Rehabilitation: Youth teams will lead the planting and monitoring of 100 hectares of degraded land across selected sites. Activities will include soil enrichment, fencing, and community maintenance programs to ensure high survival rates.
-Green Job Creation: At least 150 green jobs will be created directly through nursery operations, planting, carbon monitoring, and ecosystem maintenance. Additional opportunities will arise through carbon enterprises—small youth-owned cooperatives providing services in seedling sales, carbon data collection, and tree maintenance contracts.
-Carbon Credit Generation: Using the data gathered, Midwestland Youth Society will work with certified verifiers to register carbon credits under voluntary market standards (such as Verra or Gold Standard). A transparent Community Carbon Benefit-Sharing Framework will ensure that at least 70% of revenues from credit sales flow back to local communities and youth cooperatives.
This phase anchors environmental restoration within a business and livelihood framework—turning ecological regeneration into tangible community wealth.
-Formation of the Carbon Justice Advocacy Network (CJAN): Trained youth, community representatives, and local CSOs will form a structured advocacy network that amplifies grassroots voices in carbon policy debates.
-Policy Research and Engagement: The project will produce policy briefs and discussion papers analyzing gaps in Zambia’s carbon governance system, including issues of transparency, community consent, and benefit distribution.
-Dialogue Platforms: Midwestland Youth Society will organize roundtables, district forums, and national dialogues connecting youth with policymakers, investors, and regulators. These platforms will promote inclusion of local projects in national carbon frameworks and ensure compliance with Zambia’s Climate Change Policy and REDD+ Strategy.
-Communication and Awareness: Through community radio, social media, and storytelling, the project will build a national conversation around carbon justice and inspire replication in other regions.
This advocacy component guarantees that the project’s impact extends beyond immediate beneficiaries to influence broader systems change.
To align with Hacking Wealth’s vision of rethinking wealth, the project introduces a digital carbon ecosystem where youth manage, monitor, and benefit from local carbon assets. Innovations include:
-Carbon Wealth Dashboard: A user-friendly online platform visualizing reforestation progress, carbon sequestration data, and community earnings in real time.
-Carbon Wallets: Exploring blockchain-based wallets or mobile payment integration to ensure transparent and direct payment of carbon proceeds to participating youth groups.
-Data-Driven Decision Making: Integration of satellite imagery and open-data APIs for carbon verification, enhancing accuracy and investor confidence.
This technology layer enhances transparency, traceability, and community trust—key pillars of equitable wealth creation in the climate economy.
Women and marginalized youth will be prioritized in training, leadership, and enterprise development. Gender-sensitive recruitment, childcare support during trainings, and the promotion of women-led nurseries will ensure balanced participation. Traditional leaders will be sensitized to endorse women’s land access for reforestation, promoting inclusivity in both decision-making and benefits.
The MEL framework will combine quantitative and qualitative indicators, including:
-Number of youth trained and certified.
-Hectares restored and carbon sequestered (tons CO₂ equivalent).
-Jobs created and income earned through carbon enterprises.
-Percentage of carbon revenues reinvested locally.
-Policy and institutional changes influenced.
-Data will be collected through the digital dashboard, community surveys, and third-party verification. Lessons learned will inform adaptive management and scale-up strategies.
Sustainability is embedded in three ways:
-Economic Sustainability: Carbon enterprises and revenue from carbon credits will generate continuous funding for community activities beyond the project period.
-Institutional Sustainability: The Carbon Justice Network will remain as a legal entity advocating for community carbon rights and coordinating partnerships.
-Environmental Sustainability: The restored forests and trained youth will serve as ongoing custodians of natural capital, ensuring regeneration and resilience.
By the end of 12 months, the project will demonstrate a functioning prototype for a community-owned carbon economy in Zambia. Within five years, it aims to scale across multiple provinces, training thousands of youth and registering hundreds of hectares of community carbon assets. This will establish a replicable African model showing how climate action can generate inclusive wealth, transparency, and justice.
In summary, the Carbon Wealth Project offers a holistic and transformative methodology that blends environmental restoration, digital innovation, youth empowerment, and systemic reform. By merging carbon finance with equity and participation, it embodies the true spirit of Hacking Wealth—challenging existing power structures and enabling those most affected by climate change to define and own their share of the emerging green economy.
The Carbon Wealth Project by Midwestland Youth Society achieved a transformative set of environmental, economic, and social outcomes that demonstrate how climate action can be directly linked to equitable wealth creation and youth empowerment. The outcomes reflect tangible progress in skills development, reforestation, technology adoption, community awareness, and policy influence, laying the foundation for a just and inclusive carbon economy in Zambia.
Outcome: 50 rural youth trained and certified in carbon accounting, digital monitoring, and advocacy.
Through intensive workshops and field sessions, young people—60% of them women—acquired practical skills in carbon measurement, GIS mapping, and biomass assessment. These certifications increased youth employability in the emerging carbon sector and positioned them as local experts in climate data collection and analysis. Many have since launched or joined small enterprises focused on carbon data services and tree-planting initiatives, creating a ripple effect of local innovation and environmental stewardship.
Outcome: One community nursery established, producing over 1,000 seedlings annually and creating 30 direct green jobs.
The nursery became a hub of climate-smart enterprise, managed by youth cooperatives and supported by traditional leaders. Jobs were created in seedling propagation, planting, maintenance, data collection, and tree survival monitoring. This nursery now serve local schools, farmers, and community groups, promoting large-scale adoption of agroforestry and land restoration practices. Incomes generated from seedling sales and planting services provide sustainable livelihoods while fostering ownership and accountability for environmental outcomes.
Outcome: protection of 5000 hectares of degraded land with indigenous and multipurpose tree species.
Youth teams successfully rehabilitated and protected a forest of 5000 hectares. Native species were prioritized to improve biodiversity and soil stability. Monitoring using GIS and remote-sensing tools showed increased vegetation density and enhanced carbon sequestration potential. This activity not only mitigated local climate risks but also improved microclimates and water retention, benefiting nearby farmlands and communities.
Outcome: Launch of the Carbon Wealth Dashboard for real-time tracking of reforestation, carbon data, and community earnings.
A central digital platform was introduced to collect and visualize data from youth field teams. Using smartphone-based tools, participants uploaded geotagged photos, GPS coordinates, and tree growth measurements. The dashboard improved transparency by showing stakeholders—communities, investors, and policymakers—up-to-date information on carbon performance. It became a model for participatory carbon data management and accountability in local carbon projects.
Outcome: A structured network of youth and civil society groups advocating for transparent and equitable carbon markets.
CJAN emerged as a coalition of 16 local organizations and youth groups working to amplify rural voices in national climate dialogues. Through organized forums, media appearances, and policy consultations, the network brought attention to the need for fair benefit-sharing and community consent in carbon initiatives. Its members continue to engage the Ministry of Green Economy and Environment to promote legal reforms ensuring inclusivity and transparency in Zambia’s carbon governance framework.
Outcome: Three policy briefs and one national roundtable held on carbon justice and local ownership of carbon assets.
The project’s research outputs influenced broader discussions on climate finance and community rights. Policy briefs were distributed to government ministries, NGOs, and private carbon developers, emphasizing local benefit models and digital transparency systems. The national dialogue event in Lusaka drew over 120 participants, including government officials, youth leaders, and donors, generating momentum for a “Community Carbon Charter” that defines principles for equitable carbon revenue sharing.
Outcome: 5,000 community members reached through workshops, radio programs, and public campaigns on carbon markets and rights.
Through awareness sessions and local radio discussions in Lozi, Tonga, and Bemba languages, communities gained understanding of what carbon markets are, how carbon credits are generated, and why transparency matters. This demystification of climate finance empowered communities to negotiate better terms with project developers and demand visibility into carbon benefit flows. Awareness-building reduced misinformation and improved trust between communities and implementing agencies.
Outcome: Meaningful participation of women and marginalized youth in all project components.
Targeted mentorship and leadership training enabled women to manage three of the five nurseries, and several now serve as trainers for new youth groups. The project also introduced community childcare support during workshops, ensuring that young mothers could participate. By integrating gender equality into every stage, the project demonstrated that inclusivity strengthens both ecological and economic outcomes.
Outcome: Establishment of youth-led carbon enterprises with initial carbon credit valuation exceeding USD 25,000.
Preliminary carbon assessments and third-party verification positioned the restored sites for registration under the voluntary carbon market. Expected revenues from carbon credits are projected to support future planting cycles, provide dividends to youth cooperatives, and finance community infrastructure such as boreholes and solar lighting. This outcome validated the project’s central thesis: that climate action can serve as a legitimate pathway for local wealth creation when ownership and transparency are prioritized.
Outcome: Formalized collaboration with the Forestry Department, local councils, and private carbon buyers.
Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) were signed to ensure compliance with national policies and foster private-public partnerships. This institutional framework enhances scalability and credibility, positioning Midwestland Youth Society as a recognized partner in Zambia’s climate and carbon sector. The partnerships also facilitated technical validation of carbon data, ensuring that community projects meet international verification standards.
Outcome: Replication model documented and shared with other youth societies and regional partners.
The project produced a comprehensive “Community Carbon Implementation Toolkit,” summarizing step-by-step guidance for setting up youth-led carbon projects. Neighboring districts and organizations, including Karbalus and Lusnorth Youth Societies, began adapting the model. This outcome underscores the project’s scalability and contribution to building a wider network of youth-led climate innovators across Zambia and the broader SADC region.
Outcome: Enhanced ecosystem services supporting agriculture, water cycles, and biodiversity.
Reforestation improved soil moisture retention, reduced erosion, and increased pollinator habitats. Farmers reported better crop yields in areas near reforested plots. The ecological improvements provided direct livelihood co-benefits and reinforced the interconnectedness between environmental restoration and economic resilience.
Outcome: Midwestland Youth Society established itself as a leader in youth-led climate finance innovation.
Through the project, the organization improved its technical, administrative, and communication systems. Its visibility grew nationally and internationally through partnerships, online presence, and participation in climate innovation platforms. The project’s success positioned Midwestland as a credible player in linking youth, technology, and carbon finance.
Outcome: A sustainable foundation for community-owned carbon wealth and inclusive green growth.
The project catalyzed a mindset shift among youth and community members—carbon is now seen not as an abstract global commodity but as a local asset with tangible social and financial value. The model redefined wealth in rural Zambia as something derived from environmental stewardship, collective ownership, and justice-driven climate participation. This transformation represents the essence of hacking wealth: shifting power from corporations to communities through equitable access to emerging economic systems.
