Offset8 and iRise Team Up to Restore Millions of Trees
Offset8 Capital Limited, an investment firm based in Abu Dhabi, has partnered with iRise on a large-scale effort to restore landscapes and support communities in Malawi. At the heart of the collaboration is a plan to bring back 10 million trees, a move designed to deliver both environmental and community benefits. The partnership sits within a broader push for practical, on-the-ground reforestation and sustainable development.
Real Momentum on Climate and Community Work
iRise recently briefed the Malawian government on progress under its Climate and Community Transformation Program. The program targets 6,000 hectares of degraded land for restoration, the distribution of more than 140,000 clean cookstoves, and a set of actions to strengthen food security. The aim is to deliver measurable gains for people and nature at the same time.
Why Reforestation Sits at the Center
Reforestation is the backbone of the initiative. The program plans to plant 6 million indigenous trees and prevent the loss of another 4 million trees through avoided deforestation. Together, these actions are expected to increase carbon sequestration, bring back biodiversity, and rebuild healthier soils—cornerstones of a resilient landscape and a more stable local climate.
Tackling Health Risks from Cooking Fuels
Across Africa, unsafe cooking practices carry a heavy toll, with more than 3.7 million premature deaths each year linked to harmful smoke exposure. In Malawi, around 91% of people still cook with firewood and charcoal, a pattern that harms health and accelerates forest loss. By providing clean cookstoves at no cost, the project reduces smoke in homes, eases the pressure on forests, and supports a practical shift to safer daily cooking.
Strengthening Food Security and Creating Jobs
Climate stress hits farmers first. To help, the iRise program includes steps to boost food production, with an expected increase of 3,000 tons of maize each year. Those additional harvests are projected to directly support 25,000 people and provide steady benefits for about 5,000 smallholder farmers.
Jobs matter, too. The project is expected to create 300 permanent roles and provide seasonal work for roughly 1,500 people. Taken together, reforestation, clean cooking, and more resilient agriculture are being woven into a single plan designed to improve daily life while protecting the land that underpins it.
Backed by Malawi’s Leadership
Malawi’s Vice President and Minister of Natural Resources and Climate Change, Michael Usi, has welcomed the initiative, noting the country’s growing profile as a destination for carbon financing. The government has issued a Letter of Authorization (LOA), enabling carbon credits from the project to be traded under the United Nations’ Paris Agreement framework.
Growing International Interest and Collaboration
Interest from abroad has been strong. Investment firms in Switzerland have signed agreements aligned with Article 6 of the Paris Agreement, while stakeholders in Japan and Singapore have shown rising demand for high-quality carbon credits. This global attention supports the project’s market pathway and underscores the value placed on credible climate outcomes.
Offset8 co-founders Jules Maitrepierre and Ivan Mozharov have emphasized their support for iRise’s community-first approach and its alignment with the Core Carbon Principles set by ICVCM. The focus is on building projects that deliver durable, verifiable benefits.
Financing that Fits the Strategy
iRise’s leadership, including CEO Alex Pettefer and program architect Jason Rosamond, highlighted Offset8’s tailored financial solutions and its broad international network. They stressed the importance of working with local contexts—listening carefully, investing patiently, and scaling what’s proven to work—to extend impact responsibly.
Offset8 Capital Limited, regulated by the Financial Services Regulatory Authority at ADGM, has served as a key advisor on the financing that makes this project possible.
Frequently Asked Questions
What’s the main goal of the Offset8–iRise partnership?
The partnership aims to restore 10 million trees and improve everyday wellbeing in Malawi by combining reforestation, clean cooking, and food security measures. This includes restoring 6,000 hectares of degraded land and distributing more than 140,000 clean cookstoves.
How does the project address health and environmental harm from cooking fuels?
By providing clean cookstoves free of charge, the project cuts harmful smoke from traditional cooking with firewood and charcoal—practices linked to over 3.7 million premature deaths annually across Africa—while also easing pressure on forests.
What are the expected benefits for food security and livelihoods?
The initiative is designed to increase maize production by about 3,000 tons per year, directly supporting 25,000 people and assisting roughly 5,000 smallholder farmers. It also plans to create 300 permanent jobs and seasonal roles for around 1,500 people.
How is the project supported and governed?
The Malawian government has issued a Letter of Authorization (LOA), allowing the project’s carbon credits to be traded under the UN’s Paris Agreement. Offset8 Capital Limited, regulated by the Financial Services Regulatory Authority at ADGM, provides advisory support on financing.
Who is showing international interest in the project?
Investment firms in Switzerland have signed agreements aligned with Article 6 of the Paris Agreement, and stakeholders in Japan and Singapore are seeking high-quality carbon credits. The work aligns with the Core Carbon Principles defined by ICVCM.
