Foundation of the African Sovereign Carbon Registry (ASCRF):
Independence, Transparency, and Compliance
About the Foundation
The African Sovereign Carbon Registry Foundation (ASCRF) was established to ensure the strict governance of Sovereign Carbon Registries across the African continent. It upholds the highest standards of independence and transparency and ensures compliance with leading financial audit and carbon accounting standards. It guarantees the integrity of the Registries and the leadership of member states' Sovereign Carbon Initiatives.
Core Values
• Transparency : Adherence to international standards ensuring transparency and independent verification by audit firms renowned for their expertise.
• Compliance : Implementation of internationally recognized and sector-specific standards
• Independence : Strict independence from any public or private interference.
• Integrity : Accountability and rigorous oversight.
Governance
The Foundation is composed of three bodies:
1. Founding Council : Oversees the mission and long-term strategy.
2. Governance Council : Ensures the Registry's compliance, receives, and approves audit and certification reports from the Audit and Compliance Committee.
3. Comité d'Audit et de Conformité : Conducts audits and ensures independent verification.
The Audit and Compliance Committee, composed of Bureau Veritas (audit and verification firm), Carbon Offset Certification (Swiss carbon certification standard), and a financial audit firm, submits biannual verification and certification reports to the Governance Council.
Foundation Members
Founding Council
Abdi Ibrahim Absieh
President of the ASCR Foundation
Former President of the Constitutional Council of the Republic of Djibouti, Abdi Ibrahim ABSIEH served for eight years overseeing and regulating the country's constitutional matters. Prior to this role, he was Djibouti's Ambassador to Moscow, while also serving as a non-resident ambassador to Finland, Azerbaijan, Ukraine, and Kazakhstan, a position he held for three years.
Appointed as Minister of Education and Higher Education, a position he held for 12 years, Abdi Ibrahim Absieh played a key role in the development and modernization of Djibouti's education system.
Former State Civil Engineering Officer, Abdi Ibrahim Absieh served as Director General of Public Works for 18 years, overseeing numerous infrastructure projects. He was later appointed Minister of Education and Higher Education, a position he held for 12 years, playing a pivotal role in the development and modernization of Djibouti's educational system.
Ahmed Araita Ali
Secretary General of the ASCR Foundation
His Excellency Mr. Ahmed Araita Ali is a diplomat and former Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to Japan, South Korea, Indonesia, and Australia. He founded the Council for the Promotion of the Francophonie and served as Vice-Dean of the African Diplomatic Corps in Japan. Active in several international committees, including TICAD, he has represented Djibouti at major conferences in Asia.
Technical Advisor to the National Rehabilitation Commission and Director of the "Social Development Fund" project for the African Development Bank (AfDB), he is an expert in negotiation, conflict management, and local development, with over 250 public engagements in Asia.
Mohamed Abdillahi Wais
Treasurer
Secretary General of the Presidency of the Republic of Djibouti
Mohamed Abdillahi WAIS, Secretary General of the Presidency of the Republic of Djibouti, is an expert in geography and demography. He specializes in development models tailored to the realities of Sahelo-Saharan countries, addressing climatic, economic, and social challenges.
Author of several books and a former professor, he shares his expertise on the interactions between geography, demography, and development, as well as the complex challenges related to land use planning and sustainable development.
Passionate about the interconnection between humans and nature, he contributes to Djibouti's sustainable development strategy and the implementation of collaborative initiatives involving local communities in inclusive and economically impactful projects.
A Governance Model for Sovereign Carbon Initiatives in Africa Operating independently from any government entity, includingSovereign Carbon Agencies (SCA), la Fondation et le Registre Carbone Souverain Africain permettent aux Etats du continent d’établir leurs propres Initiatives Carbone Souveraines et Registres Carbone Souverains.
Semi-Annual Reporting and Decision-Making
- Founding Council: Convenes the Governance Council twice a year.
- Role of the Governance Council: Reviews reports and provides an evaluation classified as Favorable, Conditional, or Unfavorable to guide future actions.
- Audit and Compliance Committee: Issues verification and certification reports every semester.
Audit and Compliance Committee
Bureau Veritas
As the guarantor of the compliance of the Republic of Djibouti's Carbon Initiative with international governance and carbon accounting rules, the Sovereign Carbon Registry is verified by Bureau Veritas, a global leader in audit and verification services.
Bureau Veritas issued its first report validating the complete compliance of the Registry.
Each semester, a new audit will be conducted to ensure that reported operations, calculations, and settlements of Carbon Contributions remain fully compliant with international standards and best practices.
Carbon Offset Certification
Carbon Offset Certification is an independent Swiss certification label and standard that ensures the compliance of environmental communications and the application of carbon offsetting with international standards and best practices.
It relies on a three-step audited process: calculation of GHG emissions according to recognized carbon accounting standards, verification by an independent audit firm, and compensation through certified carbon credits. This certification ensures environmental communication complies with the strictest regulations.