The East Asia and Pacific (EAP) region faces challenges in achieving sustainable agricultural productivity and reducing carbon emissions. Many countries in the region generate large quantities of rice husks and straws, which are typically underutilized. Biochar offers a promising solution by converting agricultural waste into a product that improves soil quality and sequesters carbon. The World Bank's SEAE3 unit supports scaling climate action and exploring innovative climate finance mechanisms. This project aimed to assess biochar initiatives, their Monitoring, Reporting, and Verification (MRV) system, and the potential for scaling them through carbon finance.

• Conducted stocktaking of biochar projects using rice husks/straws across the EAP region
• Analyzed successful/unsuccessful projects to extract critical success/failure factors
• Mapped key stakeholders and identified technical and financial bottlenecks
• Assessed carbon market readiness, including MRV and standard methodology viability
• Delivered strategic recommendations and presented findings to World Bank staff