The PES Management Tool
A unique digital platform to enrol, contract, report, verify and pay for environmental services across the Congo Basin, the PES Management Tool is the implementation engine for CAFI’s Payments for Environmental Services.
Putting PES on the ground means thousands of applications, contracts, field visits and payments across remote territories. Transaction costs could dramatically limit the deployment of PES at scale. To address this, the PES Management Tool compresses the entire cycle into one auditable system: mobile enrolment, digital contracts, geotagged and satellite reporting allowing verification, and efficient payments.
Countries with tool deployed
PES Activities
Types of beneficiaries
Payment tracks (mobile money and bank)
The PES Management System enables end-to-end management of PES projects, from enrolment to payments. It integrates mobile
data collection, contract management, geotagged evidence and automated processing into a single system, supported by a real
time dashboard tracking applications, contracts and payments.
In 2025, the system was tested through pilot implementation in the DRC and Republic of Congo, where it supported the processing of
applications, contract management and the first PES payments,
Built to maintain trust
Direct to communities
Payments go straight to the beneficiary’s mobile-money account — whichever telephone company — or his/her banking account. This means no intermediaries between the result and the reward.
Safeguards embedded
Protected areas, key biodiversity areas, peatlands, protected species and free, prior and informed consent are written into every contract and checked at every visit.
End-to-end audit trail
Every stage – from application to payment – is tracked and attributable. Each actor is accountable for their step — nothing happens off the record.
Alerts on every issue
Blocking and non-blocking alerts flag anomalies the moment they appear — eg expiring documents, boundary conflicts, or non-compliance.
Data protection by design
Role-based access and secure identity management protect beneficiary data, while keeping results transparent.
Reporting that can be verified
Standardised, near-real-time dashboards and GIS views give partner governments and contributors the same verified picture.
Tool snapshots
GIS PORTAL — LIVE PES SITES, 4 COUNTRIES
AN AREA UNDER CONTRACT — SATELLITE-VERIFIED CHANGE
PAYMENTS BOUND TO VALIDATION VISITS