The OCEAN Grants Programme is an investment of up to £60m that will fund projects through two pathways.

OCEAN seeks diverse proposals for projects that prioritise embedding local communities at the centre of their decision making.

Bridging the Gaps in Marine Conservation Funding

We know community-led initiatives have huge potential to make a positive impact. Yet up until now, there has been insufficient competitive funding for programming that tackles marine issues and specifically focuses on reaching local communities and local organisations.

Despite 10% of the global population having high dependence on the nutritional, economic, and coastal protection benefits the ocean provides and it contributing US$1.5 trillion to the global economy, less than 1% (US$13 billion) of this total value was invested in the ocean economy through sustainable projects in the past decade.

The OCEAN Grants Programme seeks to redress these imbalances by supporting people and communities most acutely impacted by climate change.

WHO CAN APPLY

Who We Fund

OCEAN supports a wide range of projects that work to protect the marine environment and reduce poverty. Projects can be based in any ODA-eligible country and proposals from in-country organisations that work directly with coastal communities are particularly encouraged.

All applications are welcomed – from Civil Society Organisations (CSOs), Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs), research institutes and others.

Private sector and local government organisations aren’t eligible to receive funding from OCEAN, but are highly encouraged to partner with local non-profit organisations to support their projects.

AVAILABLE GRANTS

Grant programmes

The OCEAN Grants Programme is an investment of up to £60m from 2024 until 2029. The initial funding round opened in February 2024 with two different funding pathways.

1. Community Grants

Community grants, up to £250,000, will fund projects led by small to medium, local, in-country organisations annual income of less than £1m.

Community Grants will support projects led by small to medium, local, in-country organisations working in an eligible country. Projects should deliver local solutions to local problems by increasing the capacity of local communities and organisations to tackle marine and poverty issues. Key eligibility criteria for the pathway includes:

• Grant Amount: Up to £250,000
• Project Duration:  From one year up until 31 March 2029
• Eligible Countries: Please see the full list of eligible countries here.
• Eligible Organisations: Local / in-country organisations and communities groups with an annual income of less than £1 million
• Project Activities: Projects should focus on developing the capacity of local communities and organisations, alongside protecting, managing or restoring the marine environment and reducing poverty.

1. Partnership Grants

Partnership grants, from £250,000 up to £3 million, will be awarded to medium to large organisations who partner with locally led organisations and have the capacity to deliver projects at scale.

Partnership Grants will support projects led by medium to large organisations that partner with locally led organisations and have the capacity to deliver projects at scale. Projects should deliver local solutions to local problems by partnering with and working alongside local communities and organisations to tackle marine and poverty issues. Key eligibility criteria for the pathway includes:

• Grant Amount: £250,000  to £3 million
• Project Duration:  From one year up until 31 March 2029
• Eligible Countries: Please see the full list of eligible countries here.
• Eligible Organisations: Medium to large, well-established organisations with an annual income of more than £1 million
• Project Activities: Projects should focus on creating partnerships with local organisations, to scale up existing activities and aim to reach higher numbers of people, alongside protecting, managing or restoring the marine environment and reducing poverty.
• Partnerships: All projects must partner with at least one local / in-country organisation registered in the same country as the project.

The first call for proposals opened on 5 February 2024 and there are two pots of funding available. Community grants, up to £250,000, will fund projects led by small to medium, local, in-country organisations annual income of less than £1m. Partnership grants, from £250,000 up to £3 million, will be awarded to medium to large organisations who partner with locally led organisations and have the capacity to deliver projects at scale.

• The closing date for community grants is 18 March 2024, 22:59 GMT (23:59 BST)
• The closing date for partnership grants is 02 April 2024, 22:59 GMT (23:59 BST)

Types of projects that OCEAN will fund

Funding is available for projects that focus on both:

Marine Protection: Applications must focus on marine protection. This could directly relate to one of the Blue Planet Fund’s following seven key outcomes, but this is not a requirement:

• Marine protected areas (MPAs) and other effective conservation measures (OECMs);
• Illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing (IUU);
• International and large-scale fisheries;
• Marine pollution;
• Critical marine habitats;
• Small-scale fisheries;
• Sustainable aquaculture.

Poverty Reduction: Applications must also address poverty reduction directly or indirectly, taking into consideration the disproportionate impacts of climate change and biodiversity loss on women and girls, people living in poverty and marginalised groups.

For more information, please visit: https://oceangrants.org.uk/

https://ocean.flexigrant.com/