Feb 10, OCEAN Grants Programme

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.

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.

This is the online application portal for the UK Government funded OCEAN Grants Programme. Please register an account or login to an existing account to start an application for funding or continue working on an existing application. You can login / register by clicking the buttons in the top right of this screen or in the panel at the bottom left of the page.

Ocean Community Empowerment and Nature (OCEAN)

OCEAN is a new competitive grants scheme that will support innovative proposals from local coastal communities and organisations that aim to deliver marine protection and reduce poverty worldwide.

It is part of the UK Government’s Blue Planet Fund – a £500 million programme supporting developing countries to protect the marine environment and reduce poverty – and aims to support the people and communities most impacted by declining ocean health and climate change through funding local solutions to local problems.

OCEAN’s overall goal is to place the ocean on a path to recovery, and for local communities and nature to thrive side by side. To achieve this, grants will be awarded through two different funding pathways:

Community Grants

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.

Partnership Grants

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.

For further information about whether your project is eligible for funding or the types of activities that OCEAN will support, please consult our Guidance for Applicants.

How to Apply

For more information and job application details, see; OCEAN Grants Programme

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