Blue Planet Fund (Defra)
Enriched UK · Found: 2026-03-10 13:30
UK government fund within the International Biodiversity Fund providing GBP 500M+ for marine protection in developing countries. Supports marine biodiversity, combats illegal fishing, funds ocean research and marine protected areas globally. Key component of UK overseas development assistance for ocean conservation.
Source: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/blue-planet-fund
Funding Details
- Funder
- UK Government - Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs (Defra) / Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office
- Funding Goal
- Support locally-led projects to deliver lasting change to the marine environment and coastal communities in ODA-eligible developing countries. The OCEAN Grants Programme targets marine ecosystem protection, coastal community empowerment, and poverty reduction through two pathways: community grants for local in-country organisations and partnership grants for large-scale activities partnering with local communities.
- Funding Amount
- Community grants up to £250,000; Partnership grants up to £3 million. Total programme investment up to £60 million. (up to 3.000.000 €)
- Deadline
- Annual call; next round expected January 2026 (Round 2 grantees announced, Round 3 not yet open as of May 2026) (periodic)
- How to Apply
- Applications submitted via the OCEAN grants portal at https://ocean.flexigrant.com/. Annual competitive call for proposals. Applications reviewed by an OCEAN Expert Committee of marine and development experts. Two pathways: Community Grants and Partnership Grants.
- Target Region
- ODA-eligible developing countries globally; focus on communities impacted by climate change, including Africa, Caribbean, Pacific Small Island Developing States (SIDS), and other coastal regions.
- Contact
- https://oceangrants.org.uk/contact/
- Official Page
- https://oceangrants.org.uk/
- Last Checked
- 2026-05-07 08:43
Application Checklist
Eligibility
Project Scope
Required Documents
Constraints
Summary
The Ocean Community Empowerment and Nature (OCEAN) Grants Programme is a competitive grants scheme funded by the UK Government through the £500 million Blue Planet Fund, administered by Defra and FCDO. Its overarching objective is to support locally-led initiatives that deliver lasting change to marine environments and coastal communities in ODA-eligible developing countries. The programme explicitly seeks to redress the chronic underfunding of ocean sustainability, noting that less than 1% of the ocean's total value has been invested in sustainable projects over the past decade. Thematically, OCEAN supports projects spanning marine biodiversity protection, sustainable fisheries, climate change adaptation for coastal communities, marine pollution reduction, and community-based marine resource governance. Projects must place local communities at the centre of decision-making and prioritise equitable, inclusive approaches to marine management. The programme's long-term objective is to increase the capacity of local organisations to drive equitable and inclusive decision-making, enabling communities to manage and benefit from marine ecosystems sustainably. Eligible activities include marine ecosystem restoration and protection, sustainable seafood programming, coastal community livelihood development, training and capacity building for local conservation actors, and projects combining environmental outcomes with poverty reduction. Activities should have measurable outcomes for both the marine environment and the communities that depend on it. Geographically, the programme is focused on ODA-eligible developing countries, with emphasis on regions most acutely impacted by climate change. Applications from organisations based in African, Caribbean, and Pacific Small Island Developing States (SIDS) are particularly encouraged. In-country organisations and partnerships with local communities are prioritised. Eligible applicants include civil society organisations, NGOs, private sector organisations, and businesses. Government agencies and inter-governmental organisations cannot receive funding directly but can partner with eligible organisations. The programme offers two pathways: Community Grants up to £250,000 for small-scale local organisations, and Partnership Grants up to £3 million for larger-scale activities that can scale up effective solutions. The total programme investment is up to £60 million, funded through UK Official Development Assistance (ODA). The programme is annual, with multiple rounds. Round 2 grantees have already been announced. Applications are made via a competitive process reviewed by the OCEAN Expert Committee, applying through an online portal.
Historical Context
Funded through the UK's £500 million Blue Planet Fund, which was launched under the Johnson Conservative government in 2021. Round 1 and Round 2 grants have been awarded. Round 2 grantees were announced, with £14 million awarded across projects. Programme runs annually with rolling calls for proposals.
Why it was added
Major UK government fund specifically for international marine protection and sustainable fisheries in developing nations
Sources
- https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/blue-planet-fund
- https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/blue-planet-fund/ocean-community-empowerment-and-nature-ocean-grants-programme
- https://oceangrants.org.uk/
- https://oceangrants.org.uk/apply/
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|---|---|---|
| OCEAN Grant Programme UK - Marine Community Grants | International | 10 |
| FCDO Blue Planet Fund — OCEAN Grants Programme | government | 10 |
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