World Bank - PROBLUE (Ocean Plastics and Circular Economy)

Enriched UN / Multilateral · Found: 2026-03-11 10:50

US$50 million allocated to 100 activities focused on ocean plastics and circular economy transitions. Multi-donor trust fund supporting transition to circular economy and tackling ocean plastics in developing countries.

Source: https://worldbank.org/en/programs/problue

Funding Details

Funder

World Bank - PROBLUE (Multi-Donor Trust Fund)

Funding Goal

Support the sustainable and integrated development of marine and coastal resources in a healthy ocean, including blue economy transitions, ocean plastics reduction, sustainable fisheries and aquaculture, coastal protection, and marine biodiversity conservation — primarily in developing countries.

Funding Amount

Overall portfolio of USD 182 million supporting 247 activities across 100+ economies; FY2024: 64 proposals approved totaling USD 37.8 million. Individual activity sizes not publicly specified.

How to Apply

PROBLUE does not operate a public open-call grant mechanism for NGOs. Organizations engage through World Bank country offices, established World Bank project pipelines, or by becoming technical partners in PROBLUE-supported activities. Interested parties may contact problue@worldbank.org or sign up for the PROBLUE newsletter to stay informed of opportunities.

Target Region

global

Contact

Email: problue@worldbank.org | Twitter/X: #PROBLUE_Ocean | LinkedIn: problueworldbank | Newsletter signup: https://forms.office.com/pages/responsepage.aspx?id=wP6iMWsmZ0y1bieW2PWcNsaM1jCb23JOnvr6NNjC4GNUM0cyUzZIWTJFVkJTMVlVNE45T0owS0VEUi4u

Last Checked

2026-03-11 16:41

Application Checklist

Eligibility

• Activities must be implemented in or benefit World Bank client/borrower countries (primarily developing countries)
• Engagement typically requires working through a World Bank country office or existing World Bank-financed program — direct unsolicited applications from NGOs are not the standard modality

Project Scope

• Projects must align with PROBLUE's Blue Economy thematic areas (fisheries, aquaculture, marine plastics/circular economy, coastal protection, maritime transport, ocean governance, or blue finance)
• Technical assistance and knowledge activities are prioritized; activities should demonstrably contribute to sustainable ocean management outcomes

Required Documents

• Project proposals and technical notes are typically prepared in collaboration with World Bank task team leaders

Constraints

• Organizations acting as implementing partners must meet World Bank fiduciary and procurement requirements
• Program is active through 2030 — no single annual deadline, but individual project cycles follow World Bank operational timelines

Summary

PROBLUE is an umbrella multi-donor trust fund administered by the World Bank, dedicated to supporting the sustainable and integrated development of marine and coastal resources. It operates under a "Blue Economy" framework, defined as sustainable use of ocean resources for economic growth, improved livelihoods, and job creation while preserving ocean ecosystem health. The program was extended in June 2024 through 2030 with support from twelve donor partners, including a SEK 300 million (~USD 28.3 million) additional contribution from Sweden in October 2024. PROBLUE funds technical activities, analytical work, capacity building, and knowledge sharing across more than 100 economies, with a primary focus on developing countries. In fiscal year 2024, PROBLUE approved 64 proposals amounting to USD 37.8 million, bringing its overall portfolio to USD 182 million supporting 247 activities. Key thematic areas include marine plastics and circular economy, sustainable fisheries and aquaculture, coastal protection and nature-based solutions, blue finance, ocean governance, and marine biodiversity. The program is not a traditional open-grant program for NGOs. Instead, it funds activities through World Bank project structures, often channeling support to governments, research institutions, and implementing partners in World Bank client countries. Impact stories cover plastic reclaimer formalization in South Africa, single-use plastic reduction in Sierra Leone, solid waste management in Lebanon, fisheries insurance in the Caribbean, and aquaculture development in Morocco. This makes it a primarily government-facing and multilateral mechanism. Contact and application to PROBLUE is typically through the World Bank's project pipeline — organizations seeking funding would generally engage through World Bank country offices or as technical partners in existing World Bank-financed programs. Direct unsolicited grant applications from NGOs are not the standard modality.

Historical Context

PROBLUE was extended through 2030 in June 2024, announced at the second annual PROBLUE Global Engagement Forum with twelve donor partners. Sweden announced additional support of SEK 300 million (~USD 28.3 million) at COP16 in October 2024. The PROBLUE 2024 Annual Report (published February 2025) reports 64 proposals approved in FY2024 totaling USD 37.8 million, with an overall portfolio of USD 182 million across 247 activities. A 2025 Annual Report is also available.

Why it was added

Africa waste/plastic development funding

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