Baltic Sea Action Plan (BSAP) Fund - Nefco

Enriched International · Found: 2026-03-11 11:22

Early-stage financing mechanism co-managed by Nefco and the Nordic Investment Bank, dedicated to accelerating HELCOM Baltic Sea Action Plan implementation including marine litter initiatives. Grants typically EUR 30,000-200,000 per project. Over 80 projects financed with EUR 16 million since 2010.

Source: https://nefco.int/fund-mobilisation/funds-managed-by-nefco/baltic-sea-action-plan-fund

Funding Details

Funder

Nefco / Nordic Investment Bank (NIB) — Baltic Sea Action Plan Fund

Funding Goal

Accelerate implementation of the HELCOM Baltic Sea Action Plan (BSAP) by providing early-stage financing for projects addressing key environmental challenges of the Baltic Sea, including eutrophication, biodiversity loss, pollution, marine litter, and hazardous substances.

Funding Amount

Typically EUR 30,000–200,000 per project; 2025 round distributed EUR 1.3 million across 8 projects (avg. ~EUR 162,500) (30.000 € – 200.000 €)

Deadline

2025-04-18 (Rolling)

How to Apply

Annual call for proposals issued by Nefco/NIB. Submit application during open call period. Contact bsapfund@nefco.int or Dennis Hamro-Drotz (dennis.hamro-drotz@nefco.int) for details. Approved project lists published on the Nefco website after each round.

Target Region

Baltic Sea region (8 HELCOM countries); cross-boundary projects eligible

Contact

Dennis Hamro-Drotz, Acting Head of Department, Special Funds — +358 10 6180 607 — dennis.hamro-drotz@nefco.int. General fund enquiries: bsapfund@nefco.int. Nefco main office: +358 10 618 003 — info@nefco.int — Fabianinkatu 34, P.O. Box 241, FI-00171 Helsinki, Finland.

Last Checked

2026-03-11 16:25

Application Checklist

Eligibility

• Applicant must be a private or public sector entity operating in one of the 8 Baltic Sea countries
• Cross-boundary projects (involving multiple Baltic Sea countries) are explicitly welcomed

Project Scope

• Project must address a key environmental challenge of the Baltic Sea as defined in the HELCOM BSAP (eutrophication, biodiversity, hazardous substances, marine litter, shipping, fisheries, etc.)
• Project must be early-stage, with clear demonstration effect and potential for replicability and scalability

Required Documents

• Submit application during the open call window (typically spring, ~April deadline based on past rounds)
• Contact bsapfund@nefco.int before applying to confirm eligibility and current call status

Constraints

• Project budget should align with typical grant range of EUR 30,000–200,000
• Project should demonstrate financial viability pathway beyond the initial BSAP Fund grant

Summary

The Baltic Sea Action Plan (BSAP) Fund is an early-stage financing mechanism co-managed by Nefco and the Nordic Investment Bank (NIB), established in 2010 by Sweden and Finland. The fund provides grants to private and public sector projects across the 8 Baltic Sea countries, supporting the implementation of the HELCOM Baltic Sea Action Plan with its 2030 goals for good ecological status. Since inception, 74+ projects have been financed, with each EUR of fund money leveraging approximately 7x in additional investment. The fund's primary focus is on eutrophication, biodiversity conservation, and pollution prevention, with approximately 80% of funded projects addressing these areas. Key themes include nutrient recycling, wastewater management, biodiversity conservation, and increasingly marine litter and microplastics. Grants typically range from EUR 30,000 to EUR 200,000 per project, intended to support early-stage testing, assessment of replicability, and evaluation of financial viability. The 2025 funding round distributed EUR 1.3 million among 8 projects, announced in February 2026. Applications are solicited through periodic (roughly annual) calls for proposals. The most recent call was opened in February 2025 with a deadline of April 18, 2025, and results were announced in February 2026. The BSAP Fund supports SDGs 13 (Climate Action) and 14 (Life Below Water) and welcomes new donors and project applicants from across the Baltic Sea region. Contact for project applications is through Nefco's Special Funds team; the fund also invites institutional donors to contribute to expanding its reach. The fund has an established track record including case stories on microplastics filtration, wetland restoration, and controlled drainage for nutrient management.

Historical Context

Fund established in 2010 by Sweden and Finland. Co-financed also by the Nordic Environmental Development Fund (NMF) / Nordic Council of Ministers. Documented annual rounds: 2020, 2021, 2023, and 2025. 74 projects financed by end of 2023; total fund size approximately EUR 16 million since inception. 2025 round: record number of applications received; 8 projects awarded EUR 1.3 million total (announced February 2026). BSAP updated in 2021 to include marine litter, pharmaceuticals, underwater noise, and seabed disturbance alongside original themes.

Why it was added

Baltic Sea plastic/marine litter program

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