IMO OceanLitter Programme (incl. GloLitter Partnerships Project)

Enriched multilateral · Found: 2026-04-20 22:02

Multilateral Technical Assistance Global Capacity Building Fisheries Marine Conservation Plastic Waste Pollution
Funder: IMO GloLitter Partnerships Project
IMO OceanLitter Programme supports developing countries to prevent and reduce marine plastic litter from shipping and fisheries sectors. Includes GloLitter Partnerships Project (30 countries, 5 regions), funded by Norway/Australia/Saudi Arabia. Three-tiered partnerships: government, industry, NGOs. Global Industry Alliance for private sector.

Source: https://www.imo.org/en/ourwork/partnershipsprojects/pages/oceanlitter-programme.aspx

Funding Details

Funder
International Maritime Organization (IMO)
Funding Goal
Support developing countries in preventing and reducing marine plastic litter from maritime transport and fisheries sectors through knowledge transfer, legal/policy reform, public-private partnerships, and regional cooperation. The programme equips partner countries with tools to initiate institutional reforms, establishes industry alliances, and supports transition toward a low-plastics future in shipping and fisheries.
Funding Amount
Not a grant programme. Funded by donor governments (Norway, Saudi Arabia, South Korea, Australia). Projects are implemented by IMO and FAO with participating countries receiving technical assistance.
Deadline
Unknown (Unknown)
How to Apply
Not applicable as a grant mechanism. Government focal points in participating countries work with IMO project teams. For GIA membership: see IMO Circular Letter No.4877-Rev.1. For consultant registration: visit glolitter.imo.org/contact/consultant-database.
Target Region
Global — 30 participating countries across Asia, Africa, Central and South America, and Pacific. Countries include Indonesia, Tanzania, Vietnam, India, Kenya, Philippines, Thailand, and others.
Contact
IMO Secretariat, London. Contact via imo.org or glolitter.imo.org/contact
Last Checked
2026-04-20 22:29

Application Checklist

Eligibility
Project Scope
Constraints

Summary

The IMO OceanLitter Programme is a multi-donor technical assistance initiative operated by the International Maritime Organization (IMO) in partnership with the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO). It aims to prevent and reduce marine plastic litter originating from maritime transport and fisheries sectors, rather than land-based sources. The programme is not a grant fund accessible to NGOs — it is a government-to-government technical cooperation programme implemented by UN agencies. Three projects operate under the OceanLitter umbrella: (1) GloLitter Partnerships Project — launched 2020, 30 partner countries across 5 regions, funded by Norway, Saudi Arabia, and Australia; (2) RegLitter Project — launched November 2023, Asia-focused, funded by South Korea; (3) PRO-SEAS Project — launched early 2026, targeting large marine ecosystem countries. Together they cover 30 developing countries including Indonesia, Tanzania, Vietnam, India, Philippines, Thailand, and others. The programme works to equip partner country governments with knowledge and tools for legal, policy, and institutional reform in shipping and fisheries to address marine plastic litter, consistent with international conventions (MARPOL). It establishes public-private partnerships through a Global Industry Alliance (GIA), engages women in tackling marine plastic litter, and facilitates regional cooperation. A consultant expert database enables technical experts to register for potential engagement in project activities. Eligible activities include supporting governments to develop national action plans, capacity building for port reception facilities, addressing abandoned/lost/discarded fishing gear, and developing best-practice guidelines for plastic management in the maritime sector. The programme is fully implemented by IMO/FAO with government partners and does not make sub-grants to civil society organizations. The only private sector entry point is through GIA membership for maritime/fisheries companies.

Historical Context

Launched in 2020 with the GloLitter Partnerships Project as its first project, funded by Norway. The RegLitter Project was launched in November 2023 (funded by South Korea, Asia focus). The PRO-SEAS Project was launched in early 2026. IMO has set an ambition of zero plastic waste discharges from ships by 2030.

Why it was added

discovered from funder #446: IMO GloLitter Partnerships Project — GloLitter page redirects to OceanLitter Programme

Sources

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