OCEAN Grants Programme — Community Grants and Partnership Grants (UK Blue Planet Fund)

Enriched government · Found: 2026-05-06 17:31

The OCEAN Grants Programme funds marine protection and poverty reduction in ODA-eligible coastal countries. Round 2 has been awarded (GBP 14M). Programme offers Community Grants and Partnership Grants. No open round currently indicated — window closed. Further rounds may open.

Source: https://oceangrants.org.uk/apply/

Funding Details

Funder

OCEAN Grants Programme (UK Blue Planet Fund / Defra)

Funding Goal

Fund projects that protect the marine environment and reduce poverty in ODA-eligible coastal developing countries. Two grant pathways: (1) Community Grants (up to GBP 250,000) for small to medium local/in-country organisations; (2) Partnership Grants (GBP 500,000 to GBP 3 million) for large international organisations partnering with locally-led in-country organisations. All projects must reduce multi-dimensional poverty AND protect/restore/conserve the marine environment.

Funding Amount

Community Grants: up to GBP 250,000. Partnership Grants: GBP 500,000 to GBP 3 million. Total programme: up to GBP 60 million (2024-2029). (up to 3.000.000 €)

Deadline

Annual — Round 2 closed February/March 2025; Round 3 expected to open late 2025 or early 2026 (periodic)

How to Apply

Apply via online portal at ocean.flexigrant.com. Two-stage process for both pathways. Community Grants: Stage 1 concept note, then Stage 2 detailed application by invitation. Partnership Grants: Stage 1 detailed application, then Stage 2 online interview. Applications accepted in English, French, Portuguese, Spanish, Bahasa Indonesia (Community Grants); English only for Partnership Grants. Contact: helpdesk@oceangrants.org.uk

Target Region

ODA-eligible coastal developing countries globally. Eligible countries list on oceangrants.org.uk. Includes Africa, Southeast Asia, Pacific, Caribbean, and other coastal developing nations.

Contact

helpdesk@oceangrants.org.uk; applications@oceangrants.org.uk

Last Checked

2026-05-06 21:37

Application Checklist

Eligibility

• Community Grant: lead must be locally registered in eligible coastal country, annual income < GBP 1M, established 2+ years
• Partnership Grant: lead must be large international organisation, established 3+ years, with at least one in-country partner organisation
• Government agencies and inter-governmental organisations cannot receive funding (can only be non-funded partners)

Project Scope

• Project must address both poverty reduction AND marine environment protection
• Project must be in an ODA-eligible coastal developing country (check eligible countries list)

Required Documents

• Two-stage application via ocean.flexigrant.com portal; Stage 2 is by invitation only

Constraints

• Projects must conclude all activities by 31 March 2029
• Annual grant request must not exceed 50% of annual income (Community) or 25% (Partnership)

Summary

The OCEAN Grants Programme is a globally competitive grants initiative funded by the UK Government's Blue Planet Fund (Defra/FCDO) with up to GBP 60 million available from 2024 to 2029. The programme aims to support the people most impacted by declining ocean health and climate change by funding local solutions to local problems in ODA-eligible coastal developing countries. Thematically, the programme funds projects that simultaneously reduce multi-dimensional poverty and protect, restore, conserve or sustainably manage the marine environment. All projects must demonstrate contribution to climate adaptation and/or mitigation, increase local community capacity, and contribute to developing new ideas and local solutions. Round 2 showed a particular focus on gender equality, disability and social inclusion (GEDSI) as a cross-cutting theme. Eligible activities span the full range of marine conservation and sustainable ocean use: protection of marine biodiversity, sustainable fisheries management, coastal community empowerment, marine protected areas, climate adaptation for coastal communities, and reduction of marine pollution (including plastic waste). The programme's emphasis on communities and local organisations means operational/implementation projects are preferred over pure research. Geographically, all projects must be implemented in ODA-eligible coastal developing countries. There is no regional restriction — eligible countries span Africa, Southeast Asia, Pacific, Caribbean, and Latin America among others. Two funding pathways: Community Grants (up to GBP 250,000 — for small/local in-country organisations with under GBP 1M annual income, registered in the project country) and Partnership Grants (GBP 500,000 to GBP 3 million — for larger international organisations partnering with locally-based in-country organisations). Both require at least 12-month project duration; all activities must conclude by 31 March 2029. The programme runs annually; Round 3 is expected to open in late 2025 or early 2026.

Historical Context

OCEAN (Ocean Community Empowerment and Nature) is part of the UK Blue Planet Fund (BPF) — a GBP 500 million portfolio managed by Defra and FCDO. OCEAN's total investment is up to GBP 60 million from 2024-2029. Round 1 opened February 2024. Round 2 was awarded GBP 14 million. Administered by NIRAS as OCEAN Grants Administrator. Programme runs annually.

Why it was added

discovered from funder #773: OCEAN Grants Programme Round 2 (UK)

Sources

• https://oceangrants.org.uk/apply/

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