Blue Action Fund

Enriched Philanthropic Network · Found: 2026-03-10 13:21

Conservation trust fund pooling contributions from governmental and philanthropic donors to safeguard marine protected areas and coastal waters in Africa, Latin America, and Asia.

Source: https://blueactionfund.org/

Funding Details

Funder

Blue Action Fund

Funding Goal

Support NGOs in establishing, enlarging, or improving the management of marine protected areas (MPAs) and Other Effective Area-based Conservation Measures (OECMs), while advancing sustainable livelihoods for coastal fishing communities in developing countries across Africa, Latin America, and Asia-Pacific.

Funding Amount

Each Call for Proposals has a total budget of approximately €20 million, distributed across multiple grantees. Individual grant sizes are not publicly specified but implied to be substantial multi-year awards for large-scale conservation projects. (up to 20.000.000 €)

How to Apply

Blue Action Fund does not accept unsolicited proposals. Organisations must monitor the Funding Opportunities page or subscribe to Funding Alerts to be notified of new Calls for Proposals. When a call is open, applicants submit via the formal process outlined in the Grant Procedures Manual. The process includes a competitive proposal round with eligibility screening, technical evaluation, and grant committee approval.

Target Region

Africa, Latin America, Asia-Pacific (developing countries only)

Contact

Head Office: Friedrich-Ebert-Anlage 36, 60325 Frankfurt am Main, Germany. Programme Office: Wallstr. 59, 10179 Berlin, Germany. Website contact: https://www.blueactionfund.org/about-us/#contact

Official Page

https://www.blueactionfund.org/

Last Checked

2026-03-11 18:13

Application Checklist

Eligibility

• Applicant must be a registered national or international NGO
• Project must be located in a developing country in Africa, Latin America, or Asia-Pacific — European projects are not eligible

Project Scope

• Project must target MPAs, OECMs, or sustainable livelihoods for coastal fishing communities
• Demonstrate measurable conservation outcomes and livelihood co-benefits

Required Documents

• Comply with the Blue Action Fund Environmental & Social Management System (ESMS) and Exclusion List
• Address gender dimensions of the project in line with the Blue Action Fund Gender Guide

Constraints

• Application must be submitted in response to a formal Call for Proposals — unsolicited proposals are not accepted
• No open call currently — subscribe to Funding Alerts to be notified of future rounds

Summary

Blue Action Fund is a German non-profit foundation established in 2016 by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) and KfW Development Bank. It has since grown into one of the world's largest public funders of marine conservation, with additional governmental donors from Sweden, France, Norway, and Ireland. As of January 2026, the fund has channelled over €144.7 million in grants and mobilised an additional €51.6 million in match funding, totalling nearly €200 million in conservation finance directed to developing-country NGOs. The fund operates through competitive Calls for Proposals, each typically targeting a specific ocean region with a total call budget of approximately €20 million. Past calls have covered the Western Indian Ocean (2021), Wider Caribbean Sea (2022), Asia-Pacific (2023), and Eastern Tropical Pacific (2024). Grants support projects that establish or improve MPAs and OECMs, as well as initiatives that improve livelihoods for coastal fishing communities — linking conservation with socio-economic co-benefits. Eligible applicants are national and international non-governmental organisations (NGOs) implementing marine conservation projects in developing countries. Unsolicited proposals are not accepted; organisations must respond to an open Call for Proposals in their target region. There are currently no open calls, but Blue Action Fund issues periodic funding alerts for new rounds. The fund is part of the Nature Trust Alliance (NTA) and is governed as a German Stiftung with a Management Board and Supervisory Board. Its head office is in Frankfurt am Main and it maintains a programme office in Berlin.

Historical Context

Founded in 2016 by Germany's BMZ and KfW. Expanded to include Sweden, France, Norway, and Ireland as co-funders. Runs one major regional Call for Proposals per year, each worth ~€20 million: Western Indian Ocean (2021), Wider Caribbean Sea (2022), Asia-Pacific (2023), Eastern Tropical Pacific (2024). Total grants disbursed as of January 2026: €144.7 million (with €51.6 million in match funding). Published a 5-year impact report in 2022.

Why it was added

Major pooled fund for marine conservation in developing countries; directly funds NGO-led MPA projects

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