ZUG gGmbH Grant Programme against Marine Litter

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Enriched government_de · Found: 2026-03-10 19:17

Förderprogramm zur Verhinderung des Eintrags von Plastikmüll in die Ozeane. Zusammenarbeit mit GIZ. Fokus auf Kreislaufwirtschaftsansätze. Regelmäßige Förderaufrufe.

Source: https://z-u-g.org/en/marine-litter

Funding Details

Funder: Zukunft – Umwelt – Gesellschaft (ZUG) gGmbH / German Federal Ministry for the Environment (BMUV)
Funding Goal: Prevention of plastic waste from entering oceans by establishing circular waste management systems, sustainable production approaches, circular design, integrated waste management, capacity building, and social transformation in ODA-eligible countries globally
Funding Amount: EUR 1 million to EUR 6 million per project, maximum project duration 4 years (1.000.000 € – 6.000.000 €)
Deadline: Annual call; Call 2025 closed (deadline was 22 April 2025); next call expected 2026 (periodic)
How to Apply: Two-stage process: first, project outlines (Projektskizzen) are submitted via electronic form system Jira (jira.z-u-g.org). Selected applicants are then invited to submit full project applications. Contact: marine-litter@z-u-g.org
Target Region: Global — ODA-eligible countries, with particular interest in Small Island Developing States, countries with pronounced needs under the global plastics treaty, and countries with increased role model function (e.g. High Ambition Coalition members)
Contact: marine-litter@z-u-g.org; Zukunft – Umwelt – Gesellschaft (ZUG) gGmbH
Official Page: https://z-u-g.org/en/marine-litter/
Last Checked: 2026-03-15 14:09

Application Checklist

Eligibility

Applicant must be based in Germany (NGO, company, university, research institution, or German branch of international org)
Consortium with local/international partner organisations in ODA countries is mandatory
Demonstrate expertise in project areas: plastic waste, circular economy, waste management, social transformation

Project Scope

Projects must be implemented in ODA-eligible countries
Project must focus on plastic waste prevention (not removal, thermal use, or non-plastic recycling)

Required Documents

Two-stage application: project outline via Jira system, then full project proposal

Constraints

Must implement ZUG Safeguards Policy and Independent Complaint Mechanism
Decolonial project concept and meaningful stakeholder participation required
Maximum EUR 6 million per project, maximum 4 years duration

Summary

The Grant Programme against Marine Litter (Marine:DeFRAG), administered by Zukunft – Umwelt – Gesellschaft (ZUG) gGmbH on behalf of the German Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation, Nuclear Safety and Consumer Protection (BMUV), supports projects that prevent plastic waste from entering oceans. The programme addresses the global marine litter crisis — approximately 23 million tonnes of plastic waste enter oceans annually — and aligns with UN SDG 14 and international plastic pollution agreements. The programme funds projects in the following thematic areas: sustainable production and design (circular design, circular solutions), integrated waste management systems, consulting and capacity exchange, waste information systems, and social transformation and behavioural change. Pure removal measures (e.g. Fishing for Litter), thermal use of plastic waste, and recycling of non-plastic fractions are explicitly excluded. The 2025 call prioritised projects in Small Island Developing States (especially waste avoidance and reuse/multi-use systems), countries with pronounced needs under the global plastics treaty, countries with an increased role model function (e.g. High Ambition Coalition members), and projects emphasising social sustainability including informal sector inclusion, gender equity, and engagement with marginalised groups. Eligible applicants include German-based NGOs, companies, universities, research institutions, federal implementing organisations, and German branches of international/multilateral organisations. Consortia with implementing organisations in ODA-eligible partner countries are mandatory. Project duration is up to 4 years, with funding per project between EUR 1 million and EUR 6 million. Governments cannot receive direct financing. Applications are submitted via a two-stage process: project outlines via an electronic Jira form system, followed by full applications for selected proposals. ZUG implements the BMUV Safeguards Policy and an independent complaint mechanism. Decolonial project concepts and meaningful stakeholder participation are expected. The programme has run annual calls since 2020. BMUV allocates approximately EUR 15 million per year to fund projects globally, managed through ZUG with GIZ cooperation. Projects contribute to the global plastics treaty process and the UN Ocean Decade.

Historical Context

Programme established under BMUV as 'Marine Debris Framework – Regional hubs around the globe' (Marine:DeFRAG). Annual calls since 2020 (Call 2020, 2021, 2022, 2025 all closed). The BMUV commits approximately EUR 15 million annually to fund projects against marine litter.

Why it was added

round5-q6-marine-litter-de: ZUG Grant Programme Marine Litter

Sources

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