OCEAN Grant Programme UK - Marine Community Grants

Enriched International · Found: 2026-03-10 22:14

UK Blue Planet Fund OCEAN grants for marine protection and poverty reduction in developing countries

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

Funding Details

Funder

UK FCDO / Defra (Blue Planet Fund)

Funding Goal

Support lasting change to the marine environment and coastal communities by funding local solutions to ocean health challenges through civil society organisations in developing countries

Funding Amount

Community grants up to £250,000 (for local orgs with income <£1M). Partnership grants £500,000–£3M (for medium-large orgs partnering with local orgs). Total programme: up to £60M from 2024–2029. (up to 3.000.000 €)

Deadline

2026-Q2 (periodic)

How to Apply

Annual rounds via Flexi-Grant portal (ocean.flexigrant.com). Community grants: two-stage (concept note + detailed application). Partnership grants: detailed application + interview. Round 2 closed March 2025. Round 3 expected 2026. Sign up mailing list at oceangrants.org.uk. Contact: helpdesk@oceangrants.org.uk.

Target Region

ODA-eligible coastal countries: South/Southeast Asia (Indonesia, Vietnam, India), West Africa (Ghana), East Africa (Kenya, Tanzania), Latin America, Caribbean SIDS, Pacific SIDS

Contact

helpdesk@oceangrants.org.uk | applications@oceangrants.org.uk | oceangrants.org.uk

Last Checked

2026-03-14 21:50

Application Checklist

Eligibility

• Must be CSO/NGO delivering projects in ODA-eligible countries
• Community grants: annual income under £1M required
• Partnership grants: must partner with locally-led organisations in-country

Project Scope

• Project must address marine pollution, biodiversity, climate, or sustainable seafood
• Must demonstrate poverty reduction outcomes for coastal communities
• GEDSI (gender/disability/social inclusion) elements strongly valued

Required Documents

• Apply via Flexi-Grant portal: ocean.flexigrant.com
• Sign up to mailing list to be notified when Round 3 opens

Constraints

• Not open for Danish org as lead — can partner with in-country CSO

Summary

The Ocean Community Empowerment and Nature (OCEAN) Grants Programme is the competitive grants scheme of the UK Blue Planet Fund (BPF), a £500 million ODA initiative jointly managed by FCDO and Defra. The OCEAN programme has an investment of up to £60 million from 2024 to 2029, disbursed through annual rounds. The programme addresses four integrated themes: marine biodiversity, climate change, marine pollution (including plastic waste and ghost gear), and sustainable seafood. Projects must demonstrate poverty reduction outcomes in coastal communities alongside environmental impact. GEDSI (gender equality, disability and social inclusion) considerations are explicitly valued. Two funding pathways exist: Community Grants of up to £250,000 for small-to-medium local in-country organisations (annual income under £1 million), and Partnership Grants of £500,000 to £3 million for larger organisations that can partner with locally-led organisations and deliver at scale. The programme covers six priority regions: South and Southeast Asia, West Africa, East Africa, Latin America, Caribbean SIDS, and Pacific SIDS. Applications are submitted via the Flexi-Grant portal. Round 1 opened February 2024, Round 2 opened January 2025 (closed March 2025). Round 3 is expected in 2026. The programme runs until 2029. Contact: helpdesk@oceangrants.org.uk.

Historical Context

Annual rounds since 2024. Round 1: opened February 2024. Round 2: opened January 2025, community grants closed February 17, partnership grants closed March 24 2025. Round 3 expected 2026. Programme runs to 2029.

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