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Commonwealth Blue Charter Incubator — Round II Call for Proposals 2026

Commonwealth Secretariat — Commonwealth Fund for Technical Cooperation, Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation and CAF – Development Bank of Latin America and the Caribbean

The Commonwealth Secretariat has opened Round II of the Commonwealth Blue Charter Incubator, offering grants of £20,000–£50,000 for government-led projects addressing major ocean challenges across all 56 Commonwealth member countries. The programme supports practical initiatives in marine pollution reduction, marine ecosystem restoration, sustainable fisheries, the sustainable blue economy and ocean-climate resilience. Projects may run for 6–18 months and can involve partnerships with NGOs, community organisations, academic institutions and private-sector actors. Approximately 10–15 projects are expected to be selected.

Who can apply

  • National government ministries in Commonwealth member countries
  • National government departments
  • Legally established national government agencies
  • Sub-national government authorities with formal legal status
  • Municipal and local government bodies with formal government status
  • Other legally established public bodies recognised as government entities
  • Government entities proposing national ocean initiatives
  • Government entities proposing sub-national ocean initiatives
  • Government entities leading eligible regional or multi-country projects
  • Non-governmental organisations participating as implementation partners
  • Community-based organisations participating as project partners
  • Academic and research institutions participating as technical partners
  • Private-sector organisations participating as implementation or technical partners
  • Consortia led by one eligible Commonwealth government entity

Focus areas

  • Marine pollution prevention and reduction
  • Plastic pollution and marine litter
  • Coastal and marine ecosystem restoration
  • Mangrove conservation and restoration
  • Coral reef protection and restoration
  • Seagrass ecosystem protection
  • Marine biodiversity conservation
  • Sustainable blue economy development
  • Inclusive blue economy investment
  • Sustainable fisheries
  • Fisheries governance and management
  • Small-scale fishing livelihoods
  • Sustainable fisheries value chains
  • Ocean-climate resilience
  • Coastal climate adaptation
  • Blue carbon
  • Climate change mitigation
  • Ocean-based nature-based solutions
  • Marine ecosystem monitoring
  • Ocean governance
  • Marine policy and regulatory development
  • Ocean-related institutional capacity strengthening
  • Coastal community resilience
  • Community participation in ocean conservation
  • Marine conservation technology and innovation
  • Ocean research and evidence generation
  • Investment-ready blue economy projects
  • Implementation of national ocean policies and action plans

Requirements

  • The lead applicant must be a legally established national or sub-national government entity of a Commonwealth member country.
  • A non-governmental organisation cannot be the lead applicant.
  • Only one government entity may serve as the contractual lead and receive and manage the grant under the standard funding arrangements.
  • Each Commonwealth member country may submit a maximum of two project applications under this round.
  • Each lead government entity may submit only one project proposal.
  • The participating Commonwealth country must meet applicable Commonwealth membership obligations.
  • The proposed project must directly contribute to the goals of the Apia Commonwealth Ocean Declaration.
  • Applicants must select no more than two priority themes that best align with the proposed project.
  • The proposal must demonstrate alignment with relevant national or sub-national government priorities.
  • The requested grant must be between £20,000 and £50,000.
  • Projects must last between six and 18 months.
  • The proposed project start date must be from the third quarter of 2027.
  • Applicants must identify an official government focal point.
  • The lead government entity must demonstrate responsibility for project management, oversight and compliance.
  • Partnerships with NGOs, academic institutions, community organisations and private-sector actors are encouraged but are not mandatory.
  • Applicants may name up to three principal implementation partners.
  • Every named partner must provide written confirmation of its participation and proposed role.
  • Regional and multi-country proposals are eligible, provided the majority of participating countries are Commonwealth member countries.
  • Applicants must provide evidence confirming government endorsement and commitment to sign the grant agreement if selected.
  • Applicants must provide a concise project team overview.
  • An indicative project budget is mandatory at the initial application stage.
  • Co-funding is not mandatory, but credible cash and in-kind contributions strengthen the application.
  • Evidence must be provided for any confirmed co-funding.
  • Government salaries and normal government operational costs cannot be charged to the grant.
  • Project expenses must be additional, reasonable, necessary and directly related to approved activities.
  • Projects must demonstrate realistic objectives, measurable outputs, expected outcomes and credible sustainability arrangements.
  • Selected projects must comply with the Commonwealth Secretariat Code of Ethics.
  • Applications must be submitted using the official online application form.

Application steps

  • Visit the official Commonwealth Blue Charter Incubator Round II webpage.
  • Download and review the Application Guidelines and Assessment Criteria.
  • Read the official Frequently Asked Questions.
  • Download the Word version of the Grant Application Form for preparation.
  • Confirm that the lead applicant is a legally established national or sub-national government entity.
  • Confirm that the proposed project aligns with the Apia Commonwealth Ocean Declaration.
  • Select up to two relevant ocean priority themes.
  • Identify the project's alignment with national or sub-national government policies and priorities.
  • Develop a clear project concept addressing an identified ocean challenge.
  • Identify and confirm relevant implementation partners where applicable.
  • Obtain written confirmation of participation from each named partner.
  • Prepare the project executive summary, problem statement, implementation approach, management arrangements and expected results.
  • Identify up to five key project deliverables.
  • Prepare a realistic implementation period of 6–18 months beginning no earlier than Q3 2027.
  • Prepare an indicative budget requesting between £20,000 and £50,000.
  • Identify any cash or in-kind co-funding and provide evidence for confirmed contributions.
  • Prepare the official government endorsement letter.
  • Prepare a concise overview of the project team and relevant technical experience.
  • Complete the required declarations and confirm agreement in principle with the Commonwealth Secretariat Code of Ethics.
  • Review and internally approve all application answers using the Word template before opening the online form.
  • Access the official SurveyMonkey application portal.
  • Complete all five sections of the online Grant Application Form.
  • Upload the required supporting documentation.
  • Submit the completed application by 11 December 2026 at 23:59 GMT.
  • Applicants advancing beyond the initial eligibility stage may be requested to submit a detailed budget, work plan and due-diligence documentation.
Global Grants Hub strategic note

This is a valuable opportunity for Commonwealth governments seeking catalytic funding to test, implement or strengthen practical ocean conservation and sustainable blue economy initiatives. Non-governmental organisations, community groups, universities and private-sector institutions should note that they cannot apply independently but may contribute significantly as technical or implementation partners under an eligible government lead. Strong proposals should demonstrate clear alignment with national priorities and the Apia Commonwealth Ocean Declaration, realistic implementation arrangements, meaningful stakeholder participation and measurable environmental or socioeconomic benefits. Although co-funding is not mandatory, credible cash or in-kind contributions can improve competitiveness. Applicants should prepare all documents and obtain internal approvals before opening the online form because the application cannot be saved and resumed later.

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