Call for Proposals: The Commonwealth Blue Charter Incubator Round II

Application Deadline:  11 December 2026, 23:59 GMT (UTC+0)  

Applications are now open for the Commonwealth Blue Charter Incubator Round II. The Commonwealth Blue Charter Incubator provides grants of up to £50,000 to support country-led projects that help Commonwealth countries tackle pressing ocean challenges while advancing national priorities. 

Launched at the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in June 2022, the Incubator supports nationally owned ocean action while encouraging partnerships between governments and NGOs, academic and research institutions, community organisations and the private sector. 

All 56 Commonwealth member countries are eligible to apply through a common application and assessment process. While dedicated funding is available for projects in South Asia, Pacific SIDS and the Caribbean, countries outside these regions are equally welcome to apply and will be considered for funding through the Incubator. 

Requirements

• The lead applicant must be a legally established national or sub-national government entity, such as a ministry, department, agency or other public body with formal government status. 
• Non-governmental, technical and implementation partnerships are strongly encouraged.
• All 56 Commonwealth Member Countries   
• Each country may submit up to 2 project applications per funding round.  
  

Eligible Funded Projects

Eligible projects may include, but are not limited to:

• Pilot, demonstration and proof-of-concept projects
• Feasibility studies and technical or economic assessments
• Technical training, capacity building and institutional strengthening
• Projects that strengthen access to finance or develop investment-ready project pipelines
• Research, assessments, studies and data collection
• Policy, strategy, planning and regulatory development
• Development, testing or implementation of practical tools, technologies and approaches
• Implementation of existing national ocean policies, strategies or action plans
• Community engagement, stakeholder participation and awareness activities
• Replication, adaptation, scale-up or improvement of existing initiatives
• Other activities that directly contribute to the goals of the Apia Commonwealth Ocean
  Declaration.

Priority areas  

Projects should contribute to the implementation of the Apia Commonwealth Ocean Declaration. Proposals may address one or more of the following areas:  

• Reduce marine pollution  
  Prevent and reduce pollution from land- and sea-based sources.  
• Restore marine ecosystems  
  Protect and restore mangroves, coral reefs, seagrasses and other coastal and marine ecosystems.  
• Advance a sustainable blue economy  
  Develop inclusive, climate-resilient and investable blue economy approaches.  
• Strengthen sustainable fisheries  
  Improve fisheries governance, management, value chains and livelihoods.  
• Address the ocean–climate nexus  
  Support adaptation, mitigation, resilience, blue carbon and ocean-climate action.  

Project Financing

• Applicants must request between £20,000 and £50,000 in GBP. A grant cannot be divided into smaller grants per recipient to circumvent the £50,000 ceiling.
• Co-funding accounts for 10% of the total application score. Therefore, projects that present cofunding will score higher against this criterion. Co-funding means cash or in-kind resources from outside the Incubator grant that directly support project delivery. It may come from the lead
  government, project partners, donors or other funders.