Opportunities

Grants, VC funds, accelerators, and competitions for African entrepreneurs.

MsingiLab Librarian

What are you looking for today?

Blue Action Fund | MsingiLab

Back to Opportunities

FoundationGrantDFIClosed

Blue Action Fund

EUR 1M-4M over 3-5 years

RollingWebsiteEst. 2016

GrantMarine ConservationMarine Protected AreasSustainable LivelihoodsCoastal CommunitiesOcean BiodiversityProject Implementation

Moderate Gender LensStrong Climate Lens

Apply Now

International grant fund supporting marine conservation projects that establish, enlarge, or better manage marine protected areas and promote sustainable livelihoods in coastal communities of developing countries. Grants range from EUR 1-4M over 3-5 years.

What You Get

Grant Funding

EUR 1-4M over 3-5 years for marine conservation and coastal livelihood projects

Technical Support

Project monitoring and evaluation support from Blue Action Fund team

Network

Connection to global marine conservation community and donor network

How to Apply

Applications accepted exclusively through periodic open Calls for Proposals published on blueactionfund.org. Subscribe to funding alerts on the website to be notified when new calls open. Applicants must submit a full proposal demonstrating conservation impact, community livelihood benefits, and 25%+ match funding commitment.

Geographic Focus

Africa (coastal), Latin America, Asia/Pacific

Decision Timeline

Varies by Call for Proposals cycle

Eligibility

International or regional NGO with proven experience in coastal and marine conservation
Consortia of NGOs led by international/regional NGOs including national or local implementing partners are welcome
Must provide 25% or more of total project costs as match funding
Project must have approval from appropriate authority in the country/region
Demonstrated capacity to manage multi-million euro conservation projects

Traction Required

Proven track record in coastal and marine conservation, established relationships with government authorities in target regions, demonstrated ability to manage large-scale conservation projects

Team Requirements

Experienced conservation team with marine/coastal expertise, local implementing partners, project management capacity for multi-year EUR 1-4M grants

Selection Criteria

Conservation impact and biodiversity outcomes
Community livelihood benefits
Organizational capacity and track record
Match funding commitment (minimum 25%)
Government approval and stakeholder support
Sustainability and long-term viability

Focus Areas

Marine Protected Areas

Establishing, enlarging, or improving management of marine protected areas in developing countries

Sustainable Coastal Livelihoods

Promoting sustainable economic activities for coastal communities that reduce pressure on marine ecosystems

Ocean Biodiversity

Safeguarding marine biodiversity in the most sensitive coastal waters of Africa, Latin America, and Asia/Pacific

What They Look For

Experienced international/regional conservation NGOs proposing projects that combine marine protected area establishment or management improvement with sustainable coastal livelihood development. Strong emphasis on biodiversity outcomes, community benefits, and long-term sustainability. Projects must be in developing countries with sensitive coastal ecosystems.

Post-Investment Support

Project monitoring, evaluation support, and connection to donor network

Red Flags to Watch

Currently between funding cycles — no open call as of April 2026; Requires 25% match funding which can be barrier for smaller organizations; Only NGOs eligible — not suitable for startups or for-profit enterprises; Application only through periodic Calls for Proposals, not rolling

Insider Tip

Subscribe to alerts on blueactionfund.org to be notified of new Calls for Proposals. Build consortium partnerships with international NGOs if you are a national/local organization. Prepare match funding documentation in advance as the 25% requirement is a hard criterion. Focus proposals on both biodiversity outcomes AND community livelihood benefits — both are equally important.

2016

Active Since

Yes

Deploying

Opportunities

Blue Action Fund

What You Get

Application Details

Fit Criteria