Applications Invited for ORRAA UK Blue Planet Fund Grant

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About the Organization

ORRAA is a multi-sector collaboration connecting the international finance and insurance sectors, governments, non-profits, and stakeholders from the Global South to pioneer finance products that incentivise investment into coastal and ocean Nature-based Solutions. ORRAA’s goal, by 2030 is to activate at least $500million of investment into this space, and in so doing, help build the resilience of at least 250 million climate vulnerable coastal people.

About the Grant

The UK’s £500 million Blue Planet Fund supports developing countries to protect the marine environment and reduce poverty. Its objectives are in line with the UK’s focus on protecting nature and tackling climate change in an integrated way and seeks ambitious outcomes in four interlinked areas: biodiversity, climate change, marine pollution, and sustainable seafood.

This latest Call for Proposals – financed through the UK’s Blue Planet Fund – is part of ORRAA’s continuing mission to catalyse the investment of at least USD$500 million into coastal and marine natural capital through the development and deployment of financial products that aim to build the resilience of 250 million climate vulnerable coastal people, by 2030.

The Call is looking to back pioneering innovations, with up to USD$500,000 in support to nurture and scale the development of community-led finance and insurance products that build coastal and ocean resilience.

Prospective projects can apply for either a Pilot or Project grant, depending on the level of development of their project.

Grant Type	Description	Funding Amount	Implementation Timeline
Pilot grant	Tailored for organisations to test and pilot innovative solutions.	Between US$50,000 – US$150,000	Up to 24 months
Project grant	Tailored for organisations to pilot innovative solutions and scale up and replicate proven ideas in new contexts.	Between USD$150,000 – USD$500,000	Up to 24 months

 

Projects applying for support need to either: 

 

• Pioneer innovative and scalable finance and insurance products that build resilience and protect and/or regenerate valuable coastal and ocean natural assets, while delivering a return on investment
• Accelerate research and modelling on ocean risk and resilience to inform financial innovation as well as private and public sector policy action
• Inform, advance, and drive public and private policy commitments and action that value nature, build coastal resilience, reduce ocean risk, and accelerate the delivery of the Sustainable Development Goals and the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework

In addition, projects must:

• Promote the development of ocean and coastal Nature-based Solutions (NbS), habitat protection practices and sustainable management, support climate change adaptation and/or mitigation, or mitigate risk multipliers like overfishing and pollution
• Align with the priorities and interests of local communities
• Deliver enhanced economic, social, and cultural resilience for climate vulnerable coastal communities
• Improve marine biodiversity, support either net zero or climate positive outcomes, and not result in negative impacts on communities or the ecosystems they are designed in which to build resilience

Geographic Focus: 

Projects should either be located or deployed in coastal countries that are Official Development Assistance (ODA), which do not conflict with applicable individual and consolidated sanctions set out by the United States. Special consideration will be given to projects located or deployed in Small Island Developing States (SIDS) and Coastal Least Developed Countries (LDCs).

Delivery Partners: 

To ensure projects are community-led and driven by local partners, projects must include organisations from the Global South as lead or supporting partners and should demonstrate how they will build stakeholder engagement to advance their objectives. While we strongly encourage private sector participation as supporting partners, a project cannot be led by a private sector organisation.

Environmental and Social Impact: 

Projects must ensure they are underpinned by gender equity and human rights, and support coastal communities in reducing their exposure or vulnerability to ocean risks by increasing their ability to build resilience in the face of uncertainty. 

Projects should accelerate the delivery of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), in particular, SDG14 (Life below Water), and should be directly relevant to at least three additional SDGs.  

How to Apply

The deadline for applications is midnight (BST) Sunday 2 July 2023.

Funded projects are expected to be launched by the end of 2023.

Submit Proposal

For more information please check the Link

Tags Environment and Sustainability Innovations and Technology Others