About the Blue Charter Incubator 

Addressing major ocean challenges and building a stronger pipeline for sustainable blue economies requires ambitious, government-led projects that can develop and test solutions, strengthen capacity and generate evidence for future action and investment. 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. 

Building on Round I 

Round I selected eight projects from Barbados, Canada, Fiji, Kiribati, Nigeria, Seychelles and two from Sri Lanka. These projects demonstrated how relatively small catalytic grants can help governments and delivery partners test solutions, strengthen evidence and capacity, and lay the groundwork for future investment. 

Explore the published Round I case studies

• Canada - GEM-in-a-Box (Global Eutrophication Monitoring)
• Barbados - How Barbados is turning the tide on plastic pollution
• Nigeria - Sustainable mangrove management in Nigeria: Challenges and future directions
• Seychelles - Rivers as a source of plastic pollution and marine litter in Seychelles

Funding and Partnerships  

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New partnerships with the Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation and CAF – Development Bank of Latin America and the Caribbean, alongside continued support from the Commonwealth Secretariat, have expanded the scope of the Incubator from 8 projects in Round I to an expected 10–15 projects in Round II. The new partnerships also enable dedicated funding windows, with support focused on South Asia, Pacific Small Island Developing States (SIDS), and the Caribbean. 

Round II is supported by:  

• Commonwealth Fund for Technical Cooperation: Provides core support for technical assistance and capacity building across the Commonwealth. 
• Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation: Provides dedicated support for projects in South Asia and Pacific SIDS. 
• CAF – Development Bank of Latin America and the Caribbean: Provides dedicated support for projects in the Commonwealth Caribbean. 

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. 

Round II at a glance 

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.  

Apply for the Blue Charter Incubator – Round II 

Ready to apply? Please use the links below to access the Round II Application Form and the supporting guidance and resources you will need to prepare your application. 

Application 

• Document

  Grant Application Form in Word (136.42 KB)

  To draft your responses before completing the online form 
   

• Submit your Round II Application online via the link below, before 11 December 2026, 23:59 GMT (UTC+0) 

  Blue Charter Incubator Round II - Grant Application Form

Supporting Guidance and Resources  

• Document

  Application Guidelines & Assessment Criteria (296.12 KB)

   Guidance on the application process and how proposals will be assessed 

• Document

  Frequently Asked Questions (307.49 KB)

  Answers to common questions about the Incubator and the application process 

• Document

  Apia Commonwealth Ocean Declaration (2.87 MB)

  The Commonwealth framework underpinning the Blue Charter Incubator’s ocean priorities 

Stay updated  

To support your application, we’ll be hosting application clinics and FAQ sessions and sharing useful guidance, updates and other Blue Charter news and opportunities. 

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