Blue Action Fund’s overall goal is to reduce the dramatic loss of marine biodiversity and improve incomes of coastal fishing communities. It is dedicated to supporting marine protected areas (MPAs) and the most sensitive coastal waters of Africa, Latin America and Asia/Pacific and focuses on projects with measurable outcomes in two areas:

• Newly established or better managed MPAs or networks of MPAs, as well as Other Effective Area-based Conservation Measures (OECMs) which result in conservation of biodiversity;
• Enhanced livelihood conditions in coastal communities.

Blue Action Fund operates through a programme of providing grants to NGOs that typically work in partnerships with various local actors. Its grant-awarding process is based on calls for proposals only.

Blue Action Fund’s grant-eligibility requirements concern both the project and its implementation. Applicants should consider carefully whether they fulfil these requirements and have the capacity to offer and implement projects of this nature. For full details, please refer to our Grant Procedures Manual.

Blue Action Fund’s grant portfolio consists of projects that seek to establish, enlarge or better manage MPAs of regional importance and promote sustainable livelihoods in coastal communities.

The implementation of the projects is based predominantly on activities that support:

Blue Action Fund does not accept unsolicited proposals. We award our grants based on open calls for proposals only (see below). Each call for proposals may set a strategic and geographic focus that will need to be considered in addition to the general requirements. Please carefully consult the Grant Programme documents to see if your project concept will meet all requirements and will measurably contribute to the prescribed indicators.

Blue Action Fund is currently accepting Grant Applications for projects on Mangroves, Blue Carbon Markets, and 30×30 in Asia. The deadline for submission is 16 October 2026. For more information, please read the call for proposals here and the FAQs here.

This table lists all the calls for proposals that Blue Action Fund has published to date. Please visit the Grant Programme section for more information on the grants awarded and their impact.