Do you work for a government ministry, department or agency in an African Commonwealth country on ocean, fisheries, coastal or environmental issues? The Commonwealth Secretariat has opened Round II of the Commonwealth Blue Charter Incubator, offering grants of £20,000 to £50,000 for government-led projects that tackle ocean challenges. Between 10 and 15 projects will be funded. Applications close on 11 December 2026 at 23:59 GMT.
Who leads the application: Only a government entity can be the lead applicant, such as a ministry, department, agency or other public body. NGOs, universities, research institutes, community groups and businesses can’t apply on their own, but they’re strongly encouraged to join as partners. If you’re in one of these organisations, now is the time to approach the relevant ministry in your country.
Grant at a Glance
- Organiser: Commonwealth Secretariat (Commonwealth Blue Charter)
- Supported by: Commonwealth Fund for Technical Cooperation, Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation, and CAF – Development Bank of Latin America and the Caribbean
- Grant size: £20,000 to £50,000 per project
- Number of grants: 10–15 projects
- Project length: 6 to 18 months, starting from Q3 2027
- Eligible countries: All 56 Commonwealth member countries (up to two applications per country)
- Lead applicant: A national or sub-national government entity
- Deadline: Friday 11 December 2026, 23:59 GMT
What Is the Blue Charter Incubator?
The Commonwealth Blue Charter is an agreement among Commonwealth countries to work together on ocean issues. The Incubator, launched at the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in 2022, gives small “catalytic” grants to help governments test solutions, build skills and gather evidence that can attract bigger investment later.
In Round I, eight projects were funded, including one in Nigeria on sustainable mangrove management and one in Seychelles on river-borne plastic pollution. New funding partners have expanded Round II to 10–15 projects. There are dedicated funding windows for South Asia, the Pacific and the Caribbean, but countries in other regions, including Africa, are equally welcome.
Eligible African Countries
All African Commonwealth members can apply, including:
- West Africa: Nigeria, Ghana, Sierra Leone, The Gambia, Cameroon, Togo
- East Africa: Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, Rwanda
- Southern Africa: South Africa, Namibia, Botswana, Mozambique, Malawi, Zambia, Lesotho, Eswatini
- Gabon
- Indian Ocean islands: Mauritius, Seychelles
Coastal and island states have the most obvious projects, but landlocked countries can also apply if their work links to the ocean priorities, for example through river pollution or fisheries.
Priority Areas
Projects must support the Apia Commonwealth Ocean Declaration and focus on no more than two of these themes:
- Reduce marine pollution from land- and sea-based sources, such as plastics and waste
- Restore marine ecosystems, such as mangroves, coral reefs, seagrasses and coastal habitats
- Advance a sustainable blue economy that is inclusive, climate-resilient and attractive to investors
- Strengthen sustainable fisheries, including governance, management, value chains and livelihoods
- Address the ocean–climate link, including adaptation, mitigation, resilience and blue carbon
Benefits
- Grant funding of £20,000–£50,000 for a 6–18 month project
- Support to test ocean solutions and build national capacity
- Evidence and visibility that can unlock larger investment later
- Connection to the Commonwealth Blue Charter network of countries and experts
- Funding for partnerships between government, civil society, researchers and business
Eligibility
- The lead applicant is a legally established national or sub-national government entity of a Commonwealth member country.
- Each lead entity may submit only one proposal, and each country up to two.
- The application names a government focal point.
- The project lasts 6 to 18 months and starts from Q3 2027.
- The request is between £20,000 and £50,000.
- The country must be up to date with its Commonwealth membership contributions.
- For multi-country projects, most partner countries must be Commonwealth members.
Major capital purchases, such as vehicles, aren’t normally funded unless specifically justified.
Required Documents
- The completed online Grant Application Form, which has five sections
- A government endorsement letter confirming the lead entity’s role and its commitment to sign the grant agreement if selected
- Written evidence for each partner, such as a letter of intent, letter of support or memorandum of understanding
- An indicative budget
- Evidence of any co-funding (cash or in-kind)
Shortlisted applicants are later asked for a detailed budget, work plan and due-diligence documents.
How Applications Are Scored
Assessors score applications out of 100, looking at:
- problem definition and project approach
- alignment with the Ocean Declaration and national priorities
- strength of partnerships
- project management and team
- results and monitoring, and risk management
- budget
- co-funding, worth 10% of the total score
Even modest in-kind contributions, such as staff time, office space or equipment, can raise your score.
Tips for a Strong Application
- Draft offline first. The online form can’t be saved and returned to later. Use the Word version to prepare and get internal approval for all your answers before submitting.
- Get the endorsement letter early. Government sign-off can take weeks.
- Pick one or two themes and connect them clearly to a named national policy or strategy.
- Show co-funding, even in-kind, and back it with evidence.
- Bring strong partners. Universities, NGOs and community groups add expertise and credibility.
- Be realistic. £50,000 over 18 months goes further on a focused pilot than on a broad national programme.
- Attend the Commonwealth’s application clinics and read the FAQs before you write.
How to Apply
- Read the Application Guidelines, Assessment Criteria and FAQs on the Commonwealth’s official page.
- Download the Word version of the application form and draft your answers.
- Collect the government endorsement letter, partner letters and co-funding evidence.
- Submit through the online Grant Application Form before 23:59 GMT on 11 December 2026.
For questions, email [email protected] with the subject line “Blue Charter Incubator – Application Query”.
Apply for the Commonwealth Blue Charter Incubator Round II
