2nd Call for Proposals for Sustainable Fisheries Challenge

Deadline: 09-May-21

The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and Ocean Innovation Challenge (OIC) has announce the second Call for Proposals, on sustainable fisheries and aquaculture focusing on SDG.

Recognizing the increasing urgency of addressing unsustainable fishing, the second OIC Challenge, seeks innovative solutions that address one or more of the following SDG 14 targets:

By 2020, end overfishing, IUU fishing and destructive fishing practices
By 2030, increase the economic benefits to SIDS and LDCs from the sustainable use of marine resources, including through sustainable management of fisheries (and) aquaculture
Provide access for small scale artisanal fishers to marine resources and markets

These targets call for ending overfishing and IUU fishing, increasing the economic benefits to SIDS and LDCs from marine resources, and enhancing small scale fishers access to fisheries resources and markets.

While by no means exhaustive, some examples of the types of innovations that could be considered include:

Satellite, vessel monitoring and other technologies that can help authorities to reduce and prevent illegal, unregulated and unreported fishing
Policy and regulatory reforms that strengthen the ownership and associated economic and social benefits to SIDS and LDCs from fisheries in their EEZs
Introduction of innovative economic instruments for sustainable fisheries (e.g. tradeable fishing permits)
Innovations (technology, regulatory, etc.) that enhance the access of small-scale fishers to fisheries resources and/or markets
Innovations that promote more sustainable fisheries supply chains (e.g. fisheries certification)
Innovations in sustainable aquaculture with high potential for replication and upscaling
Technological solutions that reduce fisheries by-catch or other destructive impacts of fishing gear
Innovations that strengthen the incorporation of ecosystem-based approaches to fisheries (e.g. ecosystem modeling)
Innovations that incorporate the actual and projected impacts of climate change into sustainable fisheries management

Eligibility Criteria

Governmental agencies, NGOs, private sector (including start-ups), academia, UN, and intergovernmental organizations are eligible to apply. Individuals are not eligible.
Project proposals must be implemented in and benefit stakeholders in developing countries but may be submitted by applicants in either developing or developed countries.
All applicant entities (private, NGO, etc.) should have an established legal basis in the country/ies in which they are based.

Criteria

The core eligibility criteria for the OIC include the following:

Eligible entity – these include governments, NGOs, private sector, academia, UN, and intergovernmental organizations. Individuals are not eligible (pass/fail criterion)
Technically feasible – is the project feasible technically and otherwise (politically, financially, etc.)?
Is the idea truly new and innovative? This can be achieved in either of two contexts: a. truly innovative, not attempted anywhere before, or b. bringing existing proven innovations from elsewhere to completely new geographies and contexts.
Is the project easily replicable and scalable, e.g., there do not appear to be significant barriers to replication and upscaling of the innovation once demonstrated and the proponent has a clear strategy for replication and upscaling.
Is the project potentially transformational, e.g., could its replication and upscaling transform a relevant ocean (or land-based) sector leading towards significant contributions to improving ocean health.
Does the idea create the potential/likelihood to contribute to poverty reduction, gender equity and/or livelihoods creation, e.g., could the ultimate beneficiaries include the poor and women who depend on healthy ocean ecosystems for their livelihoods, food security, etc.?
Local/Country Ownership and Coordination – does the project have strong local and country ownership and buy-in, by government, civil society and other stakeholders as relevant, such as linkages to national and sub-national development, ocean and biodiversity plans and strategies?
Stakeholder Engagement – has the project identified the appropriate target stakeholder groups and has a clear strategy to engage such stakeholders?
Project Management – Do the project management arrangements appear appropriate and sufficient to effectively deliver the project outputs and outcomes?