Deadline: 09-Apr-22
The Ocean Innovation Challenge (OIC) has launched Call for Proposals for Marine Protected Areas (MPAs), Area-Based ,Management and the Blue Economy.
The goal of the OIC is to accelerate progress on SDG14 by catalysing replicable and scalable innovations – including technical, policy, economic and financial – that can be sustained and contribute directly to delivery of one or more SDG14 targets.
The OIC is issuing a series of ‘Ocean Challenges’ or Requests for Proposals, each focused on a specific SDG14 target. Initial concepts may be submitted by public or private entities, including governments, private companies (including start-ups), NGO/CSO, United Nations entities, academic institutions, and intergovernmental organizations.
Themes
- Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) help local economies by preserving existing jobs and creating new ones such as ecotourism. And, by promoting sustainable use of harvested marine resources, MPAs can ensure long-term food security and improved economic opportunity for local populations.
- Area-based management approaches such as Marine Spatial Planning, Integrated Coastal Management, and the Large Marine Ecosystems (LME) approach have all shown promise in achieving these objectives.
- The Blue Economy concept is increasingly recognized as an opportunity for coastal communities and nations to realize enhanced social and economic benefits from the sustainable utilization of their ocean and coastal resources. From Southeast Asia to most of the world’s Small Island Developing States (SIDS), the blue economy is often already a significant component of national economic activity. Towards realizing their blue economy ambitions, many countries are now preparing national blue economy assessments/diagnostics, strategies and plans. A key challenge to enhancing a country’s blue economy is the identification of new and additional areas of economic activity that are environmentally and socially sustainable and have viable business models that can attract private investment.
Targets
The third OIC Challenge seeks innovative solutions that address one or more of the following SDG 14 targets:
- By 2025, prevent and significantly reduce marine pollution of all kinds, in particular from land-based activities, including marine debris and nutrient pollution.
- Protected and restore ecosyste by 2020, sustainably manage and protect marine coastal ecosystems to avoid significant adverse impacts including by strengthening their resilience and take action for their restoration in order to achieve healthy and productive oceans
- Conserve Costal and marine areasby 2025 conserve at least ten percent of coastal and marine areas, consistent with national and international law and based on the best available scientific information
- Increase the economic benefits from sustainable use of marine resources by 2030, increase the economic benefits to small island developing states and least developed countries from the sustainable use of marine resources, including through sustainable management of fisheries, aquaculture and tourism.
Funding Information
Innovators can request from 50,000 USD to 250,000 USD and project time frames can range from one to two years.
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 proposals should include a special focus on gender mainstreaming, livelihood creation, and poverty reduction. Concepts passing initial review and meeting OIC criteria will be invited to submit full proposals for further internal and external (“peer”) review and consideration.
For more information, visit https://www.oceaninnovationchallenge.org/call-for-innovations/3rdcall
