Application Deadline:
15 November 2026
About Organisation
The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) is the UN’s leading development organisation, working with countries and communities to address poverty, inequality, climate change and other development challenges. Through its Ocean Innovation Challenge, UNDP supports innovative solutions that accelerate progress towards Sustainable Development Goal 14, which focuses on conserving and sustainably using oceans, seas and marine resources.
About the Grant
The fifth Ocean Innovation Challenge call seeks practical, market-ready innovations that can address urgent ocean and coastal challenges while generating measurable environmental, social and economic benefits. The programme focuses on three thematic areas: marine pollution and plastics reduction, marine and coastal ecosystem restoration, and sustainable blue economy development. Selected innovators can receive financial support through a UNDP deliverable-based contract, together with technical mentoring, project-management assistance, incubation, investment-readiness support and opportunities to connect with investors and development partners. Priority is given to solutions that benefit vulnerable coastal communities, women and young people, with preference for women-led and youth-led innovations.
Who can Apply?
The call invites eligible private-sector organisations and innovators from around the world with solutions that are sufficiently developed for implementation and have the potential to scale. Proposed innovations must directly benefit at least one of the five priority countries: Bangladesh, Indonesia, the Philippines, Thailand or Viet Nam. Organisations should demonstrate the practical feasibility of their solution, its potential environmental and social impact, and its relevance to the selected thematic area. Applicants based in India should note that India is not among the five named beneficiary countries; an Indian applicant would therefore need to propose a solution that directly benefits one or more of the listed countries and meet all other eligibility requirements.
How to Apply?
Interested applicants should visit the official Ocean Innovation Challenge website and select the fifth call for proposals. Read the call guidelines and frequently asked questions carefully before preparing the submission. Applications should explain the innovation, implementation plan, target communities, expected outcomes, scalability and contribution to ocean sustainability. The application must be submitted through the official online process before the closing date.
Application Deadline
The application deadline is 15 November 2026
Last Date To Apply
For more information, please visit the grant website here.
