London – The Commonwealth Secretariat and Prince Albert
II of Monaco Foundation today announced a new partnership to
accelerate ocean conservation for Commonwealth countries in
Asia and the Pacific.
The partnership brings together
scientists, political leaders, and economic and civil
society stakeholders to galvanise both skills and passion
for protecting the ocean.
This collaboration directly
advances the goals of the Apia Commonwealth Ocean
Declaration. The historic commitment was unanimously adopted
at the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in Samoa in
2024 and was a clarion call for the restoration, protection
and sustainable use of our ocean.
Commonwealth
Secretary-General, Hon Shirley Botchwey, said:
“This
strategic partnership demonstrates that we can bring
real-world benefits to people and planet when we unlock
opportunities together. The Prince Albert II of Monaco
Foundation will help us strengthen our support to member
countries while also deepening our collective investment in
ocean conservation.
“One-third of the world’s
ocean under national jurisdiction lies within the
Commonwealth. The need to restore, preserve and protect
marine and coastal environments has never been greater.
Advancing this work in Asia and the Pacific, regions already
deeply affected by sea-level rise, will create a ripple
effect across our other three regions.”
The
partnership will be implemented through the Commonwealth
Blue Charter Project Incubator.
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Prince Albert II of
Monaco Foundation Vice-Chairman and CEO Romain Ciarlet,
stated:
“The health of our ocean depends on our
ability to imagine and build solutions together. The
Foundation is proud to support the Commonwealth Blue Charter
Incubator, an initiative that helps accelerate the
development of impactful projects dedicated to marine
protection and sustainable maritime development.
By
fostering collaboration and innovation among governments,
partners and conservation leaders, this incubator plays a
key role in advancing solutions that protect and restore
marine ecosystems while ensuring a viable future for all. A
commitment that reflects the Foundation’s mission to
support collective efforts that drive meaningful and lasting
progress for the protection of our global ocean while
accelerating a regenerative blue economy
transition.”
The Commonwealth Blue Charter
Incubator
Through grants of up to £50,000, the
Incubator helps Commonwealth countries to develop bold,
early-stage ocean conservation projects across five critical
priority areas: reducing marine pollution, ecosystem
restoration, the blue economy, sustainable fisheries, and
the ocean-climate nexus — all in direct alignment with the
Apia Commonwealth Ocean Declaration.
Ocean
conservation projects throughout the Commonwealth will be
financed by the Incubator, with the Prince Albert II of
Monaco Foundation specifically targeting its support to
projects in Asia and the Pacific.
A central pillar of
the initiative is unlocking investment beyond the grant
itself, while placing the voices of Indigenous Peoples and
local communities (IPLCs), youth, and gender-marginalised
communities at the heart of ocean governance. Projects are
expected to forge powerful on-the-ground partnerships
between local communities, civil society organisations, and
Commonwealth governments.
The Commonwealth Blue
Charter Incubator builds on the success of grants disbursed
that financed ocean conservation projects across the Africa,
Asia, the Caribbean and Americas, and the Pacific.
The
next call for Incubator grants will open in the coming
quarter, inviting applications from governments across the
Commonwealth.
Notes:
About the Prince Albert II
of Monaco Foundation:
The Prince Albert II of Monaco
Foundation is a global non-profit organisation committed to
progressing Planetary Health for present and future
generations. Founded by HSH Prince Albert II of Monaco in
2006, the Foundation exists to promote a new relationship
with nature and the innovations that can impact this change.
The Foundation aims to empower impactful solutions for our
planet’s biodiversity, climate, ocean and water resources.
It works in three main geographical areas: the Mediterranean
Basin, the Polar Regions and the Least developed
countries.
About the Commonwealth
Secretariat:
The Commonwealth is a voluntary
association of 56 independent and equal sovereign states.
Our combined population is 2.7 billion, of which more than
60 per cent is aged 29 or under.
The Commonwealth
spans the globe and includes both advanced economies and
developing countries. Thirty-three of our members are small
states, many of which are island nations.
The
Commonwealth Secretariat supports member countries to build
democratic and inclusive institutions, strengthen governance
and promote justice and human rights. Our work helps to grow
economies and boost trade, deliver national resilience,
empower young people, and address threats such as climate
change, debt and inequality.
Member countries are
supported by a network of more than 80 intergovernmental,
civil society, cultural and professional
organisations.
