2nd October, 2026
The Commonwealth Secretariat, in
partnership with the Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation
and CAF – Development Bank of Latin America and the
Caribbean, has launched the second round of the Commonwealth
Blue Charter Incubator.
This launch opens the call
for proposals to access multiple grants of up to
£50,000 to support 10 to 15 innovative, country-led
projects that will help Commonwealth countries tackle
pressing ocean challenges while advancing national
priorities.
The Commonwealth Secretary-General, Hon
Shirley Botchwey, welcomed the Incubator’s expanding
partnerships. She said:
“The Commonwealth Blue
Charter Incubator has shown what is possible when
governments have the opportunity and resources to turn bold
ocean ideas into action.
Advertisement – scroll to continue reading
“With new partners joining
us to advance sustainable ocean development and blue
finance, Round II will support even more projects and
strengthen the pipeline of initiatives needed to build a
resilient and sustainable blue economy.”
The
Commonwealth Secretariat and the Prince Albert II of Monaco
Foundation launched
a major ocean protection alliance in March. Romain
Ciarlet, Vice President and CEO of the Prince Albert II of
Monaco Foundation, welcomed the next step in this
partnership:
“The transition towards a healthier and
more sustainable ocean requires not only ambitious ideas,
but the capacity to turn them into practical action. Through
the Commonwealth Blue Charter Incubator, promising
initiatives can be developed and strengthened, creating
pathways for innovation to respond to concrete challenges
facing the ocean and coastal communities.
“As this
second round opens, the Prince Albert II of Monaco
Foundation is pleased to continue supporting this approach,
which brings together expertise, local knowledge and
innovation to help promising projects move
forward.”
CAF Executive President Sergio
Díaz-Granados said the Incubator partnership builds on a
Memorandum of Understanding signed in 2024 to advance
sustainable development and climate resilience in Caribbean
SIDS.
“For Caribbean small island states, the ocean
is essential to development. It supports jobs and
livelihoods, bolsters economies and is central to the
response to climate change.
“The Commonwealth Blue
Charter Incubator gives governments the resources to test
practical ideas and subsequently, scale successful projects.
CAF is pleased to join forces with the Commonwealth
Secretariat and the Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation to
expand the participation of Caribbean countries in the Blue
Charter Incubator as we all work to protect and ensure
sustainable use of the ocean.”
The Commonwealth
Blue Charter Incubator
The Incubator focuses on five
critical areas: marine pollution, ecosystem restoration,
sustainable fisheries, the blue economy, and the
ocean-climate nexus, directly supporting implementation of
the Apia
Commonwealth Ocean Declaration.
A success story
from the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) in
2022, the Incubator supports ambitious projects that bring
together governmental and non-governmental partners to
deliver lasting ocean impact.
Ahead of CHOGM 2026 in
St John’s, Antigua and Barbuda, in November, Round II will
support Commonwealth member countries to surpass the
achievements from Round I, which supported eight projects
across Africa, Asia, the Caribbean, the Americas and the
Pacific.
Applications now open
Applications
must be submitted through the online application form by
11 December 2026 at 23:59 GMT,
UTC+0.
Commonwealth
Blue Charter Incubator: Round II | Commonwealth
https://thecommonwealth.org/commonwealth-blue-charter-incubator-round-ii
Notes:
The
Commonwealth is a voluntary association of 56 independent
and equal sovereign states. Our combined population is 2.7
billion people.
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.
About the Prince Albert II of Monaco
Foundation:
The Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation
is a global non-profit organisation committed to 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 CAF
– Development Bank of Latin America and the
Caribbean:
It is a development bank committed to
supporting the countries of Latin America and the Caribbean
and improving the quality of life in the region. Its actions
seek to promote sustainable development and regional
integration. The CAF serves the public and private sectors,
providing multiple products and services to a broad client
base of 25 member countries, private companies, and
financial
institutions.
