Building the Evidence Base for Sustainable and Resilient Financing Systems
Marine conservation across the Western Indian Ocean is expanding. Countries are strengthening Marine Protected Areas, supporting Locally Managed Marine Areas, and advancing ambitious blue economy strategies aligned with global biodiversity targets. Yet a persistent challenge remains- how to sustainably finance these systems over the long term.
Many initiatives continue to rely on fragmented, short-term, and donor-dependent funding. Revenue streams are often narrow, budgets fluctuate, and financing systems remain vulnerable to economic and geopolitical shocks. As conservation ambitions scale — particularly under 30×30 commitments — financing mechanisms must become more coordinated, diversified, resilient, and performance-linked.
To support this transition, stronger evidence is needed on financing gaps, revenue diversification, governance design, risk management, equity, and the relationship between financial stability and measurable conservation outcomes.
Through its Marine Research Grant (MARG) Programme, and in partnership with the Blue Nature Alliance (BNA), WIOMSA invites Early Career Ocean Professionals (ECOPs), as well as ongoing Master’s and PhD students, to submit applied, field-based research proposals that contribute to strengthening marine conservation finance systems in the Western Indian Ocean.
This thematic call focuses on generating actionable insights capable of informing national and regional financing frameworks.
Read the Full Call for Proposals
For detailed information on priority research themes, eligibility, grant support, the two-stage application process, and submission requirements, please read the full call for proposals. To apply, complete your submission using the application form by 31 March 2026 at 23:59 EAT.
👉 Download the full Call for Proposals
