Ocean Innovation Challenge 5th Call for Proposals
UNDP’s fifth Ocean Innovation Challenge supports implementation-ready private-sector solutions for marine pollution, coastal and marine ecosystem restoration, and the sustainable blue economy.
Ocean Innovation Challenge 5th Call for Proposals
The United Nations Development Programme’s Ocean Innovation Challenge (OIC) fifth call supports implementation-ready private-sector solutions for marine pollution reduction, coastal and marine ecosystem restoration, and the sustainable blue economy. Proposed work must benefit Bangladesh, Indonesia, the Philippines, Thailand, or Viet Nam. A lead applicant may be based elsewhere, but the project needs government acceptance. Selected innovators may receive up to USD 100,000 plus implementation and incubation support. Applications close November 15, 2026, at 23:59 New York time. (Call page; FAQ)
At a glance
| Item | Published information |
|---|---|
| Program | UNDP Ocean Innovation Challenge, 5th Call |
| Focus | Marine pollution; coastal and marine ecosystem restoration; sustainable blue economy |
| Award | Up to USD 100,000 per selected innovator, through a deliverable-based contract |
| Support | Up to 17 months of implementation and incubation support |
| Beneficiary countries | Bangladesh, Indonesia, the Philippines, Thailand, or Viet Nam |
| Lead applicant | Legally registered private-sector organization; may be based elsewhere |
| Co-financing | Confirmed cash and/or in-kind contributions of at least 50% of requested OIC funding |
| Deadline | November 15, 2026, 23:59 New York time |
| Limit and announcement | One proposal per organization; innovators anticipated in Q1 2027 |
The award ceiling and anticipated announcement are not guarantees; consult the call page and FAQ for current details.
Award and support
Funding is provided through a deliverable-based contract. Applicants should be ready to connect planned activities to concrete results and explain how delivery can be followed. The brief does not specify payment tranches, contract terms, or a standard grant size, so these should be checked in the official call materials rather than assumed. (Call page)
Selected innovators may also receive up to 17 months of implementation and incubation support. Stated services include technical mentoring, project-management help, fundraising guidance, and access to investor networks. The brief does not assign a separate cash value to this support or say that every project will receive identical services. It is best understood as support accompanying implementation, rather than an additional cash award. (Call page)
Who should apply?
The lead must be a legally registered private-sector organization. Published examples include startups, SMEs, private companies, and social enterprises. Individuals cannot apply as leads. Universities, NGOs, research institutions, and government agencies may join as partners, but the lead applicant must meet the private-sector organization requirement. If your legal form is unusual or combines commercial and nonprofit activities, confirm its eligibility in the official FAQ.
The lead organization can be based outside the five beneficiary countries. The project itself must benefit at least one of Bangladesh, Indonesia, the Philippines, Thailand, or Viet Nam, and government acceptance is required. Local partnerships are strongly encouraged. The brief does not define what form of government acceptance is sufficient; verify the current official guidance for the target country and project. (FAQ)
A practical early fit check is therefore: Is the lead a legally registered private-sector entity? Is implementation planned in a named eligible country? Is there a clear path to government acceptance and, where useful, local partners? A project need benefit at least one listed country; the brief does not require work in multiple countries.
Themes and implementation readiness
The proposal must address at least one of three themes: marine pollution reduction, coastal and marine ecosystem restoration, or sustainable blue economy. It must also be implementation-ready. The supplied brief does not define a universal maturity level, nor does it require a particular technology or business model. Applicants should use the call’s official materials to judge how readiness is described for this round. (Call page)
For a clear proposal, explain the local problem, the eligible theme it addresses, what will actually be implemented, and who or what in the beneficiary country should benefit. This is preparation advice, not a separate list of eligibility tests. A theme label alone may not make the fit apparent; connect it to planned activities and results in the application and results framework.
Co-financing requirement
At application, confirmed co-financing must equal at least 50% of the requested OIC amount. Cash and in-kind contributions are both accepted and must be disclosed in USD. The FAQ distinguishes confirmed contributions from anticipated ones, so do not count a hoped-for contribution as confirmed. (FAQ)
As a preparation step, list each contribution, its value in USD, whether it is cash or in-kind, its source, and whether it is confirmed or anticipated. Compare the confirmed total with half of the requested OIC funding, and keep anticipated contributions clearly separate. The official co-financing template and instructions control the required format and proof; the brief does not specify what evidence is sufficient for each contribution type.
As optional preparation, draft a schedule listing each contribution, its USD value, whether it is cash or in-kind, and its source and confirmation status. For in-kind support, describe what will be contributed in a way that can be reviewed. The call’s co-financing template and instructions control the required format and proof; the brief does not specify what evidence is sufficient for each contribution type.
How to Apply
- Read the call page and FAQ. Check applicant status, country benefit, theme, readiness, co-financing, and deadline. Download the official templates before writing so the proposal follows the requested structure. (Call page and templates)
- Plan implementation in an eligible country. Identify the direct country benefit, local delivery arrangements, and how government acceptance will be addressed. Local partners are strongly encouraged. Ask through an official channel listed on the call page if the acceptable form of government acceptance is unclear; no form is specified in the supplied brief. (FAQ)
- Complete the proposal components. The call page provides templates for the application, results framework, work plan, budgets, co-financing, capacity, compliance, and safeguards. Make the activities, expected results, schedule, costs, and confirmed contributions consistent across them. These are the listed template categories; use the official materials to determine the exact required annexes and fields.
- Submit online with annexes. Applicants must use the online proposal form. A Google sign-in is required to complete it and upload annexes. The brief does not state accepted file types, upload limits, or whether drafts can be saved and resumed, so check the live form before planning around those features. (Call page)
- Submit only one proposal by the deadline. Each organization may submit one proposal. The deadline is November 15, 2026, at 23:59 New York time. Follow the form’s current submission and confirmation instructions; the brief does not establish another submission route. (FAQ)
What to prepare
The named templates cover the application, results framework, work plan, budgets, co-financing, capacity, compliance, and safeguards. The available information does not enumerate every supporting document, signature, or annex. Use the current call page and form as the definitive checklist instead of treating an informal list as complete. (Call page)
Optional preparation: keep working copies of the templates, a consistent budget and co-financing schedule, and notes on local implementation and government acceptance. Have an authorized colleague review entity names, figures, and results across the documents. These are workflow suggestions, not additional published requirements. If a template specifies a format or attachment, follow it.
Review and selection
The published review sequence is administrative-compliance review, eligibility screening, technical evaluation, value-for-money assessment, due diligence, and final selection. Proposals need at least 70/100 in technical evaluation and must also meet specified minimum scores. The supplied brief does not give the component minimums or full scoring rubric, so a score of 70 alone should not be treated as a guarantee of selection. Check the FAQ and current call materials for the detailed criteria. (FAQ)
For preparation, make the budget easy to connect to the activities and expected results, and ensure the organization and project information is accurate. Compliance and eligibility are reviewed before technical evaluation, while value for money and due diligence are later stages. The brief does not identify the due-diligence checklist or the exact value-for-money method, so do not assume a specific test.
Timeline and deadline
Applications are open through November 15, 2026, at 23:59 New York time. Applicants in other time zones should convert the deadline using a current time-zone reference and leave time to complete the form and upload annexes. OIC anticipates announcing the selected Call 5 innovators in the first quarter of 2027. (FAQ: timeline)
The brief does not state dates for information sessions, contracting, project start, or notification of unsuccessful applicants. Check the official call page and FAQ for updates; if an official notice changes the schedule, follow that notice.
Common mistakes to avoid
The following are practical checks, not additional program rules:
- Treating anticipated co-financing as confirmed, or failing to reach the 50% ratio.
- Naming an eligible theme without showing how activities address it.
- Describing broad regional impact without identifying a direct benefit in at least one eligible country.
- Presenting a concept without a credible implementation plan, despite the implementation-ready requirement.
- Using inconsistent results, timing, or cost figures across the application, work plan, and budget.
- Preparing multiple submissions for one organization, contrary to the one-proposal limit.
Because only one proposal is permitted per organization, settle internally which proposal will be submitted.
Frequently asked questions
Can a lead applicant be located outside the five countries?
Yes. The lead may be based elsewhere, but the implementation must benefit at least one of the five listed countries and have government acceptance. Local partnerships are strongly encouraged. (FAQ)
Can an individual or university apply as lead?
No for individuals; the lead must be a legally registered private-sector organization. Universities, NGOs, research institutions, and government agencies may participate as partners. (FAQ)
Is co-financing required to be cash?
No. Confirmed in-kind contributions can count alongside cash. The total must be at least 50% of requested OIC funding, disclosed in USD; anticipated contributions are distinct from confirmed ones. (FAQ)
Does every selected innovator receive USD 100,000?
The amount is up to USD 100,000, so it is a maximum, not a guaranteed award. The brief does not state minimum requests or an award-sizing formula. (Call page)
What if an application detail is unclear?
Check the call page, templates, and FAQ. For unresolved matters such as acceptable proof of government acceptance or co-financing, consult an official contact or clarification channel published on the live call page. The supplied brief gives no contact details or response times, so verify them directly.
Official sources and unconfirmed details
The brief confirms the core eligibility rules, themes and countries, award ceiling and support, co-financing ratio, online form and sign-in requirement, template categories, review sequence and technical threshold, submission limit, deadline, and anticipated announcement window. It does not confirm the full scoring rubric and component minimums, exact annex checklist, acceptable evidence standards, contract and payment terms, form file limits, or later milestone dates. Applicants should verify those particulars in the current official materials rather than rely on assumptions.