United Nations Development Programme (UNDP)Competition

Up to $100,000 UNDP Ocean Innovation Challenge

Nov 15, 2026 23:59:00 ET

Opportunity type

Competition

Funding

Partially Funded

Location

Global

Deadline

Nov 15, 2026 23:59:00 ET

About this opportunity

The United Nations Development Programme's Ocean Innovation Challenge, funded by Sida, has opened its 5th call for private sector innovations that cut marine pollution, restore coastal and marine ecosystems, or build a sustainable blue economy. Companies, start-ups and social enterprises from anywhere can apply, but the project has to be carried out in Bangladesh, Indonesia, the Philippines, Thailand or Viet Nam. Up to 10 winners get up to USD 100,000 each through a deliverable-based UNDP contract, plus up to 17 months of mentoring and incubation.

What you get:

Up to USD 100,000 in financial support through a deliverable-based contract under the UNDP Model Innovation Challenge Agreement (MICA)
Up to 17 months of implementation and incubation support
Technical mentoring from UNDP and external experts
Project management, monitoring and reporting support
Communications and visibility assistance
Fundraising, investment-readiness and investment facilitation support
Introductions to investors, development partners and private sector networks

What you'll do:

Carry out an implementation-ready ocean innovation in at least one of the five beneficiary countries, with the acceptance of government authorities
Deliver agreed outputs over up to 17 months, with payments released as each deliverable is approved
Submit monthly progress notes and a final report on outputs, impact, lessons and scaling plans

Key dates:

Call launched October 2026, with open information sessions in October 2026
Applications close 15 November 2026 at 23:59 New York time
Technical evaluation November to December 2026
Contract negotiation and signature December to January
Implementation begins January to February 2027 and runs up to 17 months
Winners expected to be announced by the first quarter of 2027

More information:

Full eligibility and evaluation criteria are in the 5th Call FAQ: https://dev.oceaninnovationchallenge.org/frequently-asked-questions-5th-call
Questions go to oic.info@undp.org

Who can apply

Must be a legally registered private sector organisation: a start-up, SME, private company, social enterprise or other private sector entity
Individuals cannot apply. Universities, research institutions, NGOs and government agencies may join only as consortium partners, not as lead applicant
The innovation must address marine pollution reduction, coastal and marine ecosystem restoration, or a sustainable blue economy
The project must be implemented in at least one of Bangladesh, Indonesia, the Philippines, Thailand or Viet Nam, with acceptance of government authorities; the lead applicant can be based anywhere
The innovation must be implementation-ready, with a demonstrated proof of concept or validated prototype
Request no more than USD 100,000 and provide confirmed co-financing of at least 50 percent of the amount requested, in cash or in kind
Proof of business registration and proof of government support for implementation are required
One proposal per organisation, submitted in English through the online form with all annexes; a Google account is needed to upload files

AI Verification

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Good to know

+Run by UNDP and funded by Sida, now on its 5th call
+Up to USD 100,000 per winner plus up to 17 months of mentoring and incubation
+Lead applicants can be based anywhere in the world
+Preference given to women-led and youth-led or owned innovations
+No application fee; every requirement and the evaluation criteria are published

Worth checking yourself

!Only legally registered private sector organisations can lead; individuals, NGOs and universities cannot
!Applicants must bring confirmed co-financing of at least 50 percent of the amount requested
!UNDP says the OIC is not a grant: money is paid against approved deliverables under a contract
!The project must be carried out in Bangladesh, Indonesia, the Philippines, Thailand or Viet Nam, with government acceptance
!The application needs a Google account and nine annexes, so start well before 15 November
!The innovation must already be implementation-ready, with a proof of concept or validated prototype

Sources checked

DEdev.oceaninnovationchallenge.orgApplyDEdev.oceaninnovationchallenge.orgApplyDEdev.oceaninnovationchallenge.orgApplyDEdev.oceaninnovationchallenge.orgApplyDEdev.oceaninnovationchallenge.orgApplyOPopportunitiesforyouth.orgOfficial

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