Marine Conservation Action Fund 2022 ($10,000 Award)

Ocean conservation leaders are working across the globe to take on the most challenging problems facing the ocean, starting at a local level. MCAF aims to ensure these conservation leaders have the financial and professional resources to achieve key ocean conservation gains and the platform to amplify their work.

The Marine Conservation Action Fund (MCAF) is a microgranting and fellowship program that addresses critical needs in the marine conservation field, including rapid turnaround funding for urgent, time-sensitive projects and support for early-stage, entrepreneurial projects led by local conservation leaders in low and middle-income countries. Since it was founded in 1999, MCAF has supported more than 190 projects in more than 60 countries and across six continents.

MCAF has supported conservation leaders gathering key data on imperiled marine species and engaging communities through local conservation projects. Through these efforts, conservation leaders are creating solutions that benefit ocean health and support food security and livelihoods for local communities.

Benefit 

• MCAF provides financial, technical and professional resources, mentoring and community-building to support the success of Fellows’ conservation initiatives; their professional growth and resilience; the sustainability of their organizations; and their efforts to develop the next generation of ocean leaders.

Eligibility 

• Open to visionary and collaborative leaders who are pursuing a community-based, multi-disciplinary approach to achieve lasting conservation outcomes, and who have demonstrated a commitment to training and mentoring the next generation of ocean leaders.

• Eligible candidates are nationals of the low- or middle-income country (MIC) where their ocean conservation work is based.

• Candidates need to have a minimum of seven years of experience in ocean conservation and a minimum of three years of experience leading or co-leading an ocean conservation project.

• They are seeking candidates who are:
• Conducting on-the-ground ocean conservation work focused on marine species, habitats, or ecosystems and the communities that depend on them.

• Engaging and collaborating with local communities and stakeholders including, for example, fishers, youth, women, and government officials.

• Pursuing a multidisciplinary approach to developing lasting conservation solutions;

• Actively training and mentoring future ocean leaders and stewards to promote the long-term impact of their conservation work and to help grow a pipeline of local leaders.