Learn about what others are doing or contributing to combatting marine litter within the region and around the world. Also see what grants and funds are available even if not directly provided by the GPML-Caribe Node – we can make links to funding opportunities.
Benioff Ocean Initiative Request For Proposals
The Benioff Ocean Initiative is now accepting proposals from interdisciplinary teams to launch a pilot project that will capture plastic waste in rivers before it reaches the ocean and create an associated communications campaign to reduce plastic waste.
The Benioff Ocean Initiative invites interdisciplinary teams to submit proposals for pilot projects designed to achieve the following goals:
- develop and deploy a physical plastic waste capture system in a chosen river anywhere in the world, and
- leverage the plastic capture effort in a communications and outreach strategy that promotes the reduction of river plastic waste inputs.
For more information on the project and proposal process, see the downloadable Request For Proposals (RFP). The RFP abstract is available in English, Spanish, Vietnamese, and simplified Chinese. Proposals must be submitted in English by 12 July 2019 (6:00PM PDT) using the form linked below, and must also include a proposed budget using the downloadable budget template.
GPML-Caribe Marine Litter Research Scholarship
THE GPML-CARIBE SCHOLARSHIP
Purpose: To financially assist students conducting scientific research on marine litter who might otherwise not be able to attend the annual GCFI conference and to provide encouragement to the next generation of students and young professionals interested in marine litter research.
Description: Annually, two $1,500 scholarships will be awarded to cover the costs of airfare, registration, lodging, and per diem to attend the annual GCFI conference. Any remainder of the stipend can be used to cover the student’s discretionary research‐related expenses.
Eligibility: Applicants must be currently enrolled, and in good standing, in a tertiary institution in the wider Caribbean or in one of the adjacent Gulf of Mexico states (including Mexico and the United States) or be a student in good standing at any tertiary institution and engaged in a research project in the Gulf of Mexico and wider Caribbean region. Only applicants who are conducting scientific research on marine litter will be eligible to receive this award. Students who have graduated from a tertiary institution within 12 months of the GCFI meeting and conducted research on marine litter for their degree are also eligible.
Documentation:
- An application letter from the student nominee including: student’s contact information, educational institution, program/degree level, a short description of current research on marine litter, involvement with marine litter issues and related achievements.
- Statement of career goals related to marine litter research in the Caribbean and Gulf of Mexico.
- Statement of financial need, to include estimated cost of attending the GCFI conference
- A confidential letter of endorsement from a faculty member/research director from the applicant’s home institution/department.
- Abstract of an oral or poster presentation submitted for the GCFI Conference.
Note: to be eligible for this Scholarship applicants must submit an abstract via the GCFI Abstract Submittal portal located on the GCFI web page (www.gcfi.org).
Completed application with all supporting paperwork, including a copy of the abstract, must be sent to studentawards@gcfi.org by the application deadline 31 July 2019.
Selection Criteria: Selection of the awardee(s) by the GPML-Caribe Scholarship Committee (comprised of GCFI and UN Environment CEP representatives) will be based on a review and assessment of information submitted by applicants. Students will be notified of final selection decisions by 31 August, 2019.
About the The GPML Caribbean Node: GPML-Caribe was formed in 2016 as a partnership for national and regional organizations, governments, research, and technical agencies and individuals, that work together to reduce the quantity and impact of marine litter in coastal zones of the Wider Caribbean Region. The Gulf and Caribbean Fisheries Institute (GCFI) and the Secretariat for the Cartagena Convention are the co-hosts of the GPML-Caribe. For more information please visit https://gpml-caribe.org/
IUCN – Call for Proposals
IUCN has launched a Call for Proposals to support existing, small-scale circular economy initiatives that aim to reduce the amount of plastic leaking into the marine environment
As part of its Marine Plastics and Coastal Communities (MARPLASTICCs) project implemented in Kenya, Mozambique, South Africa, Thailand and Viet Nam, IUCN will provide financial support of up to USD 50,000 in each target country for a period of 12 months.
Proposals should demonstrate that the project fosters strong cooperation and coordination between various stakeholders (including regulators, private sector, civil society) across the plastic value chain (production, transformation, waste, leakage) for enhanced plastic leakage reduction or avoidance; demonstrate how circular economy principles can be applied in practice and contribute to reduced or avoided leakage of plastics into the marine environment; and capture lessons to help others better develop sustainable plastic leakage reduction or avoidance measures.
IUCN will specifically support existing plastic leakage reduction actions that:
- Involve waste separation to reduce leakage at a scale that could form the basis of circular economy.
- Include stakeholders from government, private sector and civil society.
- Avoid, reduce, reuse/recycle/upcycle plastic waste.
- Can demonstrate significant plastic leakage reduction or avoidance.
- Demonstrates potential to scale or replicate, or feed into local and/or national action plans.
- Are willing to contribute to and share data about plastic leakage.
Interested parties are kindly invited to submit proposals no later than 31 May 2019.
For more details, please download the application form
For any questions related to the Call, please email IUCN at plastics@iucn.org.
The Clean Oceans Initiative
The Clean Oceans Initiative was launched in October 2018 by the European Investment Bank in partnership with the German development bank Kf W and France’s Agence Française de Développement (AFD).
The Clean Oceans Initiative targets the following areas:
- Collection, recycling and disposal of plastics and other waste: projects that focus on plastics and waste collected on land, from rivers and from coastal areas of the seas.
- Waste management in ports and harbours: projects that reduce the discharge of plastics and other waste into ports and harbours.
- Innovative plastics: projects that reduce plastics discharge into oceans or develop new reusable/recyclable plastic products or bio-degradable plastic materials.
- Wastewater collection and treatment: projects that help wastewater collection networks and treatment plants reduce the discharge of plastics into rivers and oceans.
- Urban stormwater management systems: projects that prevent waste and plastics from entering waterways during rains and floods.
The Clean Oceans Initiative will provide support in the form of long-term loans and other types of financing, grants and technical assistance to help the promoters prepare and implement their projects.
For more details, see: https://www.eib.org/en/infocentre/press/news/all/first-project-financed-under-the-clean-oceans-initiative-depollution-of-the-nile.htm
National Geographic: Request for Proposals- Reducing Ocean Plastic Pollution
This Request For Proposals (RFP) is directed at reducing plastic pollution at the source, both by reducing per capita plastic consumption and reducing the flow of plastics into watersheds. The next application deadline for this peer-reviewed, competitive RFP is April 10, 2019, with decisions announced in August 2019
Details:
The National Geographic Society seeks to fund sustainable and potentially scalable projects to reduce ocean plastic pollution that are closely aligned with one or both of the following goals:
- Informing and advancing national or subnational policies or management plans to reduce plastic source pollution.
- Innovative behavior change approaches with the potential to inspire large numbers of people to dramatically reduce their consumption of single-use plastics and/or improve the recycling of plastic.
This opportunity is open to conservationists, educators, researchers, storytellers, and technologists. Typical proposals funded under this RFP request $25,000-$50,000; however, applicants may request up to $100,000. Proposals will be evaluated based on alignment to the focus of this RFP, expected impact, and cost-effectiveness. Successful applicants may use awarded funds over one or two years.