Hifadhi Blu, led by WIOMSA, aims to enhance the management of marine conservation sites in the WIO through grants, technical support, and capacity building for site managers and conservation organizations.

Eligible applicants include MPA/LMMA/OECM organizations that are formally recognized by their respective governments and are leading the management of these areas. The application process opens in January 2025.

Grantees will receive financial funding, training, opportunities for peer collaboration, and ongoing technical assistance to effectively implement management strategies.

Hifadhi Blu employs a collaborative systems approach, focusing on co-designed solutions that involve site-level practitioners and a continuous learning model to ensure long-lasting, impactful results.

The Hifadhi Blu program is primarily focused on funding the management and operational activities of marine conservation sites, rather than research or student participation. However, there are a few ways students/researchers could potentially participate: 1. As part of the management team: If a marine conservation site that is applying for the Hifadhi Blu grant has students or researchers involved in the day-to-day management and operations of the site, they could potentially be included as part of the project team. 2. Through training and capacity building: The Hifadhi Blu program will be providing training and capacity building support to the grantees. If the site management team decides to include students/researchers in these training activities, they could potentially benefit from the capacity building efforts. 3. As part of monitoring and research: While the Hifadhi Blu grants are not intended for standalone research projects, if the site's proposed interventions involve monitoring, data collection or research activities, students could potentially be involved in supporting those components. 4. Indirectly through site-based activities: Even if students are not directly participating in the Hifadhi Blu project, the improved management and operations of the marine conservation site could provide opportunities for students to engage in internships, field work, or other educational activities at the site. However, the primary eligibility and focus of the Hifadhi Blu program is on the management organizations and authorities responsible for the marine conservation sites. Student participation would need to be facilitated and justified by the applicant organization as part of their proposed project activities. The program is not designed as a direct funding mechanism for student research or participation.

1. Applicant Organization: - Must be a marine conservation organization or entity operating within the Western Indian Ocean region (10 eligible countries) - Can be local/national non-profits, community groups, government agencies, private entities, or research organizations. 2. Marine Conservation Site: - Must be legally recognized and delineated, either through formal gazettement or other legal means - Must have been operational for at least 3 years - Can include marine protected areas (MPAs), co-managed areas, and community-managed areas. 3. Other Criteria: - Each eligible site can only submit one concept note application - International NGOs (BINGOs) are not eligible to apply - The site must have a clear management authority or organization responsible for its management. The webinar emphasized that the definition of a "site" is broad, as long as it meets the criteria of legal recognition and established management. The program aims to support the operational and management effectiveness of these diverse marine conservation areas across the region. So, in summary, the key eligibility factors are the applicant organization, the legal status and operational history of the marine conservation site, and the presence of a defined management authority responsible for the site. Meeting these criteria is essential for sites to be considered for the Hifadhi Blu program grants.

BINGOs are organizations registered outside the region that mainly provide funding, rather than being directly involved in site management.

Yes, NPOs/NGOs focused on community-driven marine conservation are eligible to apply for the Hifadhi Blu program grants, provided that: 1. The organization is a marine conservation organization or entity that operates within the Western Indian Ocean region (the 10 countries covered by the program). 2. The organization is a local or national non-profit, a community conservation group, a government agency managing marine sites, a private entity managing marine sites, or a research organization managing marine sites. 3. The marine conservation site that the organization manages is recognized by national law or equivalent means, and have been operational for at least 3 years. So, community-based NPOs/NGOs that are responsible for managing and conserving marine areas within the eligible countries would qualify to apply for the Hifadhi Blu grants, as long as they meet the other criteria around legal recognition and operational duration of the site. The program specifically emphasizes supporting community-led conservation efforts, so organizations focused on grassroots, community-driven marine conservation would be well-aligned with the objectives of the Hifadhi Blu program. The collaborative, systems-based approach of the program is also designed to empower local stakeholders in the management of these sites. Therefore, I would encourage NPOs/NGOs engaged in community-based marine conservation in the Western Indian Ocean region to consider applying for the Hifadhi Blu grants. Their community-focused work would be highly relevant and eligible for this funding opportunity.

Concept notes can be prepared in English, French, or Portuguese. All submissions should be made through WIOMSA Proposal Central. Applicants are required to register their organizations on the Proposal Central platform. The registration process may take up to one week for validation, so it is recommended to register as early as possible. To register, please visit the following link: Proposal Central. Once registration is complete, applicants can submit their concept notes by filling in the concept note form/template through this link: Submit my concept note. The submission deadline is 11:59 PM EAT on 31st January 2025.

Yes, the registration on Proposal Central is required for each new application phase, as each round is treated as a separate process.

No, each eligible site can only submit one concept note for the Hifadhi Blu program. The key points regarding the number of concept notes that can be submitted are: 1. Each eligible applicant organization can only submit one concept note per site. 2. This is to encourage coordination and strategic thinking among the different management agencies or groups managing marine conservation sites within a country or region. 3. The program wants to avoid receiving multiple concept notes for the same site from different applicants. There should be one coordinated application per site. 4. If an organization is managing multiple eligible sites, they can submit separate concept notes for each site. But they cannot submit multiple concept notes for the same site. 5. The goal is to have a fair and competitive process where the best proposals for improving management effectiveness are selected, rather than having multiple applications from the same site. So, in summary, the one concept note per site rule is in place to promote strategic collaboration among the different stakeholders managing marine conservation areas, and to ensure the review process is focused on evaluating the most impactful proposals. Applicants cannot submit more than one concept note for a single site they are responsible for.

Minimum grant value: $50,000 USD Maximum grant value: $200,000 USD This means that eligible sites can apply for grants ranging anywhere from $50,000 up to a maximum of $200,000 in funding. The program is using a cohort model, where 4 sites will be selected to receive grants each year over the next 4 years. So, in total, the program aims to support 16 marine conservation sites during this initial 4-year period. The review process will determine the appropriate funding level for each successful grantee.

The top 5 proposals will be invited for interviews, though only 4 grants will ultimately be awarded.

“Site" is defined in the following way: 1. A site can be a single marine protected area (MPA), a co-managed area, or a community-managed area. 2. Alternatively, a site can also be a network or cluster of these types of marine conservation areas that are managed together under a unified management authority or regime. 3. The key criteria are that the site must be: - Legally recognized and delineated, either through formal gazettement or other legal means - Have an established management authority or organization responsible for its management. 4. The program is not limited to just MPAs, but can also support privately managed marine areas, as long as they meet the criteria of legal recognition and defined management. 5. The definition of a site is meant to be broad, to accommodate the diverse ways in which marine conservation areas are designated and managed across the Western Indian Ocean region. 6. What matters most is that there is a clear management structure and legal standing for the site, rather than the specific designation (e.g. MPA, CMA, etc.). So in summary, a "site" for the Hifadhi Blu program is defined by its legal recognition, delineation, and established management authority - whether that is a single MPA, a network of community-managed areas, or another type of marine conservation area. The program aims to be inclusive of the diverse site management models in the region.

Locally Managed Marine Areas (LMMAs) and Community Managed Areas (CMAs) are eligible for the Hifadhi Blu program grants. The webinar specifically stated that the program defines "sites" broadly to include not just Marine Protected Areas (MPAs), but also: • Co-managed areas • Community-managed areas The key criteria for eligibility is that the site, whether an MPA, LMMA, CMA or other type of marine conservation area, must: 1. Be legally recognized and delineated, either through formal gazettement or other legal means. 2. Have an established management authority or organization responsible for its management. So as long as the LMMA or CMA meets these criteria of legal recognition and having a defined management structure, they would be eligible to apply for the Hifadhi Blu grants. The program recognizes the diversity of marine conservation models across the Western Indian Ocean region, and aims to support the management effectiveness of these different types of sites, not just formally designated MPAs. Therefore, community-based marine conservation initiatives like LMMAs and CMAs are very much within the scope of the Hifadhi Blu program, as long as they fulfil the basic eligibility requirements outlined.

The Hifadhi Blu program will consider marine conservation sites that include both coastal and offshore areas. Specifically, the program defines "sites" in a broad way, not just limiting it to offshore marine protected areas (MPAs). The key criteria are: 1. The site must be legally recognized and have a clear management authority, whether it is an MPA, co-managed area, community-managed area, or privately managed marine area. 2. The site can include coastal habitats like mangroves, estuaries, and other inshore areas, as long as they are part of the legally recognized and managed conservation area. So in summary, the Hifadhi Blu program is not limited to just offshore marine areas, but can support the management of integrated coastal-marine conservation sites that include important coastal ecosystems like mangroves, as long as they meet the criteria of being legally recognized and having an established management authority. The focus is on improving the overall management effectiveness of these diverse marine and coastal conservation areas.