The Technical Assistance Platform enables the UK Partners to provide specialist services to collaborate with SIDS to develop climate resilient, sustainable blue economies in response to requests from SIDS.

The type and duration of technical assistance can range from short, focused projects to multi-year collaborations. This depends on the needs of the requesting organisation.

The services that can be provided includes, but is not limited to:

  • needs assessments and strategy development,
  • data collection and analysis,
  • environmental assessments,
  • research to fill knowledge gaps,
  • management advice,
  • policy and regulatory advice,
  • specialist training and capacity development,
  • advice on climate impacts and resilience,
  • advice on sustainable use and management of marine resources,
  • compliance and enforcement.

The projects that are taken forward will be co-designed by SIDS to develop the skills, expertise, policies and knowledge they need and want for the development of sustainable blue economies.

The Technical Assistance Platform will not fund capital investments or routine operational costs. The Technical Assistance Platform is not a grant awarding mechanism.

Sustainable Blue Economy topics

Technical assistance that can be provided by the SBE Technical Assistance Platform can cover a wider range of topics addressing blue economy development, climate resilience, marine science and ocean management. These topics include, but are not limited to:

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  • National aquatic food security
  • Small-scale and coastal fisheries
  • Industrial and offshore fisheries
  • Aquaculture
  • Seafood safety

  • Food and water quality for human health
  • Environmental pollution
  • Marine litter and plastic pollution
  • Nutrient pollution and eutrophication
  • Emergency response

  • Biodiversity mapping and assessment
  • Habitats including critical and vulnerable habitats
  • Species including protected, endangered and threatened species
  • Marine Protected Areas and other effective area-based conservation measures
  • Invasive species
  • Biodiversity risk assessments
  • Food webs and ecosystem structure

  • Shipping and harbours
  • Tourism
  • Marine renewable energy
  • Oil and gas
  • Mineral and aggregate resources
  • Fisheries and aquaculture
  • Cables, pipelines and communications
  • Ornamental trade including corals and fish
  • Other maritime industries

  • Climate risk assessment
  • Climate adaptation and resilience building
  • Marine climate change monitoring (oceanography, sea level and acidification)
  • Climate hazards
  • Blue carbon
  • Climate projections

  • Coastal flooding and erosion risk
  • Climate risk projections
  • Coastal resilience building options including nature-based solutions
  • Integrated Coastal Zone Management
  • Emergency response

  • Blue carbon
  • Natural capital assessments
  • Nature-based solutions for climate resilience and economic development
  • Sustainable tourism
  • Marine Protected Areas and other effective area-based conservation measures
  • Habitat restoration

  • Marine policy
  • Marine spatial planning and Integrated Coastal Zone Management
  • Blue economy evaluations
  • Sustainable financing opportunities
  • Management capacity and infrastructure
  • State of Marine Environment reporting