About

The SBE Technical Assistance Platform enables SIDS governments, national and regional organisations to partner with UK marine science and management specialists to build their expertise and develop new evidence, tools and capabilities to grow equitable, climate resilient, sustainable blue economies.

The Technical Assistance Platform is one part of the multi-year Sustainable Blue Economies Programme (SBE), a multi-year programme funded by the UK Government, offering a wider package of collaborative opportunities with Official Development Assistance (ODA) eligible SIDS. The funding runs until March 2028.

Climate Resilient Ocean Economies

SIDS, which are home to 65 million people, are developing rapidly but face profound social, economic, and environmental challenges. Climate change poses a significant risk, undermining economic development and in cases posing an existential threat.

With Exclusive Economic Zones averaging 28 times land area the ocean is vital to SIDS, providing food, jobs, and resources that not only sustain traditional livelihoods but offer abundant opportunities if planned for and managed sustainably.

SIDS natural resources are critical for both survival and culture. Tourism and fisheries often form over half of local economies, while marine and island ecosystems provide food, clean water, and storm protection. Beyond economic value, island and marine biodiversity connects communities to their environment, shaping traditions and offering resilience against climate impacts. Understanding changing marine environments and finding new ways to protect and restore natural resources using nature-based solutions will be critical as SIDS develop climate resilience blue economies that benefit all.

Objectives

The objective of the SBE Technical Assistance Platform is to provide SIDS with the opportunity to collaborate to develop diverse, equitable, climate resilient and sustainable blue economies.

The Platform will achieve this through strengthened ocean management, blue economic development and nature-based solutions, with the aim of reducing poverty and vulnerability, strengthening livelihoods, building economic and climate resilience, and promoting equitable development pathways.

Project Partners

The SBE Technical Assistance Platform is delivered by six specialist UK government marine and environmental science and management organisations. The Technical Assistance Platform enables SIDS to partner with these organisations, using the skills, expertise and capabilities that they can provide.

Cefas – The Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science is the UK Government’s marine and freshwater science experts, working globally for healthy and productive oceans, seas and rivers, and safe and sustainable seafood.

JNCC – The Joint Nature Conservation Committee is the UK Government’s specialist scientific advisors on international nature conservation and the sustainable use of natural resources spanning marine and terrestrial environments.

Met Office – The Met Office works in collaboration with international organisations, to advance global understanding of our changing climate through ground-breaking research that underpins critical services vital for resilience, supporting communities, industry and government to better prepare for future climate risk.

MMO – The Marine Management Organisation is England’s marine manager and regulator, offering advice and assistance internationally to strengthen governance, protect and enhance the marine environment and support blue economies for the benefit of generations to come.

NOC – The National Oceanography Centre is one of the world’s top oceanographic institutions who undertake world leading research in large scale oceanography and ocean measurement technology innovation as well as working with government and business to turn great science and technology into advice and applications.

UKHO – The UK Hydrographic Office is a world-leading centre for hydrography, delivering data and expertise to support safe, secure and thriving oceans.

Cefas is the lead organisation that is managing the Technical Assistance Platform, and all of the partners are equal delivery partners that can support requests from SIDS as part of the Platform.

The Technical Assistance Platform partners will work together to ensure the best skills and capabilities are provided to Beneficiary Partners.

The Technical Assistance Platform partners are able to collaborate with additional agencies or local providers if key capabilities are not available within the UK partners, to meet the needs of stakeholders.

Independent Development Advisory Panel

To ensure the Technical Assistance Platform outputs are co-designed to be as impactful as possible, the Platform is supported by a group of independent Development Advisors who provide specialist skills and experience in development and SIDS. The advisors will work with the platform and the SIDS to ensure local people’s needs are at the heart of all support provided.

The SBE Programme

The SBE Technical Assistance Platform is one component of the wider Sustainable Blue Economies (SBE) Programme.

The UK Sustainable Blue Economies (SBE) Programme supports Small Island Developing States (SIDS) in building resilience to climate change. By improving ocean management, strengthening livelihood opportunities for coastal communities and promoting nature-based solutions, the Programme aims to enhance sustainable economic stability and protect marine ecosystems. This five-year initiative, launched in 2022, aligns with the UK's commitment to conserve 30% of the global ocean by 2030 and is part of the £500 million Blue Planet Fund.

Key areas of focus include restoring and enhancing marine habitats for coastal resilience (e.g., mangroves, coral reefs), improving small-scale fisheries management, scaling sustainable aquaculture and strengthening ocean management capacities within SIDS.

This will be achieved through supporting environmental policy development and scientific research, providing direct support to governments for implementation of effective ocean management plans, leveraging collective action and expertise and investing in community-led initiatives through a Blue Social Challenge Fund.

The anticipated outcome is a more resilient future for SIDS, where their economies are better adapted to climate change and the ocean is effectively protected.

For more information on the other components of the programme reach out to Kassia.DeSantos@fcdo.gov.uk