The Partnership Fund Board of the International Seabed Authority (ISA) has completed the selection of projects to be funded in 2023 during its first meeting held on 1 June. This is the first of two batches of projects to be supported by the newly created ISA Partnership Fund (ISAPF) every year.
The ISAPF is a multi-donor trust fund established on 3 August 2022 by the ISA Assembly during its 27th session (ISBA/27/A/10). The ISAPF aims to mobilize transformative partnerships and financial support for the implementation of the global deep-sea research agenda adopted unanimously by all ISA members in 2020 in support of the UN Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development (Action Plan for Marine Scientific Research in support of the UN Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development) and to contribute to dedicated capacity development programmes and activities aligned with the priority needs identified by developing States Members of ISA through the 2022 ISA Capacity Development Strategy.
Since 2022, the ISAPF has received contributions from France (USD122,124), Greece (USD52,520), China (USD20,000) and Mexico (USD10,000). As of 31 May 2023, the ISAPF had an available balance of USD604,644. A total of USD382,000 has been allocated to four projects and initiatives endorsed by the ISAPF Board for:
- The development of a training course on environmental impact assessment for exploration activities carried out in the Area – Funding allocated: USD100,000, including Greece’s contribution to the ISAPF, earmarked for this initiative. The call for expression of interest to develop the training course is available here. Deadline for applications – 3 November 2023.
- Building and developing capacities of least developed countries (LDCs) in deep-sea related sciences, technology and innovation in support of the sustainable development of blue emerging economies – Funding allocated: USD55,000 through the United Nations Technology Bank for Least Developed Countries to support: (i) the three-month secondment of two experts from LDCs to work on marine science and technology research project in the ISA Secretariat and (ii) a six-month fellowship for doctoral/post-doctoral visit of a scientist from an LDC at a partner institution in the field of ocean science and technology.
- The development of a feasibility study on the potential of early warning signals to assess deep-sea ecosystem resilience – Funding allocated: USD55,000. The call for expression of interest to develop the feasibility study is available here. Deadline for applications – 3 November 2023.
- Enhancing capacity and knowledge-sharing in meiofauna research through the establishment of a “MeioScool” in partnership with Ifremer – Funding allocated: USD172,000.
More information is available at https://www.isa.org.jm/partnership-fund.
For media enquiries, please contact:
Ms. Shanique Gregory, Senior Communications Assistant, sgregory@isa.org.jm