ISA Partnership Fund
Overview
ISA Partnership Fund is a multi-donor trust fund established on 3 August 2022 by the ISA Assembly during its 27th session (ISBA/27/A/10). The Fund aims to promote and encourage marine scientific research in the Area for the benefit of humankind and to contribute to dedicated capacity development programmes and activities aligned with the priority needs identified by developing States members of ISA.
Terms of reference of the Partnership Fund [ISBA/ST/SGB/2022/1]
The Partnership Fund supersedes the Endowment Fund for Marine Scientific Research in the Area, following the review by the Finance Committee (ISBA/27/A/8-ISBA/27/C/36).
Objectives
The ISA Partnership Fund aims to:
- promote marine scientific research in the Area for the benefit of humankind
- provide qualified scientists and technical personnel from developing countries with opportunities to participate in international marine scientific research programmes
- finance the design, development and implementation of development programmes and activities aligned with the priority needs identified by developing States Members of ISA
- contribute to the implementation of the Action Plan in support of the United Nations Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development
- enhance ISA’s contributions to the implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals.
Activities eligible for funding
The development and implementation of marine scientific research programmes in the Area, in line with the strategic research priorities identified in the ISA Action Plan in support of the United Nations Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development, which will benefit qualified scientists and technical personnel as well as relevant national and regional institutions from developing countries and regions.
The development and implementation of training programmes in line with the decision of the Assembly relating to the implementation of a programmatic approach to capacity development, particularly those addressing the priority needs for capacity development identified by developing States members of ISA.
The development and implementation of technical assistance programmes and activities that will enhance the implementation of the ISA Strategic Plan for 2019-2023, the High-Level Action Plan, the Action Plan for Marine Scientific Research and the programmatic approach to capacity development.
The engagement of multilevel partnerships on the conduct of marine scientific research programmes in the Area and dissemination and sharing of their results with interested Member States, contractors, relevant ocean industry sectors, the United Nations and its funds and programmes, relevant subregional, regional and international organizations, scientific communities and relevant civil society organizations.
ISA Partnership Fund may finance eligible expenditures for ISA-executed activities, such as staff costs, contractual services, equipment and office premises lease costs, media, workshops, conferences and meetings, and travel expenses. All recipient-executed activities funded by ISA must be in accordance with the applicable policies and procedures of ISA.
The International Seabed Authority at 30 – Third Partnership Fund Board Meeting (July 2024)
Open call for projects
- No open calls at this time.
Selected projects
In July 2024, the ISA Partnership Fund accepted proposals for the following projects:
- Women in Blue: training opportunities in ocean science (Category 3: USD 98,000) – In partnership with Italian National Research Council
- Women in Science Expedition (Category 3: USD 100,000) In partnership with the Cook Islands Seabed Mineral Authority
- From Surface to Depth: Fostering Deep-Sea Literacy in Mozambique’s Early Career Ocean Professionals (Category 1: USD 20,000) In partnership with Early Career Ocean Professional in Mozambique & Centro de Pesquisa e Tecnologias Marinhas de Moçambique
- A methodology for adaptive management of deep-sea mining sediment plumes (Category 3: USD 100,000) In partnership with at depth LLC
Call for projects – Second Partnership Board Meeting (January 2024)
Open calls for projects
No open calls at this time.
Projects under implementation
- Diplomatic Deep-sea Academy for African Diplomats – USD 170,000
- Development of a data visualization platform of the Area for the benefit of humankind – USD 125,000
- Enhancing and leveraging the knowledge of African experts in deep-sea research through the establishment of the ISA-Egypt Joint Training and Research Centre – USD 100,000
- Promoting deep-sea research in the Indian Ocean to advance knowledge and understanding in support of seabed minerals exploration – USD 52,500
- Advancing Caribbean Blue Economy through the Centre for Excellence for Oceanography and the Blue Economy – USD 100,000
Completed projects
No calls have been closed at this time.
Call for projects – First Partnership Board Meeting (June 2023)
Open calls for projects
No open projects at this time.
Projects under implementation
- Enhancing capacity and knowledge-sharing in meiofauna research through the establishment of a “MeioScool” in partnership with Ifremer
Funding allocated: USD172,000 - Development of a training course on environmental impact assessment for activities carried out in the Area
Funding allocated: USD100,000 - Building and developing capacities of least developed countries in deep-sea related sciences, technology and innovation in support of the sustainable development of blue emerging economies
Funding allocated: USD15,000
(ii) the three-month fellowship of two experts from LDCs.
Completed projects
- Building and developing capacities of least developed countries in deep-sea related sciences, technology and innovation in support of the sustainable development of blue emerging economies
Funding allocated: USD40,000
(i) the three-month deployment of two experts from LDCs.
Framework for application to ISAPF by external stakeholders
At its second meeting, the ISA Partnership Fund Board adopted a framework for application to ISA Partnership Fund by external stakeholder. The framework is intended to regulate the participation of ISA stakeholders to the calls for project proposals opened by the Board. In line with the specific topic of the call, additional eligibility criteria and applications procedures might apply.
Partnership Fund Board
A Partnership Board is established to provide strategic guidance and direction on implementing the Partnership Fund activities and endorse strategic priorities. It consists of two representatives of the Secretariat, the Chairs of the Finance Committee and the Legal and Technical Commission and eight representatives of Member States, including the least developed countries (LDCs), landlocked developing countries (LLDCs) or small island developing States (SIDS). Donors contributing to other ISA-administered trust funds may also be invited to participate in the discussions.
Mr. José Dallo
Director, OEMMR, ISA Secretariat
Dr. Marie Bourrel-McKinnon
Chief of Staff & Head of Strategic Planning Unit, ISA Secretariat
Mr. Erasmo Lara Cabrera
Chair, ISA Legal and Technical Commission
Dr. Wan-hyun Choi
President, MABIK, Republic of Korea
Ms. Jorun Sigrid Nossum
Leader, Department for Climate and Environment, section Oceans, NORAD, Norway
Rear Admiral Md. Kurshed Alam
Secretary, Maritime Affairs Unit, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Bangladesh
(LDC) and Chair, ISA Finance Committee
H.E. Mr. Duncan Laki
Permanent Representative of Uganda to the United Nations
H.E. Mr. Dwight CR Gardiner
Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary, Antigua and Barbuda
(SIDS)
H.E. Marcelo Balbi Calvo
Permanent Representative of Argentina to ISA
Dr Mario Sprovieri
Director of the Institute for Marine Science, Italian National Research Council
Prof. Fang Yinxia
Director General of the Second Institute of Oceanography, Ministry of Natural Resources, China
Contributions to the Fund
Contributions to the Fund can be made by any State, contractor, international organization, academic and scientific institution, private corporation, philanthropic entity or private individual.
Since 2022, the Fund has received contributions from France (USD122,124), Greece (USD52,520) the People’s Republic of China (USD20,000) and Mexico (USD10,000).
Potential donors can contribute to the Partnership Fund by:
1. Formally notifying the Authority of their intended contribution by emails to secretary-general@isa.org.jm, indicating the amounts to be contributed and stating if the funds are earmarked for specific projects or unearmarked.
Contributions to the Fund can be deposited to the following bank account:
Name of Account Holder: International Seabed Authority
Bank Name: JPMorgan Chase Bank
Account Number: 000-000-899-308-032
Bank Address: 277 Park Avenue, 23rd Floor, New York, NY 10172-0003, U.S.A.
Swift Code: CHASUS33
ABA: 021000021
2. Please advise the Authority when the contribution has been transferred. Once the transfer has been received, an official receipt will be issued.
Administration of the Fund
The Secretariat is responsible for providing indicative budget information, accounting and financial reporting, grants to recipients and supervision of activities financed under any grant agreement on the Partnership Fund website. ISA will enter into grant agreements with recipients and maintain separate records and ledger accounts for funds deposited in the Partnership Fund and disbursements made. The Secretariat is responsible for supervising activities financed under any grant agreement.
