CALL FOR DECADE ACTIONS 10/2025

Welcome to the Call for Decade Actions No. 10/2025!

On this page you can find all the information you need to participate in the Call for Decade Actions No. 10/2025. Should you have additional questions, please contact oceandecade@unesco.org.

The vision of the Ocean Decade is ‘the science we need for the ocean we want’. The Ocean Decade provides a convening framework for scientists and stakeholders from diverse sectors to develop the scientific knowledge and the partnerships needed to accelerate and harness advances in ocean science to achieve a better understanding of the ocean system, and deliver science-based solutions to achieve the 2030 Agenda.

To achieve the Ocean Decade vision, a wide range of partners will implement endorsed Decade Actions in the form of programmes, projects or activities until 2030 and beyond. Via this Call for Decade Actions, partners are invited to request endorsement under the Ocean Decade for transformative Decade Actions that contribute to the Ocean Decade vision. Proponents are encouraged to consider how their Decade Actions will enhance the sustainability of ocean science, including infrastructure or individual or institutional capacity.

Types of Decade Actions Solicited under the Call for Decade Actions No. 10/2025 

The current Call for Decade Actions is open to initiatives that enhance the science-policy-society nexus, translating scientific evidence into policies for sustainable ocean management and community well-being.

This tenth Call comes as the Decade continues to gain global momentum and ocean issues climb higher on political and social agendas, in a year marked by increased cooperation for a sustainable ocean future — from the 2025 UN Ocean Conference in Nice, France to the planned entry into force of the BBNJ Agreement.

Building on these historic achievements, the Ocean Decade now looks ahead to its next milestone – the  2027 Ocean Decade Conference in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, a flagship event to accelerate ocean action and shape the Decade’s long-term legacy.

In this context and rooted in the priorities of the Barcelona Statement, the new Call for Decade Actions No. 10/2025 invites initiatives that address the most pressing ocean issues and reinforce the science-policy-society interface for evidence-based decision-making.

This Call for Decade Actions will have three different parts. Interested parties should complete and submit the relevant online “Request for Endorsement”. Please note that there are several different online forms and different deadlines depending on the type of Action you are submitting. Please ensure that you complete the online form that corresponds to the type of Decade Action for which you are seeking endorsement and that you carefully check the relevant submission dates:

• Part I – 5 December 2025, 23:59 UTC: Submission of Expression of Interest for Decade Programmes.
• Part II – 31 January 2026, 23:59 UTC: Submission of applications for Decade Projects.
• Part III – 31 January 2026, 23:59 UTC: Submission of applications for Ocean Decade Contributions.

Figure 1: Components of Call for Decade Actions No. 10/2025 and relevant deadlines

Via this call, applicants will be able to submit an Expression of Interest (EOI) for a potential Decade Programme proposal that demonstrates clear links from science and knowledge to policy and decision making.

The proposal can contribute to any of the 10 Decade Challenges and should demonstrate that it:
(i) contributes to one or more of the priorities identified in the Barcelona Statement;
(ii) creates synergies and demonstrates proactive collaboration with existing Decade programmes;
(iii) demonstrates tangible pathways for science and knowledge to inform decision making.

The Decade Coordination Unit will review the submissions for completeness and ask for recommendations of the Decade Advisory Board on which proponents should be invited to make full programme submissions.

Further information on the existing portfolio of Decade programmes can be found on the Ocean Decade website and detailed inquiries can be directed to oceandecade@unesco.org.

There is no geographical limitation for Decade programmes submitted to the Call. However, all applicants will be required to demonstrate how they meaningfully involve partners from Africa or in Small Island Developing States, Least Developed Countries including Land-Locked Developing Countries.

This component of the Call closed on 5 December 2025.

A Decade Project is a discrete and focused undertaking. It may be regional, national or subnational and it will typically contribute to an existing Ocean Decade Programme.

This Call is soliciting projects that will contribute to endorsed Decade programmes that have chosen to be part of the Call. Of the currently endorsed programmes, 23 are soliciting projects via the current Call for Decade Actions No. 10/2025.

Applicants interested in submitting a Project to an endorsed Decade Programme are requested to carefully read the descriptions of the Programmes contained in Annex I of the Guidance Note, available at the bottom of this page; as well as relevant information on any geographic or thematic priorities that the programmes have identified for the Call.

Contact details for all Programmes are listed in Annex I and applicants should contact the relevant Programme directly for any questions on scientific or substantive issues related to the project solicitation. As part of the application form, proponents will be asked to indicate if they have been in contact with the relevant Decade Programme. It is recognised that projects can contribute to more than one endorsed Decade Programme. In that case, applicants should apply to be associated with the Programme that they believe has the strongest link and describe other links and contributions in the narrative of the application.

To submit an application for a Decade Project, please fill out this online form by 31 January 2026, 23:59 UTC.

Decisions on project applications will be made in the first semester of 2026.

Decade Contributions are focused on providing in-kind or financial support to the Ocean Decade or to Decade Actions. This Call will accept Contributions in a variety of areas, without thematic or regional restrictions. The proposals presented need to have all the resources secured for their implementation.

Decade Contributions applications are accepted on a rolling basis, but applicants are encouraged to fill out this online form by 31 January 2026, 23:59 UTC.

Decisions on contribution applications will be made towards the first semester of 2026.

During the preparation of submissions, we strongly encourage interested parties to consult and, where possible, collaborate with other institutions and partners working on common issues.

Two virtual information sessions took place on 29 October and 4 November to provide interested parties with additional information on the Call for Decade Actions No. 10/2025. Click on the links below to watch the recordings:

• Information Session 1
• Information Session 2

Proponents are strongly encouraged to contact any relevant thematic or regional decentralised coordination structures of the Ocean Decade (i.e. Decade Coordination Offices – DCOs or Decade Collaborative Centres – DCCs) and any relevant National Decade Committee, as well as referencing any relevant regional action plans or roadmaps, in the development of their proposals. As part of the application form, proponents will be asked to indicate if they have been in contact with these structures.  

More information on decentralised coordination structures can be found here, while more information on existing National Decade Committees can be found here. 

The 23 Ocean Decade Programmes receiving applications are: 

1. Global Ocean Corps and Conveyor
2. Early Career Ocean Professionals Programme (ECOPs)
3. Ocean Biomolecular Observing Network (OBON)
4. Challenger 150 – A Decade to Study Deep-sea Life 
5. Fisheries Strategies for Changing Oceans and Resilient Ecosystems (FishSCORE 2030) 
6. Global Ocean Oxygen Decade (GOOD)  
7. Sustainability of Marine Ecosystems through global knowledge networks (SmartNET) 
8. SUstainability, Predictability and REsilience of Marine Ecosystems (SUPREME) 
9. Deep Ocean Observing Strategy (DOOS) 
10. Deltas associated with large rivers: Seeking solutions to the problem of sustainability (Mega Deltas) 
11. Global Ecosystem for Ocean Solutions (GEOS)
12. Global Estuaries Monitoring (GEM) Programme
13. Joint Exploration of the Twilight Zone Ocean Network (JETZON) 
14. Ocean Acidification Research for Sustainability (OARS) 
15. Global Ocean Negative Carbon Emission (Global ONCE) 
16. Global Ocean Decade Programme for Blue Carbon (GO-BC) 
17. Digital Deep-sea Typical Habitats (Digital DEPTH) 
18. Western Indian Ocean Marine Conservation Program (MARCOP) 
19. Deep Ocean Microbiomes and Ecosystems (DOME) 
20. Global Subseafloor Ecosystem and Sustainability (GSES) 
21. The Global Ocean Artificial Light at Night Network (GOALANN) 
22. Mitigation of Natural Incidence Towards an Increased Oceanic Resilience (MoNITOR) 
23. Global Hadal Exploration Programme (GHEP)

In addition, all applicants are strongly encouraged to consult the following documents before submitting their application: