Race to Resilience in Action: New finance model protects the ocean for the long term

Partner: Ocean Risk and Resilience Action Alliance (ORRAA) 

Implemeter: Blue Alliance Marine Protected Area

Location & Region: Indonesia, Philippines, Tanzania

SAA Impact System: Resilient Coastal and Ocean Systems

Impact: +26,000 people supported. 1.7 million ha of marine areas managed. USD$ 12 million sought, with US$2.4m debt already funded from BNP Paribas and US$2.1m in grants already secured.

A new blended finance facility is accelerating protection for vital marine ecosystems across the Global South, unlocking sustainable livelihoods for coastal communities while advancing resilience to climate risk. 

Supported by Race to Resilience partner, the Ocean Risk and Resilience Action Alliance (ORRAA), and led by Blue Alliance, the facility channels early stage capital into Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) in countries including Indonesia, the Philippines and Tanzania.

In its first phase, the programme helped manage 1.7 million hectares of ocean, supported + 26,000 people, and mobilised USD$12 million in finance. By combining public and private capital including grants, loans, guarantees, and insurance, the facility is designed to back sustainable, revenue-generating activities. This helps protect marine ecosystems while benefiting coastal communities.

MPAs are a proven tool to restore biodiversity, rebuild fisheries and support tourism. However, nearly 70 per cent fall short of basic management standards, often due to fragmented or short-term funding. Blue Alliance is responding to that challenge by blending public and private finance, including grants, loans, guarantees, and insurance, to fund reef-positive, revenue-generating businesses such as sustainable aquaculture, ecotourism, and blue carbon projects.

Earlier this year, political, financial and corporate leaders gathered to address accelerating threats to marine biodiversity and coastal communities at the United Nations Ocean Conference (UNOC). UNOC’s focus on Sustainable Development Goal 14 (Life Below Water) has made it a global stage for practical action on ocean health.

Learn more about ORRAA and this project here

Race to Resilience

The Race to Resilience is a global campaign working to improve the resilience of 4 billion people to climate risk by 2030. It does this through a network of partners supporting locally led work in areas such as health, food, water and livelihoods. Learn more about the Race to Resilience.