The Philippine blue economy contributed Php 943 billion to national GDP in 2023, with ocean-based industries growing faster than the national economy.¹ Yet many coastal and marine enterprises remain among the least supported by formal investment.
For many of these enterprises, raising capital remains a major barrier. Investors require financial documentation, governance systems, and impact measurement frameworks. These are capabilities that blue economy enterprises often struggle to build on their own.
To help bridge this gap, the Government of Canada, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), and Rare have launched the Blue Economy Investment Philippines—a nature-based investment readiness program designed to support enterprises in becoming investment-ready while strengthening their environmental and social impact.
What the program does
Over four months, selected enterprises will be supported through three key transitions:
- From Micro, small, or medium enterprise (MSME) to Nature-based Solutions (NbS) enterprise – Align what enterprises do with global Nature-based Solutions standards.
- From NbS enterprise to investment proposition – Turn the enterprise’s ecological and social impact into metrics and narratives funders recognize.
- From coastal or marine enterprise to investable deal – Strengthen enterprise financials, governance, and risk management for due diligence.
The program integrates NbS principles, business fundamentals, and inclusive and gender-responsive governance into a co-designed pathway tailored to Philippine coastal and marine enterprises.
What selected enterprises receive
Selected enterprises receive investor-aligned support co-designed to address each enterprise’s specific priorities:
- A 4-day in-person investment readiness workshop covering NbS integration, governance, finance, and socially inclusive business practices
- A co-designed 4-month capacity development journey built around enterprise gaps and priorities, with modular sessions and peer learning
- One-on-one mentorship from funders and investors with real capital experience
- One-on-one technical assistance to develop enterprise pitch deck and governance systems
- Peer learning sessions with fellow blue economy enterprises across the Philippines
- An invitation-only investor showcase connecting founders with funders and ecosystem partners
- Access to investor and funder networks, nationally and internationally, to facilitate fund matching
- Inclusion in the Blue Economy Investment Philippines pipeline
Who can apply
Blue Economy Investment Philippines is open to Philippine-based enterprises operating in the blue economy, including fisheries, aquaculture, ecotourism, coastal restoration, seaweed farming, and sustainable seafood sourcing.
To be eligible, the enterprise must have at least one (1) year of operations and active revenue.
Applications from women-led enterprises, Indigenous Peoples, and enterprises serving underrepresented coastal communities are strongly encouraged.
Apply by April 30, 2026
The Philippine blue economy will only succeed if it is investable, nature-positive, and inclusive.
Applications close April 30, 2026 at 11:59 PM (UTC+8, Manila time).
Apply here: https://bit.ly/blue-economy-investment
The Blue Economy Investment Philippines is an initiative of the Accelerating Green and Climate Finance in the Philippines: Nature-based Solutions (AGCF) Project, funded by the Government of Canada and implemented by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in the Philippines in partnership with the Department of Finance (DOF), Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), and other key government agencies. Rare is supporting UNDP to develop and implement the Blue Economy Investment initiative.
¹ Philippine Statistics Authority, Ocean Economy Statistics, 2023. https://psa.gov.ph/statistics/ocean-economy/node/1684065224