SUVA, Fiji–“The Pacific Ocean is central to the region’s livelihoods, cultures, and future.”
These words from Dr Filimon Manoni, Pacific Ocean Commissioner, captured the sentiments expressed across two weeks of environment and ocean meetings held in Fiji.
The Pacific Community (SPC), the Office of the Pacific Ocean Commissioner (OPOC) and Conservation International (CI) engaged with Pacific Island countries, regional organisations, development partners and donors during the Global Environment Facility (GEF) Expanded Constituency Week in Nadi, Fiji on 26 March 2026 to advance the development of the Unlocking Blue Pacific Prosperity (UBPP) through the Ocean Flagship $USD20 million proposal.
The engagement follows the approval of the project concept by the GEF Council in 2025 and marks the start of a year-long project preparation phase to design a major regional investment programme aimed at strengthening ocean stewardship, advancing sustainable blue food systems and unlocking inclusive blue economy opportunities across the Pacific.
Unlocking Blue Pacific Prosperity (UBPP) is a Pacific-led finance and investment initiative endorsed by Pacific leaders to mobilise rapid targeted investment for 100 per cent management of the Blue Pacific Continent, including 30 per cent protection. Since its launch in 2023, UBPP has helped catalyse significant international support for Pacific Ocean priorities, so far raising $USD130 million from philanthropic partners such as the Bezos Earth Fund, the Great Barrier Reef Foundation, and the multilateral partner, the Global Environment Facility (GEF). Lemalu Karena Lyons, Director, Partnerships, Integration and Resource Mobilisation at SPC, confirmed that $USD 37.5 million had already been disbursed across 12 countries by the end of 2025, demonstrating that Pacific countries are dynamic and action-ready when partners are willing to work alongside us.
By collaborating with governments, regional organisations, development partners and philanthropies under a shared continent-wide framework, UBPP aims to bring $USD 500 million in new and diversified funding into the region, channelled into catalytic investments in ocean management, conservation and food systems that lead to prosperity for Pacific people.
SPC’s Ocean Flagship represents a key delivery mechanism for translating the UBPP vision into coordinated action. Through strengthened regional collaboration, targeted investment and shared learning systems, the Ocean Flagship aims to deliver lasting environmental, social and economic benefits at scale across the Pacific.
While offering her remarks, SPC’s Deputy Director-General Maria Fuata noted that UBPP, through the Ocean Flagship, reflects a growing maturity in Pacific partnerships, where governments, regional organisations, development partners and philanthropies are aligning their efforts under a shared framework to strengthen ocean governance and deliver coordinated, long-term regional impact.
“By aligning our efforts across countries and institutions, we are not only accelerating action for the ocean, but we are also building the systems that will sustain it for generations.”
Indicative impact targets highlight the scale of ambition, including improved management of 840 million hectares of marine habitat, 2,900 tonnes of fisheries moved toward sustainable levels, and two shared water ecosystems under new or strengthened cooperative management. UBPP, through the Ocean Flagship programme, is expected to directly benefit more than 3 million people, including nearly 1.5 million women.
Head of Programming at the GEF, Dr Fred Boltz, highlighted that the UBPP and the proposal reflect strong Pacific leadership.
“We all have a front row seat to a fundamental shift—from seeing the ocean not as a development barrier to overcome, to recognising it as the source of prosperity, identity and resilience for Pacific Large Ocean States,” he said.
Further engagement on the proposal took place during Pacific Oceans Finance Week, held at the Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat (PIFS) in Suva on 3 March, where ocean and finance professionals discussed the project design in greater detail, including the proposal’s sustainable financing mechanisms.
A central feature of the proposal is to build a long-term capability to advance the blue economy and finance, which will support Pacific Island Countries in moving beyond fragmented project financing by mobilising sustainable investment, strengthening project pipelines, and connecting blue economy opportunities with diverse sources of finance.
Beyond investment mobilisation, the proposal also places strong emphasis on regional learning and knowledge sharing. By strengthening shared data systems and platforms for collaboration, countries and communities will be better equipped to adapt, innovate and scale effective ocean stewardship practices.
The Pacific Ocean Commissioner, Dr Filimon Manoni, emphasised that the Pacific Ocean lies at the heart of the region’s identity and future. He noted that the 2050 Strategy for the Blue Pacific Continent calls for stronger regional institutions, for science and traditional knowledge to work together, and for coordinated financing to achieve sustainable ocean management and biodiversity protection.
“Our ocean defines who we are as a region. Achieving 100 per cent sustainable management while protecting 30 per cent of global biodiversity is not only an environmental goal, but also essential to safeguarding our livelihoods, cultures and future.”
The proposed UBPP through the Ocean Flagship programme will be developed by SPC and the Office of the Pacific Ocean Commissioner as the executing agencies, working closely with Conservation International as the GEF accredited agency, reinforcing Pacific leadership, regional collaboration and long-term sustainability.
