ProBlue 2018-2030

Support to the implementation of the World Bank's Blue Economy Action Plan through support to the multidonor Umbrella Fund ProBlue and to annual work programs linked to the Action Plan. ProBlue is a Multi-Donor Trust Fund (MDTF) housed at the World Bank, established to take a holistic approach on marine-related development issues, with the aim at supporting an integrated and sustainable economic development in healthy oceans. The Fund's activities shall contribute to achieving integrated and sustainable economic development in healthy seas which the World Bank aims to achieve by reducing the proportion of people living in extreme poverty and by increasing the income of the poorest part of the population in coastal low- and middle income countries and small-island developing states. The World Bank plans to achieve this in the marine area by: 1) improving sustainable supply in the fisheries sector through an improved quantity and quality of the funding directed to the fishery and aquaculture sector from the World Bank and other actors. These will contribute to improved donor coordination for support in the form of technical and financial services to developing economies, as well as stimulating private investment in sustainable fisheries and aquaculture; 2) help prevent and reduce marine pollution and marine litter, as well as contribute to the restoration of marine and coastal ecosystems. The Fund shall contribute to the identification, completion and implementation of financing projects aimed at reducing the amount of marine waste and marine pollution and strengthening countries' ability to carry out the projects; 3) to strengthen eco-friendly economic opportunities in traditional (maritime transport, desalination and tourism) and new maritime-based activities (offshore renewable energy and seaweed cultivation); and 4) contribute to promoting integrated and sustainable development in coastal and marine areas. The Fund is structured in four separate windows, each relating to the four sectors described. Sida's dialogue with the World Bank regarding ProBlue will, within respective window, highlight in particular the importance of working with the following priority areas: a) improved fisheries management and transparency issues in the fisheries sector; b) reduced marine pollution; c) sustainable tourism and sustainable renewable energy; and d) integrated management with a source-to-sea approach. In addition to these priorities, Sida will pursue issues relating to nature-based solutions in general, gender issues and focusing on the activities of the Fund, where it gains the greatest impact on the ability of poor people to live a dignified life with a special focus on low income countries and small-island developing states, and also the development of a guarantee, specifically aimed at achieving the goal of reducing marine litter. Sida's contribution to the implementation of the action plan and work program for the World Bank ProBlue Fund is 300 million SEK for the years 2018 to 2021, which corresponds to approximately 16% of the total budget for the implementation of the Fund's work plans. About 26% of the budget is forwarded.