The UK Government’s £500 million Blue Planet Fund (BPF) is a global initiative dedicated to protecting marine ecosystems, tackling climate change and supporting sustainable livelihoods. Launched in 2021, the fund targets critical issues such as:
- biodiversity loss
- marine pollution
- depletion of fish stocks due to unsustainable and illegal fishing practices
The BPF recognises the vital role of healthy oceans in mitigating climate change and preserving biodiversity, and aligns with the UK’s international commitments including the UN Sustainable Development Goals and the Paris Agreement.
We are providing the insights needed to maximise the impact of the BPF on protecting oceans and securing futures for coastal communities.
About the UK Government’s Global Marine Development portfolio
The portfolio prioritises developing countries where communities often rely heavily on marine resources for food security and economic stability. It aims to:
- enhance the resilience of marine ecosystems
- improve ocean governance
- support sustainable blue economies and tackle poverty.
Key areas of focus include protecting vital habitats such as coral reefs and mangroves, reducing plastic and other forms of marine pollution, and addressing illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing.
In addition to safeguarding marine biodiversity, the portfolio fosters collaboration between governments, NGOs and local communities to develop sustainable practices and policies. It emphasises the interconnectedness of ocean health and global climate resilience, highlighting the ocean’s critical role in carbon storage and regulating the planet’s temperature.
Our role
In collaboration with Howell Marine Consulting, Itad is leading delivery of the Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning (MEL) Facility for the BPF.
The MEL Facility has three core objectives:
- Strengthen evidence on the portfolio’s impact.
- Identify and promote best practices while fostering collaboration and learning across BPF programmes and the broader marine development community.
- Enhance strategic alignment and inform future marine programming.
As part of this work, Itad is responsible for designing and conducting evaluations at the portfolio level, including process, impact and value-for-money (VfM) assessments. We will regularly revise and update the portfolio’s Theory of Change (ToC) and deliver interim and final evaluations in 2027 and 2030. Annual modular evaluations and thematic evidence reviews will provide ongoing insights to improve programme coordination and implementation.
To track progress, we will develop a user-friendly dashboard to monitor the sustainability of programme impacts by assessing results after programme closures.
Beyond evaluations, Itad will support learning and collaboration by convening stakeholders to review progress, share knowledge, and discuss strategies for portfolio adaptation. Activities will include webinars, regional conferences and the development of a knowledge exchange platform.
A strong emphasis will be placed on Gender Equality and Social Inclusion (GESI). Itad will integrate GESI into all evaluations and champion its importance in ensuring that programmes benefit the most marginalised and vulnerable coastal communities.
Outcomes
Through our work, we will provide the evidence and insights needed to strengthen the UK Government’s delivery of BPF, ensuring it has a sustainable and meaningful impact on protecting oceans and coastal communities.
By strengthening coordination and knowledge sharing we aim to enhance strategic alignment across the UK Government’s marine portfolio and inform future programming.
Supporting programme-level outcomes
In addition to Fund-level MEL services, we are providing independent MEL services to the UK Government’s Climate and Ocean Adaptation and Sustainable Transition (COAST) and Ocean Community Empowerment and Nature (OCEAN) programmes, including:
- Delivering ongoing learning to contribute to improvements in design and delivery
- Assessing achievements and impact
- Providing technical support to delivery partners
Through these programmes, we aim to facilitate more effective community-led transformation and enable co-benefits for people, climate and nature.
