The United Nations Capital Development Fund (UNCDF) has officially joined the Ocean Action 2030 Coalition, reflecting its recognition as a trusted partner in mobilizing finance for a resilient blue economy. The announcement was made at COP30, where global leaders have joined together to emphasize the urgency of scaling ocean-positive investment.

UNCDF’s membership in the Coalition underscores its unique capital mandate within the UN system and ability to unlock investment in the world’s most underserved markets. Leveraging its expertise in blended finance, UNCDF designs and deploys catalytic instruments, including guarantees, concessional finance, and investment grants, to help crowd in private capital and strengthen local financial ecosystems.

Through this approach, UNCDF is advancing ocean-positive solutions in Small Island Developing States and developing coastal economies by strengthening local financial ecosystems, mobilizing domestic capital, and demonstrating investment viability in markets that larger financiers cannot yet reach. By absorbing early-stage risk and shaping bankable pipelines, UNCDF creates the conditions for national development banks, commercial lenders, Development Finance Institutions, and Multilateral Development Banks to enter with greater scale, ensuring that ocean-related investments mature into opportunities that attract sustained public and private finance.

Through its work with the Global Fund for Coral Reefs (GFCR) and the One Ocean Finance Facility, UNCDF provides solid financial platforms that make ocean action implementable. These initiatives, together with its insurance programs in the Pacific, help manage risk, protect livelihoods, and support communities where ocean-based economies are most critical.

“We are thrilled to welcome UNCDF to Ocean Action 2030,” said Cynthia Barzuna, Director of Ocean Action 2030. “Their leadership in mobilising catalytic and blended finance for least developed countries and small island developing states is exactly what we need to move from commitments to implementation. By joining forces, we can help countries design and deliver Sustainable Ocean Plans that unlock inclusive blue economies while protecting the ocean for future generations.”

“Joining the Ocean Action 2030 Coalition is a significant milestone for UNCDF,” said Pradeep Kurukulasuriya, Executive Secretary of UNCDF. “It reflects the credibility and trust our partners place in our ability to unlock capital for ocean-positive solutions. We look forward to contributing our expertise to accelerate investment in regenerative and resilient blue economies and to supporting vulnerable coastal and island communities.”