Valuing the Ocean: The Gulbenkian Oceans Initiative
Establishing a Marine CoLABoration
Valuing the Ocean: The Gulbenkian Oceans Initiative
Marine ecosystems are essential for human wellbeing, providing critical services such as food
provisioning, livelihoods, climate regulation, and recreation. But their contribution to human welfare
is rarely accounted for in decision-making. At the Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation we believe that
understanding more clearly the value of marine ecosystem services and communicating this more
effectively to decision makers and to the general public are critical tools in securing the
conservation, restoration and sustainable management of our seas. This is why we’ve launched
Valuing the Ocean: The Gulbenkian Oceans Initiative, which is focused on the valuation of marine
ecosystem services and on increasing the capacity of the environmental sector to communicate the
role of the oceans in human well-being.
What will the Foundation do?
Valuing the Ocean comprises two strands. The first, led from Portugal, is supporting scientific
research on the economic valuation of marine ecosystem services, through a specific pilot study in
Portugal. It will also facilitate a range of activities to increase public understanding of marine
ecosystem services and promote policy action. Further information is available here:
www.gulbenkian.pt/Institucional/en/Activities/ProgrammesAndProjects/GulbenkianOceansInitiative
The second, led from the UK, aims to increase the capacity of the environmental sector to
communicate the role of the ocean in human wellbeing, culture and prosperity, particularly through
collaboration with others. It will take an experimental approach, establishing a ‘Marine
CoLABoration’ with organisations interested in exploring how the sector can make the case for
positive change in the management and protection of the ocean and deploy evidence in more
effective ways. The LAB will have a particular interest in looking at how better to bridge the gaps
between innovative local practice and influence at national and EU levels, and how to convey the
intrinsic as well as socio-economic value of the sea. It will aim to help connect organisations large
and small.
Why a ‘LAB’ approach?
A laboratory provides the space and facilities for people to question the old, explore and test the
new, and a ‘lab approach’ is increasingly being used in the social sector with good results, for
example the Finance Innovation Lab set up by WWF-UK and ICAEW.
Recent research from the Environmental Funders’ Network suggests that there is too little time and
resource available for NGOs to reflect on their work, to innovate, and to invest in the skills that
support more high-risk, but potentially high impact, strategies. NGOs may focus on strengthening
the scientific evidence base at the expense of influencing policy and practice at national and
European levels, where most environmental legislation is developed. NGOs have also identified a
lack of capacity in a number of critical areas including economics and finance, lobbying, and strategic
communications. At the same time, philanthropic funding is spread thinly across the sector and not
always playing to its strengths: freedom, flexibility, ambition, and the capacity to try new things.
At the Foundation, we are keen to work with the sector to help address some of these issues. We
hope that establishing the Marine CoLABoration will provide the reflective ‘space’ and resources to
help the sector to build on success, learn from other sectors and parts of the world, and identify and
develop tools and narratives with the potential to increase the scale and pace of beneficial change.
What will the UK strand look like?
In the first phase (2014-16), the Marine CoLABoration will comprise a small group of organisations,
which will meet regularly over a period of two years with the aim of strengthening existing practice
and exploring new. We intend the LAB to be purposeful but not prescriptive in its approach, focused
on the outcomes we seek, but shaped by the group and collaborative to its core. The Foundation
will provide an independent facilitator to guide the work and organise a programme of activities in
partnership with the group. We will also commission an evaluator to help the LAB develop a flexible
evaluation framework and appropriate measures of progress. Depending on outcomes, phase two of
the strand (2017-19) will provide follow-up support for LAB outputs and approaches.
Alongside the LAB, the Foundation may support a small number of outstanding initiatives, which
have the potential to increase the capacity of the sector to communicate and collaborate in
significant ways. We also aim to foster a wider learning community, providing channels for influence
and exchange.
Who will the Foundation work with?
In the UK, most of the Foundation’s support is proactive. Through our research and scoping activities
over the past year, we have already become aware of a small number of ‘change-maker’ NGOs with,
we believe, the curiosity to explore new avenues and the skills and ambition to increase the impact
of the sector overall. However, if you think you may not yet be on our radar, feel that this
description fits your organisation and can make a compelling case for participation, and are a not for
profit organisation registered in the UK or Republic of Ireland (or working in collaboration with one),
please get in touch via the ‘expression of interest’ form below . This should be emailed to
ocean@gulbenkian.org.uk by 31 May 2014. We are especially keen to involve organisations with
proven success in cross-sectoral collaborations and/or in communicating the value of the ocean
beyond the marine NGO sector.
What is involved?
Participation in the LAB will require a commitment from an organisation’s chief executive or a
member of the senior management team to be an active and engaged member of the group, willing
to provide up to ten working days of their time a year, inclusive of meetings and other activities. It is
likely that at least one meeting will be held in Portugal.
What support will we provide?
The Foundation will provide financial support to each successful organisation to a) cover the cost of
a senior member of staff participating in the LAB and b), where appropriate, to contribute towards
the cost of an activity in which the organisation is already involved or which it would like to explore.
Participation costs may include staff time, travel and support (e.g. staff cover for time away from
other duties). The cost of travelling to Portugal for up to two meetings over the two years should
also be included. Activities must be broadly relevant to the LAB’s interests and/or aimed at building
the capacity of the organisation to influence.
Depending on the progress of the LAB, a budget in the region of £500,000 will be available in 201516 to help develop collaborations, test initiatives and disseminate learning emerging from LAB
activities, although participation in the LAB will not be a guarantee of follow-on funding.
What is the decision process?
The deadline for submitting expressions of interest is 31 May 2014. Decisions will be made by the
end of June when a small number of organisations will be invited to develop full proposals in
partnership with the Foundation. These will need to be submitted to the Foundation by 31 July, with
decisions agreed in early September and the first meeting of the LAB likely to be in Portugal in late
September or early October. Please note that the final group will be small: we anticipate that no
more than ten organisations will be involved.
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Expression of interest in the Marine CoLABoration
The Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation welcomes applications from not-for-profit organisations
registered in the UK or Republic of Ireland (or those working in collaboration with such
organisations) who have a keen interest in participating in the Marine CoLABoration.
To apply, please complete the form below, which should be emailed to: ocean@gulbenkian.org.uk
by no later than 31 May 2014.
APPLICANT (the person who will participate in LAB meetings)
Name
Role
Address
Email
Telephone
Link to brief CV
(please send attachment
if not available online)
ORGANISATION
Name
Status
(e.g. registered charity,
CIC)
Number of staff
Annual income and
expenditure
Link to website
Link to latest annual
review and accounts
(please send attachment
if not available online)
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1. What compelling reasons are there for the participation of your organisation and what distinctive
contribution might you bring? (maximum 200 words)
2. Who else would you like to see involved in the LAB and why? What distinctive contribution might
they bring? (This might be specific individuals or organisations or it might be particular sectors.)
(maximum 200 words)
3. What questions, collaborations, ideas and/or initiatives would you be particularly keen to explore
and test with the help of the LAB? (maximum 250 words)
4. How would your participation help to strengthen the capacity of your organisation to
communicate the value of the ocean and/or to influence change? (maximum 200 words)
5. How do you believe your participation would help to strengthen the capacity of the
environmental NGO sector to influence change? (maximum 200 words)
6. What financial support would be needed for you to participate in the LAB over two years?
Please provide an estimate figure below and attach an outline budget indicating likely costs
and expenditure.
7. Do you have any questions about the Marine coLABoration or concerns about participation?
(Depending on the volume of replies, we may respond to your questions through an FAQ update
on the website.)
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