From 2022 to 2026, Ocean Country Partnership Programme (OCPP) Scholarships supported the next generation of marine scientists across partner countries in Africa, Asia, the Caribbean and the Pacific.
The Ocean Country Partnership Programme (OCPP) Scholarships programme closed as planned in March 2026.
Funded through the UK Government's Blue Planet Fund, the OCPP Scholarships supported early and mid-career researchers to undertake postgraduate study in marine science and related fields.
The programme aimed to strengthen research capacity in OCPP partner countries and support the next generation of marine scientists addressing some of the world's most pressing marine environmental challenges, including marine pollution, sustainable seafood, and marine biodiversity.
Through fully funded Master's scholarships, and a small number of PhD opportunities in the South Pacific, scholars undertook research designed to contribute to the conservation and sustainable management of marine resources while supporting sustainable development in coastal communities.
Hosted by leading universities across Africa, Asia, the Caribbean and the Pacific, the scholarships enabled researchers to develop their expertise, conduct locally relevant research, and help shape solutions to marine environmental challenges in their home countries.
OCPP Virtual Capacity Strengthening Programme
Alongside the scholarships, OCPP scholars participated in the OCPP Virtual Capacity Strengthening Programme, delivered by the ACU in partnership with the International Network for Advancing Science and Policy (INASP).
This bespoke online training programme provided professional development opportunities focused on policy engagement, community participation, research impact, and proposal writing.
The programme also encouraged collaboration and cohort-building across countries, helping scholars strengthen their professional networks and maximise the impact of their research.
Participating countries and universities
The OCPP Scholarships supported scholars from 11 partner countries, working with universities across the Global South to strengthen marine science research and innovation. Participating countries and host institutions included:
- OCPP Bangladesh – Bangladesh Agricultural University
- OCPP Belize – University of Belize
- OCPP Ghana – University of Cape Coast
- OCPP India – Berhampur University; Cochin University of Science and Technology (CUSAT)
- OCPP Maldives – The University of the South Pacific
- OCPP Mozambique – Universidade Eduardo Mondlane; Universidade Lúrio
- OCPP Senegal – Université Iba Der Thiam de Thiès
- OCPP South Pacific (Fiji, Solomon Islands, Vanuatu) – The University of the South Pacific
- OCPP Sri Lanka – University of Kelaniya; University of Peradeniya
‘Indigenous Knowledge plays a critical role in enabling resilience and facilitating climate change adaptation for coastal communities in Vanuatu…The OCPP Scholarships enable our member countries in the South West Pacific to dig deep into the local level research that touches the hearts of those who are most vulnerable to the impact of climate change.
Learn more about the scholars, their research interests, and the impact of their work through our scholar profiles:
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The Ocean Country Partnership Programme (OCPP) was a UK Government-led development programme under the Blue Planet Fund, delivered by Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science (Cefas), the Joint Nature Conservation Committee (JNCC) and the Marine Management Organisation (MMO) on behalf of the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra)
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You can find more information on the wider activities of the programme here
Funded with UK aid from the UK government.