MAR News

Photo: Raíces Marinas

The Mesoamerican Reef Fund (MAR Fund), in collaboration with the German Cooperation through KfW, the French Global Environment Facility (FFEM), the Paul M. Angell Foundation, and the Central American Commission for Environment and Development (CCAD), is proud to announce the nine winning projects of the 17th Call for Proposals under the Small Grants Program, through its two funding windows: the Traditional Window and the Reef Rescue Initiative.

These projects were selected for their strong potential to conserve the ecosystem functions of the Mesoamerican Reef System (MAR) and to strengthen its resilience. The initiatives will be implemented in Mexico, Belize, and Honduras, addressing critical challenges to the well-being of coastal communities and the health of the marine ecosystem.

The selection process evaluated technical merit, environmental and social impact, financial viability, and the experience of the proposing organizations. The winners include non-governmental and academic institutions, with active participation from communities, women’s groups, and key government stakeholders. All organizations will apply MAR Fund’s Environmental and Social Management System (ESMS) during project implementation.

The winning projects focus on these strategic themes:

• Sustainable ventures that deliver environmental and social benefits, including women-led initiatives
• Strengthening the resilience of protected areas and coastal communities against climate change
• Improved wastewater and solid waste management, essential for reef protection
• Conservation of fish spawning aggregations, vital for regional fisheries sustainability
• Coral reef restoration, repopulation, and rehabilitation techniques, grounded in science and community participation

“MAR Fund celebrates the passion and creativity of all the selected organizations. We are excited to see new proposals taking shape, as well as to continue supporting partners who have worked with us in previous calls. The diversity of the winning projects reinforces our comprehensive approach to MAR conservation. Each project adds up, and together we move towards a more resilient, healthy, and sustainable reef.” — Elisa Blanda, Small Grants Program Officer

MAR Fund congratulates all participating organizations and winners for their commitment and dedication to the MAR. Their work demonstrates how local action, driven by science, innovation, inclusion, and community participation, can transform the future of marine and coastal ecosystems.

We are pleased to share the details of the nine winning projects from this call for proposals. (Click to view full-size):

(Photos courtesy of the winning organizations, authorized for publication).