The recognition of tenure and surrounding human rights (i.e., the rights to a healthy environment, to food, to self-determination) affects who is involved, holds power and can have impact in the governance, management and development of oceans, coasts, rivers, lakes and their shores. The same spaces that support tenure systems are now objects of intensifying conservation, food production, energy, commercial investments and climate responses. The risk that these ignore and overrule existing tenure regimes and rights is real. However, there is also opportunity to ensure processes of planning, development, climate response, conservation and funding commitments are sensitive to tenure and the agency of rights holders.

This fund is designed to support a shift toward more enabling conditions by increasing the depth and diversity of knowledge, perspectives, and voices that hold prominence and experience power in pathways towardfavorable change.

By elevating diverse knowledge and strengthening advocacy capacity, the fund aims to increase the influence that local communities, fisher peoples and Indigenous Peoples have over distant policy decisions that affect their tenure and rights - decisions typically made at global, regional and national levels beyond their usual reach.

Partners to this fund are nominated by our trusted partners and advisors.