Become a Member of the Partners4Ocean Community

The Partners4Ocean Community is intended as an inclusive network of stakeholders willing to be actively engaged in connecting existing ocean literacy activities in Europe and shaping future actions. It is a membership-based Platform, requiring interested stakeholders to apply through an online application form. This is a fast process, with a short turn-around for approval.

Membership of the Partners4Ocean Community is primarily at an organisation (or a faculty/department of an organisation) or project/initiative level, to demonstrate the applicant’s willingness and capability (e.g., resources to engage in the Partners4Ocean Community activities). Initiatives with no legal entity or individuals are also welcome to apply where they can demonstrate relevant ongoing and future activities relevant to Partners4Ocean Community activities.

Please note that you need to login to the webpage to access the application form below. Read the full text below for detailed information on the Partners4Ocean Community and the step-by-step procedure to apply.

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Eligibility criteria

Stakeholders applying for Partners4Ocean Community membership will be asked to demonstrate their ability and/or willingness to meet the following eligibility criteria:

• be a European stakeholder, or an international one that can demonstrate concrete interactions, collaborations or joint activities with European stakeholders;
• be a representative of at least one key target group of the Partners4Ocean Community, namely science (public and private research with a primary focus on Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics and social sciences), policy makers and decision-makers, industry and business, financial institutions, media, civil society e.g. NGOs, philanthropists, art and culture, educational organisations and initiatives;
• be able to explain the benefit and contribution of the particular stakeholder and its sector/domain to the efforts of the Partners4Ocean Community and wider coalition;
• be already actively working in the area of Ocean Literacy, including activities spanning ocean awareness and communication, ocean advocacy, ocean literacy resource design, implementation and sharing, marine and maritime education, careers and skills;
• provide examples of where the organisation’s ocean literacy efforts are directly contributing to develop European capability and best practice in ocean literacy across the ocean literacy knowledge system, including as providers or aggregators of data, information or knowledge underpinning the marine knowledge base and value chain (e.g., universities, research laboratories, maritime networks, technology and innovation platforms);
• demonstrate through existing examples or proposed resources the motivation and capacity of their organisation (or individual) to actively contribute to relevant ocean literacy activities of the Partners4Ocean Community;
• show motivation and willingness to comply with the guiding principles of the Partners4Ocean Community, including an open philosophy to share and co-create ocean literacy activities, resources and tools for the benefit of Partners4Ocean and, ultimately, wider society;
• show willingness to share experiences and openness to form new partnerships and jointly implement new joint activities under the label Partners4Ocean;
• show willingness to integrate Youth into all ocean literacy activities and offer coaching and mentorship to the Youth through the Youth4Ocean Forum, potentially including mentorship for schools involved in the Network of European Blue Schools.

Stakeholders should strive to provide motivation, explanation and, where possible, concrete evidence, to meet as many eligibility criteria as possible, recognising that stakeholders have a diversity of skills and resources so are not required to meet all eligibility criteria.

It is recognised that each stakeholder will bring specific skill-sets and offer multiple methods and levels of engagement. Some organisations will be willing to play a fully active role from the start, whilst others may need time to develop awareness, capacity and resources in their country or sector. In addition, individuals and organisations with an interest, but no prior experience in ocean literacy, or lack of access to resources, also need to have ways to engage and feel part of the Partners4Ocean Community without initial commitment or active resource contribution.
 

Key roles for Partners4Ocean Community members

• Committing to the EU movement and narrative of Partners4Ocean coalition, acting as informal ambassadors to drive connection and momentum that drives societal change;
• Actively participating in the Partners4Ocean Community meetings and activities, including discussions around ocean topics;
• Working proactively and synergistically in a multi-stakeholder environment;
• Bringing expertise and knowledge e.g. in marine and maritime research, policy, conservation, management, education;
• Being open and inclusive, forming new partnerships and co-designing ocean literacy activities, actions and campaigns at multiple geographical scales;
• Offering expertise to mentor and coach other members of the Community and the Youth, in particular members of the Youth4Ocean Forum  and the Network of European Blue Schools;
• Engaging in relevant events and dissemination, contributing to planning and promoting Partners4Ocean activities at sea-basin, national and local levels.

Find answers to your questions in the Partners4Ocean brochure

What are the benefits of joining the Partners4Ocean Community? What are the key activities organised by the EU4Ocean Coalition that you could contribute to as a Community member? Read the Partners4Ocean Community brochure to find out the answers to these questions and others!

Letter of Intent Template

Submit your application

Step 1: Submit your application via the EU Survey

Go to the EU Survey and fill the form

Apply now
 

Step 2: Write your Letter of Intent

In the application form, you will be asked to upload an intent letter which describes your motivation to become a member of the Partners4Ocean Community and how your organisation could contribute to it. Please find below a template that you can use for this letter. 

Download the template

If you have not found answers to your question(s), please do not hesitate to contact us at infoeu4ocean [dot] eu (info[at]eu4ocean[dot]eu)

Step 3: Verify your email 

After filling the application form, our team of facilitators will review your application, and you should receive information about the status of your application a few days after your submission. 

Partners4Ocean Community application form 
 

If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact the Partners4Ocean Community facilitators at infoeu4ocean [dot] eu (info[at]eu4ocean[dot]eu)