Promoting Sustainable Ocean Economies: Guidance for Development Co-operation

This report was originally published by the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) in June 2025.

I worked with colleagues at the OECD’s “Sustainable Ocean for All” initiative and other experts to prepare a guidance document for aid providers on how to most effectively support the ocean with their aid. The guidance document aims to promote best practices in aid for SDG 14 (life under water).

I helped with Chapters 4 (on financing) and 6 (on policy coherence).

Chapter 4: abstract

Ensuring adequate and effective financing

Financial constraints hinder the transition to a sustainable ocean economy. This chapter outlines the role of development co-operation in addressing these bottlenecks. It emphasises the need to improve the use of official development assistance (ODA) in terms of targeting, predictability, and volume, as well as the importance of leveraging ODA strategically to unlock other sources of capital—both public and private. Finally, the chapter provides guidance on specific financing mechanisms and instruments relevant to a sustainable ocean economy, highlighting their particular use cases, requirements, and challenges.

Chapter 6: abstract

Promoting global coherence

The transnational nature of the ocean requires coherent cross-border policies and institutions. This chapter presents recommendations on the role of development co-operation in strengthening global coherence, particularly in light of the ocean’s transnational character. It provides guidance on supporting cross-border institutions that govern the ocean and offers considerations for integrating and harmonising the global ocean finance architecture. Finally, the chapter emphasises the importance of policy coherence for sustainable development—ensuring that providers’ other ocean-related policies complement, rather than undermine, their development co-operation efforts to support sustainable ocean economies.

Read the full report.