BlueActionAA Community-Led Pilot Action Call (BAAC-01) is focused on community-led actions, that are defined as regional and local communities, engaged in collective collaboration for innovation and uptake, acting as agents of change and long-term impact.

BAAC-01 aims to mobilise and engage communities across the Atlantic and Arctic regions in ambitious efforts to restore and protect marine and freshwater ecosystems.

Submitted project proposals to this call shall demonstrably contribute to the following Mission Ocean and Waters specific objectives and targets:

1) Protect and restore marine and freshwater ecosystems and biodiversity, in line with the EU Biodiversity Strategy 2030

a) Protect a minimum of 30% of the EU’s sea area and integrate ecological corridors, as part of a true Trans-European Nature Network.

b) Strictly protect at least 10% of the EU’s sea area. 

c) Restore at least 25,000 km of free-flowing rivers.

d) Contribute to relevant upcoming marine nature restoration targets including degraded seabed habitats and coastal ecosystems.

2) Prevent and eliminate pollution of our ocean, seas and waters, in line with the EU Action Plan Towards Zero Pollution for Air, Water and Soil

a) Contribute to relevant upcoming marine nature restoration targets including degraded seabed habitats and coastal ecosystems.

b) Reduce by at least 50% plastic litter at sea. 

c) Reduce by at least 30% microplastics released into the environment.

d) Reduce by at least 50% nutrient losses, the use and risk of chemical pesticides.

3) Make the Advancing a sustainable blue economy that is carbon-neutral blue and circular economy, in line with the proposed European Climate Law and the comprehensive vision outlined in the Sustainable Blue Economy Strategy

a) Eliminate greenhouse gas emissions from maritime economic activities in the EU and sequester those emissions that cannot be avoided (net zero maritime emissions). 

b) Develop zero-carbon and low-impact aquaculture, and promote circular, low carbon multi-purpose use of marine and water space.

The applicants are expected to address and contribute to at least one of these objectives and targets.

Submission Process

The submission process is supported by the following documents:

1. Online Application Form: completed via the ESF platform and divided in two sections: (1) Preliminary information (2) Proposal Submission: Submission of a PDF describing the Excellence, Impact, and Implementation of the application
2. Guidelines for Applicants: all the information needed before applying, including annexes with the Sub-Grant Agreement, technical guidelines for the platform, and Detailed payment schedule for successful applicants
3. FAQ section: available on the project website.

Those call documents are available via Community-Led Action Call and through the project website www.blueactionaa.eu  

Evaluation Process

The evaluation process will have 5 stages:

1. Eligibility check: A filtering to discard non-eligible proposals (Eligible Entities & Countries)
2. Technical Assessment: External evaluators experts in the field will review each proposal. Evaluators will score proposals based on 3 different evaluation criteria (Excellence, Impact and Implementation)
3. Technical Assessment - Review panel: The evaluators will meet in a panel meeting to discuss the different proposals and establish a ranked list. The evaluators will then produce a consensus report for each application, summarising the panel discussions. Narrative comments (not scores) from the consensus reports will be communicated to the applicants at the time of the announcement of the results
4. BlueActionAA Panel: The ranked results of the Technical Assessment Review panel will be reviewed to ensure geographical coverage of the proposals across the Atlantic & Arctic basins.
5. Announcement of the results: All applicants will be informed about the evaluation process: non-eligible, under threshold, approved but not selected, selected. Each applicant will receive via email the decision and the following steps (if applicable).