Global Maritime Safety Fund Opens Call for Kenyan Organisations

Last Updated 7 months ago by Kenya Engineer

Kenyan maritime organisations, training institutions, community groups and NGOs have been invited to apply for a new global safety funding programme aimed at strengthening safety across the maritime sector.

The call has been issued by Lloyd’s Register Foundation, an international safety-focused charity, following the launch of Maritime Connected—a grant initiative designed to support projects that identify and address safety gaps within the global maritime system.

Connecting Safety Efforts Across the Sector

According to Lloyd’s Register Foundation, Maritime Connected was developed in response to a recurring challenge in maritime safety: many projects addressing similar risks operate independently, limiting shared learning and, in some cases, leading to unintended consequences.

The programme seeks to address this by connecting organisations, data, and local expertise to create a collaborative network where safety challenges are openly shared and solutions co-developed. Funded projects are expected to contribute to a better understanding of both current and emerging maritime risks, while improving real-world safety outcomes.

Priority areas for funding include:

• Maritime decarbonisation and the transition to new fuels

• Digitalisation and the safe use of data and technology

• Climate change impacts on maritime operations

• Safety at sea, particularly for vulnerable users

Kenya and the African Maritime Sector

Africa’s maritime sector faces the dual challenge of contributing to global decarbonisation efforts while also being disproportionately affected by climate change. Rising sea levels, extreme weather events, and changing ocean conditions are already impacting coastal communities, ports, fisheries, and offshore operations.

In this context, Maritime Connected aims to ensure that African perspectives and locally grounded safety knowledge are included in global maritime discussions. The initiative encourages proposals that reflect regional realities, including the experiences of seafarers, coastal communities, educators, and small maritime enterprises.

Emphasis on Collaboration and Underrepresented Voices

The programme supports activities such as cross-border knowledge-sharing, building local safety skills, and collaboration between organisations that do not typically work together. Particular emphasis is placed on including voices that are often underrepresented in global maritime policy and safety conversations, including women-led organisations, small operators, and coastal communities.

Candace Bentil, Programme Manager at Lloyd’s Register Foundation, noted that connecting people, systems and data can reveal safety patterns that might otherwise go unnoticed—helping prevent accidents before they occur. She also highlighted the global value of local insights, stating that lessons learned in countries such as Kenya can help strengthen maritime safety worldwide.

Funding Levels and Application Timeline

Grants under the Maritime Connected programme range from £2,000 for smaller initiatives and convening activities, up to £60,000 for larger, multi-stakeholder projects addressing complex or emerging safety risks.

Interested organisations are encouraged to apply by 6 February, particularly those with ideas that link people, knowledge, systems, infrastructure, and environmental considerations to improve maritime safety outcomes.

As maritime systems evolve through decarbonisation, digitalisation, and climate adaptation, safety challenges are becoming more interconnected and complex. Initiatives such as Maritime Connected signal a growing recognition that effective safety solutions must be built collaboratively, with strong local leadership and global knowledge exchange.

For Kenya’s maritime sector, the programme presents an opportunity not only to access funding, but also to contribute practical insights that can shape maritime safety standards and practices beyond national borders.

Interested organisations with ideas to connect people, knowledge and systems to improve maritime safety are encouraged to apply to the Maritime Connected grant by 6^th February.

To apply for the Maritime Connected grant, please visit https://www.lrfoundation.org.uk/maritime-connected-funding-offer

To find out more about Maritime Connected, please visit https://www.lrfoundation.org.uk/news/maritime-connected-work-with-us-to-find-and-bridge-the-safety-gaps

To find out more about Lloyd’s Register Foundation, please visit https://www.lrfoundation.org.uk