Blue Carbon Hub Early Career Ocean Professionals Program 2026: Fully Funded Eight-Week Placement in Perth, Australia
Applications Open for the Blue Carbon Hub Early Career Ocean Professionals Program 2026
The Blue Carbon Hub is accepting applications for the 2026 Early Career Ocean Professionals Program, an intensive international placement designed to strengthen the skills, knowledge and professional networks of emerging ocean professionals from Indian Ocean Rim Association Member States.
Successful participants will travel to Perth, Western Australia, to undertake a focused project with the Blue Carbon Hub at the Indian Ocean Marine Research Centre. The program will run from 5 October to 27 November 2026, providing approximately eight weeks for participants to develop and complete projects connected to blue carbon science, finance or policy.
The initiative is intended to produce practical knowledge and recommendations that can help Indian Ocean Rim Association Member States protect, restore and sustainably manage blue carbon ecosystems. Participants will be expected to work closely with the Blue Carbon Hub and, where applicable, a nominated project collaborator throughout the placement.
Why Blue Carbon Ecosystems Matter
Blue carbon ecosystems are coastal and marine environments that capture, store and manage significant quantities of carbon. They are closely connected with environmental protection, economic security, climate resilience and the wellbeing of coastal communities.
According to the Blue Carbon Hub’s official call, these ecosystems contribute to:
- Food security;
- Sustainable livelihoods;
- Climate change mitigation;
- Climate change adaptation;
- Reduced disaster risk;
- Coastal resilience;
- Protection from coastal hazards; and
- Long-term environmental sustainability.
When blue carbon ecosystems are degraded, they may shift from functioning as carbon sinks to becoming major sources of greenhouse gas emissions. Their deterioration can therefore intensify climate risks while weakening the natural and economic systems upon which coastal communities depend.
Strengthening scientific knowledge, developing effective public policies, creating appropriate governance frameworks and identifying sustainable financial pathways are therefore essential for their protection and restoration. The Early Career Ocean Professionals Program responds to these needs by bringing emerging professionals into a practical environment where they can contribute research, analysis and policy-oriented solutions.
Program Location and Duration
The 2026 program will be hosted by the Blue Carbon Hub at the Indian Ocean Marine Research Centre in Perth, Australia.
Important program dates
- Application deadline: Midnight on 7 August 2026
- Notification of application outcome: By 31 August 2026
- Program starting date: 5 October 2026
- Program ending date: 27 November 2026
- Expected commitment: Eight weeks in Australia
The online application form specifically asks applicants whether they can commit to eight weeks in Australia. It provides response options for applicants who can attend the full period, cannot attend or are available for six weeks or less. Applicants should therefore assess their availability carefully before submitting an application.
What Participants Will Do During the Program
Selected early-career professionals will undertake a focused, self-directed project with the Blue Carbon Hub. The project should fall within one of the program’s three main areas:
- Blue carbon science
- Blue carbon finance
- Blue carbon policy
Applicants are encouraged to propose their own innovative project ideas rather than selecting from a predetermined list of assignments. Projects may involve original analysis, synthesis of existing knowledge, preparation of policy recommendations or other practical outputs relevant to blue carbon protection and restoration.
The application form requires applicants to identify whether their proposed project falls under science, finance or policy. Applicants must also provide a project title, a detailed project description and an explanation of how the proposed work will be broadly relevant to IORA Member States.
Types of Projects That May Be Proposed
The program allows a variety of project formats, provided that the proposed activity is relevant to the program’s blue carbon themes and can realistically be completed during the placement.
Projects may include:
- Original scientific research;
- Reviews of academic or technical literature;
- Policy briefs;
- Finance-related analysis;
- Governance or institutional studies;
- Evaluation of blue carbon conservation strategies;
- Development of practical recommendations;
- Comparative analysis across IORA Member States;
- Limited field-based activities;
- Data analysis;
- Preparation of regional knowledge products; or
- Other innovative activities connected with blue carbon science, finance or policy.
The official guidance emphasizes that projects should be focused, achievable and designed to produce meaningful outcomes within the eight-week placement period. Participants are expected to complete their projects while working with the Blue Carbon Hub.
Potential Blue Carbon Project Areas
Although the official call does not prescribe a fixed list of project topics, applicants may consider developing proposals related to areas such as:
- Conservation and restoration of mangroves;
- Seagrass ecosystem protection;
- Coastal wetland management;
- Blue carbon measurement and accounting;
- Climate finance for coastal restoration;
- Community-based conservation models;
- Governance of blue carbon ecosystems;
- Coastal resilience and disaster-risk reduction;
- Sustainable livelihoods connected with coastal resources;
- Policy frameworks for ecosystem restoration;
- Regional blue carbon collaboration;
- Financing mechanisms for conservation projects;
- Integration of blue carbon into national climate commitments;
- Evaluation of restoration initiatives; and
- Institutional capacity for blue carbon policy implementation.
These examples are not an official list of approved subjects. Applicants who are uncertain whether their idea falls within the program’s scope are encouraged to send a project summary to the designated Blue Carbon Hub contact before submitting the application.
Project Collaborator Requirements
Applicants are encouraged to nominate a person with whom they would like to collaborate during the placement. The nominated collaborator should be available for regular engagement throughout the program and should have relevant knowledge or expertise that can support the proposed project.
The collaborator may be based anywhere in the world. However, collaborators from IORA Member States are strongly preferred because one of the program’s objectives is to strengthen regional professional networks, institutional knowledge and technical capacity.
The official FAQ indicates that collaborators based at the Indian Ocean Marine Research Centre may be particularly useful because participants will be undertaking most of their activities at the Blue Carbon Hub’s Perth offices.
Applicants who do not already have an appropriate professional network may request assistance in identifying a suitable collaborator. To seek this assistance, applicants are encouraged to send a one-paragraph summary of their proposed project to Mat Vanderklift before submitting the full application.
The application form requests the name of the proposed collaborator, the collaborator’s role and their institutional affiliation. Applicants should therefore contact potential collaborators in advance and ensure that the proposed individual understands the project and can engage regularly during the program.
Financial Support and Expenses Covered
The Blue Carbon Hub Early Career Ocean Professionals Program provides substantial financial support for selected participants.
The official call states that the program will cover major visit-related expenses, including:
- International airfares;
- Accommodation during the placement;
- Eligible Australian visa application fees; and
- Per diem support for participants.
The FAQ explains that participants will receive a weekly per diem intended to cover meals, local transportation and other out-of-pocket expenses during the program.
Expenses covered by the program
Selected participants can expect support for:
- Air travel
Major airfare costs associated with travelling to Australia for the placement are covered under the program.
- Accommodation
Accommodation will be arranged for participants during the program period.
- Visa application expenses
Eligible visa application costs will be reimbursed by the Blue Carbon Hub.
- Meals and daily living expenses
Participants will receive per diem support to help cover meals, transport and other routine out-of-pocket expenses during the placement.
What is not covered
The official call clearly states that the program does not provide a salary. The opportunity should therefore be understood as a funded professional placement rather than salaried employment.
The published documents also do not promise unlimited funding for fieldwork, extensive laboratory activities or major research-related expenses. Applicants proposing such activities must clearly disclose them and provide estimated costs.
Accommodation Arrangements in Perth
The Blue Carbon Hub will arrange accommodation for participants and will make reasonable efforts to secure housing close to its office in Perth. However, accommodation near the office cannot be guaranteed.
Successful participants will generally share accommodation with other members of the program. The housing arrangement may include both male and female participants.
Each participant will normally have a private bedroom, while facilities such as the following will be shared:
- Kitchen;
- Bathroom;
- Living area; and
- Other common spaces.
The Blue Carbon Hub states that it cannot provide separate or individual accommodation. The application form therefore asks applicants to confirm whether they are comfortable residing in a shared household that may include people of another gender.
Applicants should consider this arrangement carefully before applying because accepting shared accommodation appears to be an important practical condition of participation.
Australian Visa Process
Successful candidates will be responsible for applying for the appropriate Australian visa. The Blue Carbon Hub will not submit the visa application on behalf of the participant, although eligible visa application costs will be reimbursed.
Selected applicants should begin the visa process promptly after receiving confirmation because the outcome notification is expected by 31 August 2026, while the program begins on 5 October 2026. This creates a relatively limited period for completing visa, travel and administrative arrangements.
Applicants should ensure that their passport and supporting documents are current and readily available. Final visa issuance will remain subject to Australian immigration requirements and decisions.
Fieldwork and In Situ Data Collection
Projects may include fieldwork or in situ data collection when such activities are appropriate to the project. However, funding for field-based activities is limited, and most work is expected to be completed at the Blue Carbon Hub offices in Perth.
Applicants proposing fieldwork must clearly explain:
- Why the fieldwork is necessary;
- Where it will take place;
- What activities will be conducted;
- How it contributes to the project;
- What resources will be required; and
- The estimated costs involved.
Modest fieldwork-related expenses may be considered, depending on the availability of funding. Applicants should not assume that extensive travel, large-scale field surveys or expensive data-collection activities will be financed.
The online application form asks applicants to indicate whether their project includes fieldwork in Australia and to explain anticipated costs where fieldwork may be required.
Laboratory Space and Equipment
The application form also asks whether the proposed project will require access to laboratory space or equipment while the participant is in Australia.
Applicants can indicate:
- Yes;
- No; or
- Maybe.
Applicants who select yes or maybe are asked to provide additional information and explain their expected requirements and costs.
Applicants should therefore investigate the likely technical requirements of their projects before applying. A proposal that requires specialized laboratory facilities should clearly explain why those facilities are essential and how they will contribute to an achievable eight-week outcome.
Sending Samples to Australia
The program may permit participants to send samples to Australia for analysis. However, applicants must disclose this intention in their applications.
Successful applicants proposing to send samples will receive further guidance on:
- Types of samples permitted;
- Quantities required;
- Packaging;
- Documentation;
- Australian customs requirements; and
- Other administrative procedures.
Because customs processes may cause delays, applicants considering sample-based work are strongly encouraged to begin planning early. The application form specifically asks candidates whether they intend to send samples to Australia as part of their projects.
Eligibility Criteria
Applicants must meet the program’s citizenship or residency and academic-timing requirements.
Citizenship or residency requirement
Applications are open to people who are either:
- Citizens of an IORA Member State; or
- Residents of an IORA Member State.
Applicants who are neither citizens nor residents of an IORA Member State are not eligible. Successful applicants may be required to submit documentation confirming their citizenship or legal residency status.
Early-career academic requirement
Applicants must be within six years of graduating from their highest degree.
The official FAQ identifies the relevant highest-degree categories as:
- Bachelor’s degree;
- Master’s degree; or
- Doctoral degree.
The online form also contains an Honours option when applicants identify their highest qualification.
Applicants should calculate the six-year period from the date on which they completed their highest qualification. The official materials do not publish an age limit; eligibility is based on the period since completion of the applicant’s highest degree rather than the applicant’s age.
Current students
The online application form asks applicants whether they are currently studying and, where applicable, when they expect to complete their studies. However, the published FAQ defines eligibility as being within six years of graduating from the applicant’s highest degree. Current students should seek clarification from the Blue Carbon Hub where their eligibility is uncertain.
Institutional affiliation
Applicants must submit a letter of support from their host institution. This means candidates should have an institution willing to formally support their participation and proposed project.
Application Documents Required
The official FAQ identifies three principal application documents:
- Current curriculum vitae
The CV should present the applicant’s education, professional experience, research background, technical skills, publications, projects, policy work and other relevant achievements.
- Letter of support from the host institution
Applicants must obtain a formal institutional support letter. They should request this document early enough to avoid missing the deadline.
- Outline of the proposed project
The proposal should clearly explain what the applicant intends to undertake during the placement and how it relates to blue carbon science, finance or policy.
The online form allows applicants to upload the CV and institutional support letter. The form states a maximum file size of 100 MB for each upload.
Information Requested in the Online Application Form
Applicants should be prepared to provide the following information:
- Full name;
- Email address;
- Telephone number;
- Organisation or institution;
- Country represented;
- Highest degree;
- Graduation date;
- Current study status;
- Expected date of study completion, where applicable;
- Proposed project category;
- Project title;
- Detailed project description;
- Explanation of the project’s relevance to IORA Member States;
- Proposed collaborator’s name;
- Collaborator’s role and institutional affiliation;
- Confirmation of availability for eight weeks;
- Information about samples being sent to Australia;
- Information about proposed fieldwork;
- Information about required laboratory facilities;
- Anticipated fieldwork or laboratory costs;
- Acceptance of the shared accommodation arrangement;
- Current CV; and
- Letter of support from the applicant’s host institution.
Applicants should prepare these details before opening the form to ensure that their responses are consistent, complete and supported by the uploaded documents.
Relevance to IORA Member States
A central requirement of the application is explaining how the proposed project will be broadly relevant to IORA Member States.
Applicants should avoid presenting a project as an isolated study with no regional implications. A strong project outline should explain how the expected findings, recommendations, tools or lessons could support blue carbon protection and restoration in one or more Indian Ocean countries.
Regional relevance could be demonstrated through:
- Shared coastal-management challenges;
- Replicable restoration approaches;
- Regional policy recommendations;
- Cross-country learning;
- Common financing barriers;
- Comparable governance arrangements;
- Climate adaptation priorities;
- Community resilience considerations;
- Capacity-building opportunities; or
- Potential collaboration among IORA institutions.
The application form directly asks applicants to explain the broader relevance of their project to IORA Member States.
IORA National Focal Point Endorsement
Final participation is subject to endorsement by the relevant IORA National Focal Point. The call brief states that this endorsement will be coordinated through the IORA Secretariat.
Applicants should not confuse endorsement with ordinary institutional support. The application requires a support letter from the applicant’s host institution, while final participation also requires endorsement through the relevant IORA mechanism.
For questions about the endorsement process, applicants may contact the IORA Secretariat representative identified in the official FAQ.
Selection Process
Successful participants will be selected through a competitive assessment process.
The reviewed call brief and FAQ do not publish a detailed scoring rubric. Applicants should therefore not assume that any unofficial selection criteria are guaranteed. However, the application requirements indicate that candidates should pay particular attention to:
- Their compliance with citizenship or residency requirements;
- Their early-career eligibility;
- The clarity and feasibility of the proposed project;
- The relevance of the project to IORA Member States;
- The project’s connection with science, finance or policy;
- The ability to complete the project within eight weeks;
- The availability of an appropriate collaborator;
- The clarity of fieldwork or laboratory requirements;
- Institutional support; and
- Availability for the full placement period.
These points are practical preparation considerations derived from the application questions and official program requirements rather than a formally published scoring framework.
How to Develop a Competitive Project Proposal
Applicants should prepare a proposal that is ambitious enough to produce a useful outcome but limited enough to be completed between 5 October and 27 November 2026.
A well-structured project outline should address the following areas:
- Define the problem
Identify a specific challenge connected with blue carbon science, finance or policy. Avoid describing an issue that is too broad to address during an eight-week placement.
- Explain the project objective
State exactly what the project will investigate, develop, review or recommend.
- Describe the methodology
Explain whether the project will involve:
- Literature review;
- Data analysis;
- Interviews;
- Policy analysis;
- Comparative research;
- Financial analysis;
- Laboratory work;
- Fieldwork;
- Stakeholder consultation; or
- Preparation of a policy or technical output.
- Present achievable deliverables
Potential deliverables may include:
- Research report;
- Literature review;
- Policy brief;
- Technical guidance;
- Financing framework;
- Comparative case study;
- Data product;
- Practical recommendations; or
- Regional knowledge document.
- Demonstrate regional value
Explain how the project could support decision-makers, researchers, communities or institutions in IORA Member States.
- Explain the collaborator’s contribution
Describe what knowledge, supervision, data access or technical support the nominated collaborator will provide.
- Address feasibility
Confirm that the project can be completed within the placement period and disclose any fieldwork, laboratory, equipment or sample-related requirements.
This approach aligns the proposal with the information requested in the application form and the official requirement that projects be focused, achievable and meaningful within the program period.
Eligible Countries
Applications are open to citizens or residents of the following 23 IORA Member States:
- Australia
- Bangladesh
- Comoros
- France
- India
- Indonesia
- Iran
- Kenya
- Madagascar
- Malaysia
- Maldives
- Mauritius
- Mozambique
- Oman
- Seychelles
- Singapore
- Somalia
- South Africa
- Sri Lanka
- Tanzania
- Thailand
- United Arab Emirates
- Yemen
How to Apply
Applications must be completed through the official Blue Carbon Hub online application form.
Applicants should follow these steps:
- Review the official program call brief.
- Read the complete Frequently Asked Questions document.
- Confirm citizenship or residency eligibility.
- Verify that the highest degree was completed within the permitted six-year period.
- Develop a focused project under science, finance or policy.
- Contact and confirm a proposed collaborator, where possible.
- Request a support letter from the host institution.
- Prepare and update the CV.
- Complete all questions in the online form.
- Upload the required documents.
- Review the application carefully.
- Submit it before midnight on 7 August 2026.
The official application portal is available through the Blue Carbon Hub’s current calls page. Click HERE, to apply.
Contact Information
For general questions about the Early Career Ocean Professionals Program, project eligibility or the application process, applicants should contact the Blue Carbon Hub through the email address published in the call documents.
Applicants seeking assistance in identifying a project collaborator or confirming whether a project idea is within scope may contact Mat Vanderklift with a short project summary before applying.
For questions related specifically to the IORA endorsement process, applicants should contact the IORA Secretariat representative identified in the official FAQ.
Conclusion
The Blue Carbon Hub Early Career Ocean Professionals Program 2026 offers emerging professionals an important opportunity to spend eight weeks in Perth, Australia, developing practical knowledge and solutions for the conservation and restoration of blue carbon ecosystems.
The program combines professional development, regional collaboration and project-based learning. Participants will have the opportunity to work on original research, reviews, policy briefs, financial analysis or other innovative activities addressing blue carbon challenges across the Indian Ocean region.
With major airfare, accommodation, eligible visa application expenses and per diem costs covered, the program substantially reduces the financial barriers associated with an international professional placement. Applicants should nevertheless understand that the program does not provide a salary, offers limited funding for field activities and generally requires participants to stay in shared accommodation.
Eligible candidates should begin preparing their project outlines, institutional support letters, CVs and collaborator information immediately. Complete applications must be submitted by midnight on 7 August 2026, and applicants are expected to receive the outcome by 31 August 2026
For more global opportunities, VISIT HERE.
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