Sustainable Fisheries And Communities Trust

Quick Stats

• Annual Giving: £909,112 (2023)
• Decision Time: 3 weeks (initial response)
• Grant Range: No fixed range - varied by project need
• Geographic Focus: Indian Ocean region only (Indonesia, Kenya, Madagascar, Maldives, South Africa)
• Application Method: Rolling basis

Contact Details

Website: https://sfact.org

Email: rwu@wslaw.co.uk

Phone: 01865 297200

Registered Address: Field Seymour Parkes, 1 London Street, Reading RG1 4PN

For Grant Applications: Submit concept notes through the contact form on the “Get Involved” page at sfact.org

Overview

The Sustainable Fisheries and Communities Trust (SFACT) was established in May 2020 as a UK-registered Charitable Incorporated Organisation (charity number 1189504). The charity focuses exclusively on supporting vulnerable coastal states in the Indian Ocean region, with operations in Indonesia, Kenya, Madagascar, Maldives, and South Africa. Since inception, SFACT has distributed approximately USD $2.5 million in grants and scholarships over four years, with annual expenditure of £909,112 (2023). The charity's mission is to protect and improve the livelihoods of coastal communities through advocacy, education, and marine ecosystem conservation. SFACT was founded in response to overexploitation of fish stocks by distant water fleets, lack of transparency in the industrial fishing sector, and issues including destructive fishing techniques, human rights abuses, and illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing in the Indian Ocean. The charity prefers to fund grassroots projects founded or run by Indian Ocean nationals, working in alignment with SDG 14 “Life Below Water.”

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

SFACT operates three main funding streams with no fixed grant amounts - funding is tailored to project needs:

1. Supporting Technical Capacity & Facilitation

• Funding for training in small-scale fishery supply chains
• Technical support for sustainable fisheries practices
• Advocacy at government level for Coastal States
• Strategy development for sustainable fisheries and coastal communities
• Application: Rolling basis via concept note

2. Accelerating Coastal Conservation & Development

• Marine resource conservation projects
• Poverty relief through hardship funding
• Equipment donations (e.g., motorised boats, safety gear)
• Sustainable use of fish stocks initiatives
• Aquatic ecosystem health in fishery policy
• Application: Rolling basis via concept note

3. Advancing Education (Scholarships)

• Postgraduate research funding for scholars worldwide
• Research topics: wellbeing in supply chains, fisheries data and management, mangrove forest restoration, law of the sea
• Currently funding 19 scholars across seven Indian Ocean nations
• Application: Contact form with CV and study area of interest

Priority Areas

• Small-scale artisanal fishing communities in the Indian Ocean
• Projects led by Indian Ocean nationals (preferred)
• Transparent and sustainable fishing practices
• Marine ecosystem conservation and restoration
• Capacity building and education for coastal communities
• Research advancing sustainable small-scale fisheries knowledge
• Projects addressing overexploitation and IUU fishing
• Human rights and ethical supply chains in fisheries

What They Don't Fund

• Religious activities
• For-profit organizations
• Political parties
• Projects outside the Indian Ocean region
• Overhead costs above 10-15% maximum

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Governance and Leadership

Board of Trustees (Collective 60+ years experience in Indian Ocean engagement)

John Richard Burton (Chairman/President)

Chairman of World Wise Foods Ltd, specializing in pole and line caught tuna supply to UK and international retailers. Burton has led numerous sustainability initiatives with partner NGOs and engaged with governments of developing coastal states throughout his career, bringing deep expertise in equitable and sustainable tuna fishing.

Editrudith Lukanga

Trained marine biologist turned interdisciplinary social scientist with over 20 years of experience employing innovative solutions for inclusive natural resources governance and sustainable food systems, with specific focus on small-scale fisheries.

Momo Kochen

Technical fisheries consultant with over 10 years of experience in small-scale fisheries projects globally. Kochen developed and oversaw implementation of the world's first Fair Trade certified seafood - Indonesian yellowfin tuna.

Santa Mervien Alexandra (Vien) (Appointed May 2025)

Seasoned professional in fisheries and ocean governance with background bridging science, policy, and international collaboration. Born in Jakarta, Indonesia, resident in Germany for 17+ years with career focused on sustainable fisheries and marine policy.

Team Members

Beatrice Kinyua (Research Consultant) - Masters in Social Statistics from Nairobi University, B.Sc. Statistics from Moi University

Abbie Topping (Project Coordinator) - Aquaculture and Fisheries specialist with experience in Scottish salmon farming, certification schemes, and retail industry

Ahmad Husein (Communications Coordinator) - Manages internal/external communications and social media

Maïa Perraudeau (Legal Consultant) - PhD researcher in international fisheries law at European University Institute, Florence

Sophie Atkinson (Projects Coordinator)

Application Process and Timeline

How to Apply

For Project Funding:

• Project summary
• Relevance to SFACT's Theory of Change
• Methodology and sustainability
• Organizational expertise
• Approximate financial need

1. If Aligned: SFACT will contact applicants for an introductory conversation

1. Full Proposal: If concept note is successful, submit 5-page detailed proposal

Submission: Via contact form on the “Get Involved” page at sfact.org

For Scholarship Funding:

• Submit CV and study area of interest via contact form
• SFACT may work with candidates to find suitable institutions

Decision Timeline

• Initial Response: Within 3 weeks of concept note submission
• Full Process: Not specified, but includes introductory conversation stage before full proposal request

Success Rates

Not publicly disclosed. SFACT distributed approximately USD $2.5 million over four years to date, funding 19 scholars and multiple community projects.

Reapplication Policy

No specific restrictions mentioned. Applications accepted on rolling basis suggests unsuccessful applicants may reapply when ready.

Application Success Factors

Key Alignment Factors

Geographic and Demographic Priority:

• SFACT explicitly prefers “grassroots projects founded or run by Indian Ocean nationals”
• Projects must serve vulnerable coastal states in Indian Ocean (Indonesia, Kenya, Madagascar, Maldives, South Africa)
• Community-led, local solutions are valued over externally imposed programs

Theory of Change Alignment:

• Applications must demonstrate relevance to SFACT's approach addressing overexploitation by distant water fleets, lack of transparency in industrial fishing, and issues like destructive techniques, human rights abuses, and IUU fishing
• Focus on empowering communities to “defend resources for years to come”

Project Characteristics:

• Demonstrate sustainability beyond grant period
• Show organizational expertise and capacity
• Realistic methodology
• Preference for unrestricted funding requests considered
• Maximum 10-15% overhead costs

Recent Funded Projects (Examples)

• Madagascar: Motorised boats and safety gear for artisanal fishermen
• Indonesia: Ocean Eye conservation tourism project; research on integrated policies for coastal communities' dependence on mangrove food services
• Fiji: Maritime Academy training for seafarer certificates
• Kenya: Scholar work during enactment of new robust fisheries law governing EEZ access
• International: Collaboration with International Pole and Line Foundation for small-scale fisheries market access; co-funded research with four universities

Strategic Guidance

• Start with concise 1-2 page concept note rather than detailed proposal
• Clearly articulate connection to SFACT's mission of protecting livelihoods while conserving ecosystems
• Demonstrate understanding of local context and community needs
• Show how project addresses root causes (transparency, sustainability, capacity) not just symptoms
• Be transparent about financial needs and realistic about overhead costs
• For scholarships: demonstrate how research will advance knowledge benefiting small-scale fisheries

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

• Geographic Restriction Critical: Only projects serving Indian Ocean coastal communities (Indonesia, Kenya, Madagascar, Maldives, South Africa) are eligible - UK organizations cannot apply unless working in these regions
• Local Leadership Preferred: SFACT explicitly favors grassroots projects founded or run by Indian Ocean nationals over externally-led initiatives
• Three-Week Response Time: SFACT commits to responding within 3 weeks of concept note submission, providing relatively quick initial feedback
• No Fixed Grant Amounts: Funding is tailored to project needs rather than predetermined tiers, allowing flexibility but requiring clear justification of costs
• Rolling Applications Welcome: No fixed deadlines means organizations can apply when ready, though competition level is unknown
• Low Overhead Tolerance: 10-15% maximum overhead indicates preference for funding direct program activities rather than organizational infrastructure
• Theory of Change Alignment Essential: Applications must demonstrate understanding of and relevance to SFACT's framework addressing industrial fishing exploitation, transparency, and community empowerment in the Indian Ocean context

References

1. SFACT Official Website - Homepage. https://sfact.org/
2. SFACT - About Us. https://sfact.org/about-us/
3. SFACT - Get Involved (Application Process). https://sfact.org/get-involved/
4. SFACT - Programmes. https://sfact.org/programmes/
5. SFACT Annual Impact Report 2024. https://sfact.org/annual-impact-report-2024/
6. UK Charity Commission - Sustainable Fisheries and Communities Trust (1189504) Full Charity Details. https://register-of-charities.charitycommission.gov.uk/charity-search/-/charity-details/5148981/full-print
7. UK Charity Commission - Contact Information for Charity 1189504. https://register-of-charities.charitycommission.gov.uk/charity-search/-/charity-details/5148981/contact-information
8. SFACT LinkedIn Company Page. https://uk.linkedin.com/company/sustainable-fisheries-and-community-trust-sf-ct