World Bank Approves $6.39 Million Grant to Combat Pollution in Black Sea

The BBSEA GEF Regional Project will focus on promoting eco-innovations to combat eutrophication and other pollution challenges.

The World Bank has approved a $6.39 million grant from the Global Environment Facility (GEF) for the "Blueing the Black Sea" (BBSEA) GEF Regional Project. This initiative aims to help governments and the private sector in Georgia, Moldova, Türkiye, and Ukraine reduce pollution in the Black Sea. The United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS) will oversee the implementation of the project.

In recent decades, the Black Sea has become one of Europe's most polluted bodies of water, with its ecosystem facing numerous threats such as eutrophication (from agricultural nutrient runoff), chemical pollution, invasive species, and inefficient wastewater treatment. These issues have severely impacted the marine and coastal environment, threatening both ecosystems and local livelihoods.

The BBSEA GEF Regional Project will focus on promoting eco-innovations to combat eutrophication and other pollution challenges. It will enable public sector institutions, development partners, and investors to identify and implement innovative pollution prevention solutions. The project will also assess the regulatory frameworks in participating countries, ensure alignment with international water management and pollution standards, and develop national investment strategies for pollution reduction.

Aligned with the GEF 7 International Waters Focal Area and the Black Sea Strategic Action Plan, the project aims to strengthen regional efforts to reduce pollution in the Black Sea. It also supports the implementation of key principles from the Common Maritime Agenda for the Black Sea and the Black Sea Strategic Research and Innovation Agenda.

The BBSEA Project is part of the larger BBSEA Program, which seeks to create a regional framework for the sustainable management of the Black Sea. The program promotes marine pollution reduction, investments in the Blue Economy, and regional cooperation among Black Sea littoral countries—Bulgaria, Georgia, Romania, Türkiye, Ukraine, and Moldova.

“Climate change is worsening pollution impacts in the Black Sea, raising temperatures and increasing the risk of waterborne diseases. This project will help governments and the private sector take steps to reduce pollution and protect both ecosystems and communities,” said Carolina Sanchez-Paramo, Director of Strategy and Operations for the Europe and Central Asia region at the World Bank.