EU Horizon Europe – Strengthening Research and Innovation Capacity for WASH and Public Health in Sub-Saharan Africa

The Horizon Europe call for Strengthening Research and Innovation Capacity for WASH and Public Health in Sub-Saharan Africa is a strategic funding mechanism launched under the European Commission's Cluster 6 (Food, Bioeconomy, Natural Resources, Agriculture and Environment). It is part of the 2026 work programme and reflects the EU's commitment to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) 3, 6, and 17, as well as the Africa-EU Partnership's priorities. The call specifically targets challenges at the nexus of water, sanitation, hygiene, and public health, which are critical in Sub-Saharan Africa where approximately 400 million people lack access to safe drinking water and over 700 million lack basic sanitation. The call's total budget is indicative, but individual projects can receive up to €5 million for a duration of 36 to 60 months. The scope includes research and innovation actions that develop and pilot new technologies, strategies, and governance models to improve water quality, hygiene practices, and disease surveillance. Emphasis is placed on co-creation with local stakeholders, gender equality, and climate resilience. The call is open to consortia from EU member states, associated countries, and African Union states, with the requirement of a balanced partnership. Successful proposals will contribute to the European Green Deal by promoting circular economy approaches in sanitation and water reuse. For organizations new to Horizon Europe, the call represents an excellent entry point due to its collaborative and capacity-building focus. GSLI's training in Writing Winning Proposals and Project Management for Development is specifically tailored to help organizations navigate the complexities of this call, from consortium building to budget preparation and impact pathway articulation. By leveraging GSLI's expertise, applicants can significantly enhance the quality of their proposal and demonstrate a strong commitment to capacity building, which is a core evaluation criterion.

This call is open to a wide range of legal entities, including but not limited to higher education institutions, research organizations, non-governmental organizations (NGOs), international organizations, public health authorities, and private sector entities from EU member states and countries associated to Horizon Europe. Additionally, entities from Sub-Saharan African countries are strongly encouraged to participate as full partners or co-coordinators. Consortia must include at least one legal entity from an EU member state and at least one from a Sub-Saharan African country. The call particularly seeks interdisciplinary teams combining expertise in water engineering, epidemiology, health systems strengthening, social sciences, and data science. Applicants with prior experience in EU-funded projects, such as Horizon 2020 or Horizon Europe, will have a competitive advantage due to their familiarity with reporting and financial management. Furthermore, the call encourages the inclusion of young researchers, women, and researchers from disadvantaged regions to foster inclusive knowledge exchange. Local stakeholders, such as community health workers and municipal water authorities, should be integrated into the consortium or advisory board to ensure contextual relevance. Entities from non-associated third countries can participate but generally without EU funding, unless exceptional circumstances apply. It is essential to verify the specific eligibility criteria in the call text, as requirements may vary by subtopic. GSLI's courses on Grants Management and Writing Winning Proposals are specifically designed to help organizations navigate the complex eligibility and partnership requirements of such EU calls, ensuring compliance and competitiveness.

The European Commission has outlined several strategic priorities for this call, reflecting its broader goals of fostering sustainable development, climate action, and global health equity. Key priorities include: (1) Strengthening local R&I capacities to address WASH and public health challenges through knowledge transfer, co-creation, and infrastructure development. (2) Promoting integrated approaches that combine water quality monitoring, sanitation innovation (e.g., circular sanitation), and public health surveillance (e.g., antimicrobial resistance tracking). (3) Enhancing the use of digital technologies, such as mobile health (mHealth), geographic information systems (GIS), and sensor-based water quality data, to improve decision-making and outbreak prediction. (4) Fostering gender-transformative and socially inclusive interventions that involve women, youth, and marginalized communities in the design, implementation, and evaluation of WASH and public health programs. (5) Aligning with the EU's Green Deal objectives by promoting low-carbon technologies, nature-based water treatment solutions, and climate-adaptive public health systems. (6) Strengthening the interface between research and policy by developing actionable recommendations and establishing communities of practice to accelerate evidence uptake. The call also expects projects to contribute to the Africa-EU Innovation Agenda, with specific KPIs such as number of co-publications, number of joint research projects initiated, and percentage of research outputs adopted by local governments. Proposals must clearly articulate how they will achieve these priorities through a robust work plan, logical framework, and measurable indicators. GSLI's course on WASH (Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene) provides deep insights into these thematic priorities and helps align project design with donor expectations.

Eligibility for this Horizon Europe call is governed by the Horizon Europe General Model Grant Agreement and the specific conditions in the call topic. The formal eligibility criteria include: (1) Consortia must consist of at least three independent legal entities from three different countries, with a minimum of one from an EU member state or associated country and one from a Sub-Saharan African country. (2) All entities must be established and operating in accordance with their national laws at the time of the deadline. (3) The applicant coordinator must have the capacity to manage EU funds, including double-entry accounting and audit compliance. (4) The project duration must be between 36 and 60 months, as specified in the call. (5) There is no limitation on the number of participants, but the proposal must demonstrate a balanced representation of EU and African partners. Additionally, financial viability checks will be conducted on coordinators with a funding request exceeding €500,000. Entities must also comply with the EU's ethical and security standards, including data privacy (GDPR) and environmental protection. In terms of spatial eligibility, any legal entity based in an EU member state, Horizon Europe associated country, or Sub-Saharan African country is eligible. However, entities from certain African countries may require additional checks regarding financial integrity and previous EU funding history. Successful applicants must also provide a detailed plan for dissemination and exploitation of results, ensuring open access to publications. GSLI's Financial Management for NGOs course equips organizations with the skills to meet these rigorous financial and reporting requirements, increasing the likelihood of a successful audit and project continuity.

Achieving success in this Horizon Europe call requires a systematic and strategic approach, with GSLI's training playing a pivotal role at each stage. The following roadmap outlines the key steps: Step 1: Consortium Building and Capacity Assessment (Months 1-3). Establish a multidisciplinary consortium with complementary expertise covering WASH engineering, epidemiology, health systems, social inclusion, and data analytics. Identify a strong lead partner from the EU and a co-lead from Sub-Saharan Africa. Conduct a needs assessment to identify capacity gaps in research methodology, financial management, and proposal writing. At this stage, enroll key staff in GSLI's 'Writing Winning Proposals' and 'Project Management for Development' courses to build a high-performing bid team. These courses provide frameworks for theory of change development, logical frameworks, and work breakdown structures, which are essential for a coherent proposal. Step 2: Co-design and Stakeholder Engagement (Months 4-6). Organize a co-creation workshop with local stakeholders, including health ministries, water authorities, and community representatives, to define research questions and implementation strategies. Ensure the involvement of women and youth groups to align with the call's inclusivity priorities. Use GSLI's 'WASH (Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene)' course to deepen understanding of innovative technologies and behavioral change models. Draft a memorandum of understanding (MoU) for data sharing and collaboration. Step 3: Proposal Development and Compliance (Months 7-9). Write the full proposal following Horizon Europe structure, including Part B sections on excellence, impact, and implementation. Pay special attention to the dissemination plan, innovation management, and intellectual property arrangements. Engage GSLI's 'Grants Management' course to ensure the budget is fully eligible, compliant with EU cost categories, and includes appropriate overhead rates. Test the logical framework with SMART indicators. Step 4: Submission and Pre-implementation (Month 10). Submit the proposal via the EU Funding & Tenders Portal by the deadline. Prepare a contingency plan for resubmission if not successful. Use GSLI's 'Monitoring & Evaluation (M&E)' course to establish a baseline study plan and data collection tools, ensuring readiness for immediate start. Throughout the process, leverage GSLI's expert peer review services to refine the proposal's narrative and compliance. Post-award, the consortium can take advanced courses in 'Financial Management for NGOs' and 'Procurement & Supply Chain' to ensure smooth project execution.