EU Horizon Europe: Strengthening Climate-Resilient Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) Systems for Public Health in Sub-Saharan Africa

The EU Horizon Europe call for climate-resilient WASH systems is a landmark funding opportunity aimed at addressing the dual challenges of inadequate water and sanitation services and climate change impacts in Sub-Saharan Africa. With a total indicative budget of approximately €60 million, the call expects to fund between 6 to 10 research and innovation actions, each with a EU contribution of €5-10 million. The call is published under Horizon Europe's Cluster 6 (Food, Bioeconomy, Natural Resources, Agriculture and Environment) and specifically within the destination 'Land, Ocean and Water for Climate Action'. The overall objective is to strengthen the resilience of WASH systems to climate-induced hazards such as droughts, floods, and water quality degradation, thereby improving public health outcomes. The call is structured around three specific sub-topics: (a) climate-resilient water supply systems, (b) climate-resilient sanitation and hygiene services, and (c) integrated water resource management for health. Each sub-topic requires a transdisciplinary approach combining engineering, public health, social sciences, and data analytics. The call emphasizes the use of innovation, including digital tools for monitoring, nature-based solutions for water treatment, and community-based adaptive management. Successful proposals must demonstrate a clear theory of change linking WASH interventions to health improvements and climate adaptation. They must also articulate a sustainability plan that includes institutional capacity building, local ownership, and potential for scaling. The deadline is September 15, 2026, with a typical project duration of 36-60 months. This call presents a unique chance for consortia to make a measurable impact on the lives of millions, but it requires meticulous planning, robust partnerships, and strong project management capabilities. GSLI's training courses are specifically designed to fill gaps in these areas, providing teams with the skills needed to develop competitive proposals and manage projects effectively. Moreover, the call reflects the EU's commitment to the Sustainable Development Goals, particularly SDG 6 (clean water and sanitation), SDG 3 (good health and well-being), and SDG 13 (climate action). It also aligns with the African Union's Agenda 2063 aspiration for a prosperous and integrated Africa. The European Commission expects projects to contribute to the EU-Africa Global Gateway Investment Package, which aims to mobilize up to €150 billion in investments. Given the scale and complexity, the call prioritizes consortia that include local research institutions, governments, and private sector actors to ensure relevance and sustainability. The call also requires adherence to the European Commission's ethical standards, including informed consent for any research involving human subjects, and environmental impact assessments for infrastructure projects. For organizations new to Horizon Europe, the administrative and financial requirements can be daunting. This is where GSLI's expertise becomes invaluable. Our courses in Grants Management and Writing Winning Proposals provide step-by-step guidance on navigating the participant portal, understanding budget categories (personnel, travel, equipment, subcontracting, and indirect costs), and preparing the required annexes (e.g., ethics self-assessment, data management plan). Additionally, the Financial Management for NGOs course covers cost eligibility, timesheet requirements, and audit trails, ensuring that consortium members are audit-ready. By investing in these trainings, organizations can significantly increase their chances of success in this highly competitive call. Finally, the call encourages synergies with other EU programs such as the European Development Fund, the Neighbourhood, Development and International Cooperation Instrument (NDICI), and the African Union's 'Water for Africa' initiative. Consortia should explore co-financing opportunities and alignment with related projects to enhance impact. The European Commission also expects that projects will disseminate results widely, including through open-access publications and participation in policy dialogues. GSLI's Fundraising & Resource Mobilization course can help consortia identify and secure additional funding sources, while the Public Health & Epidemiology course strengthens the scientific basis for health impact claims. To summarize, this call is a strategic opportunity for organizations committed to improving WASH services in Sub-Saharan Africa, but success requires a comprehensive approach that combines technical excellence with strong management capacity. GSLI is your partner in achieving that capacity.

Strategic Overview

The EU Horizon Europe call for climate-resilient WASH systems is a landmark funding opportunity aimed at addressing the dual challenges of inadequate water and sanitation services and climate change impacts in Sub-Saharan Africa. With a total indicative budget of approximately €60 million, the call expects to fund between 6 to 10 research and innovation actions, each with a EU contribution of €5-10 million. The call is published under Horizon Europe's Cluster 6 (Food, Bioeconomy, Natural Resources, Agriculture and Environment) and specifically within the destination 'Land, Ocean and Water for Climate Action'. The overall objective is to strengthen the resilience of WASH systems to climate-induced hazards such as droughts, floods, and water quality degradation, thereby improving public health outcomes. The call is structured around three specific sub-topics: (a) climate-resilient water supply systems, (b) climate-resilient sanitation and hygiene services, and (c) integrated water resource management for health. Each sub-topic requires a transdisciplinary approach combining engineering, public health, social sciences, and data analytics. The call emphasizes the use of innovation, including digital tools for monitoring, nature-based solutions for water treatment, and community-based adaptive management. Successful proposals must demonstrate a clear theory of change linking WASH interventions to health improvements and climate adaptation. They must also articulate a sustainability plan that includes institutional capacity building, local ownership, and potential for scaling. The deadline is September 15, 2026, with a typical project duration of 36-60 months. This call presents a unique chance for consortia to make a measurable impact on the lives of millions, but it requires meticulous planning, robust partnerships, and strong project management capabilities. GSLI's training courses are specifically designed to fill gaps in these areas, providing teams with the skills needed to develop competitive proposals and manage projects effectively. Moreover, the call reflects the EU's commitment to the Sustainable Development Goals, particularly SDG 6 (clean water and sanitation), SDG 3 (good health and well-being), and SDG 13 (climate action). It also aligns with the African Union's Agenda 2063 aspiration for a prosperous and integrated Africa. The European Commission expects projects to contribute to the EU-Africa Global Gateway Investment Package, which aims to mobilize up to €150 billion in investments. Given the scale and complexity, the call prioritizes consortia that include local research institutions, governments, and private sector actors to ensure relevance and sustainability. The call also requires adherence to the European Commission's ethical standards, including informed consent for any research involving human subjects, and environmental impact assessments for infrastructure projects. For organizations new to Horizon Europe, the administrative and financial requirements can be daunting. This is where GSLI's expertise becomes invaluable. Our courses in Grants Management and Writing Winning Proposals provide step-by-step guidance on navigating the participant portal, understanding budget categories (personnel, travel, equipment, subcontracting, and indirect costs), and preparing the required annexes (e.g., ethics self-assessment, data management plan). Additionally, the Financial Management for NGOs course covers cost eligibility, timesheet requirements, and audit trails, ensuring that consortium members are audit-ready. By investing in these trainings, organizations can significantly increase their chances of success in this highly competitive call. Finally, the call encourages synergies with other EU programs such as the European Development Fund, the Neighbourhood, Development and International Cooperation Instrument (NDICI), and the African Union's 'Water for Africa' initiative. Consortia should explore co-financing opportunities and alignment with related projects to enhance impact. The European Commission also expects that projects will disseminate results widely, including through open-access publications and participation in policy dialogues. GSLI's Fundraising & Resource Mobilization course can help consortia identify and secure additional funding sources, while the Public Health & Epidemiology course strengthens the scientific basis for health impact claims. To summarize, this call is a strategic opportunity for organizations committed to improving WASH services in Sub-Saharan Africa, but success requires a comprehensive approach that combines technical excellence with strong management capacity. GSLI is your partner in achieving that capacity.

Who is it For?

This opportunity is open to a wide range of legal entities established in EU Member States, including universities, research institutes, SMEs, large enterprises, NGOs, and international organizations. Additionally, entities from Horizon Europe associated countries (e.g., countries in the European Economic Area, Switzerland, and others) are eligible. Entities from Sub-Saharan African countries are strongly encouraged to participate as partners or co-coordinators, as the call emphasizes local engagement. For African entities, eligibility is contingent upon demonstrating capacity to conduct research and innovation activities, with preference given to those with proven track records in WASH-related projects. Consortia must include at least three independent legal entities from three different EU Member States or associated countries. However, to ensure local relevance, at least one partner must be established in a Sub-Saharan African country. The European Commission also encourages participation from international organizations, such as UN agencies, if they bring specific expertise. Financial viability checks will be conducted; entities must provide evidence of stable funding and audited accounts. For NGOs and smaller organizations, capacity building in financial management and reporting is critical—areas where GSLI's courses in Financial Management for NGOs and Grants Management can provide essential skills to meet donor requirements.

Priorities

The donor's global priorities under this call are multi-faceted, focusing on climate resilience, public health, and sustainable development. Specifically, the European Commission seeks to fund projects that demonstrate: (1) Integration of climate adaptation measures into WASH infrastructure, such as water-efficient technologies and flood-resistant sanitation systems; (2) Strengthening of governance frameworks for water resources management, including transboundary cooperation and community participation; (3) Deployment of innovative monitoring tools (e.g., remote sensing, IoT) for real-time water quality and disease surveillance; (4) Promotion of circular economy principles, such as water reuse and resource recovery from sanitation; (5) Capacity building for local institutions and communities to ensure long-term sustainability. Key performance indicators include: reduction in waterborne disease incidence, increased access to safely managed water and sanitation services, number of climate-resilient WASH facilities constructed, and improvements in water governance index scores. The call also emphasizes gender equality and social inclusion, requiring projects to address the specific needs of women and vulnerable groups. Furthermore, proposals must align with national WASH strategies and contribute to the EU-Africa partnership priorities. Proposals should articulate a clear theory of change linking activities to SDGs 3, 6, and 13. Given this complexity, GSLI's course on Project Management for Development provides frameworks for result-based management and logical framework analysis, essential for structuring compelling proposals.

Eligibility

Eligibility criteria are comprehensive and demand meticulous attention. Consortia must include at least three independent legal entities from three different EU Member States or Horizon Europe associated countries. Additionally, at least one partner must be from a Sub-Saharan African country to ensure local relevance and impact. Each consortium member must be a legal entity (public or private) with the capacity to conduct research and innovation. For-profit entities must demonstrate that the project does not constitute State aid. Financial eligibility requires that each entity has stable and sufficient resources to carry out the project; this will be assessed through a financial capacity check using the participants' declared financial data. Entities with a total budget under €500,000 may be required to submit additional documentation (e.g., audit reports). Geographically, the action must be implemented in Sub-Saharan African countries, though some preparatory or policy coordination activities may occur in Europe. Past performance in EU-funded projects will be considered; entities with a history of poor compliance may be excluded. Additionally, the call imposes specific ethical requirements: projects must adhere to the highest standards of research integrity, including informed consent for any human participation and environmental impact assessments for infrastructure components. For international partners, legal representation agreements and IP management plans must be in place. Given these complexities, GSLI's Grants Management and Procurement & Supply Chain courses equip teams with the skills to navigate compliance, financial reporting, and procurement rules, ensuring that all eligibility boxes are checked.

Path to Success

To secure funding under this Horizon Europe call, a strategic, multi-phased approach is essential, integrating GSLI's training to bolster competitiveness. Step 1: Consortium Assembly and Needs Assessment (Months 1-3). Identify and engage partners from EU and Sub-Saharan Africa, ensuring complementary expertise in WASH, climate science, public health, and social sciences. Conduct a participatory needs assessment in target regions to align project objectives with local priorities. GSLI's course on Public Health & Epidemiology can enhance partners' capacity to conduct epidemiological baseline studies. Step 2: Proposal Development and Capacity Building (Months 4-8). Draft a comprehensive proposal using a results-based framework. Include a detailed work breakdown structure, budget, and risk management plan. Simultaneously, enroll key team members in GSLI's Writing Winning Proposals course to refine narrative and compliance with Horizon Europe templates. Additionally, the Project Management for Development course provides tools for setting milestones and deliverables. Step 3: Stakeholder Engagement and Policy Alignment (Months 2-6). Establish partnerships with local governments, utilities, and community organizations to ensure buy-in and policy coherence. Use GSLI's Monitoring & Evaluation (M&E) course to design a participatory M&E system with indicators for climate resilience and health outcomes. Step 4: Final Submission and Pre-award Preparation (Months 9-12). Finalize the proposal with rigorous internal reviews and external expert consultations. Prepare supplementary documents (e.g., CVs, letters of intent, ethics clearances). GSLI's Financial Management for NGOs course ensures that budget narratives align with EU cost categories (personnel, travel, equipment, subcontracting) and that indirect costs are correctly calculated. Post-submission, maintain readiness for possible clarifications or negotiations. By integrating these training modules, the consortium demonstrates enhanced institutional capacity, a key evaluation criterion under Horizon Europe's excellence and impact assessment. GSLI's courses not only fill skill gaps but also signal to evaluators that the team is well-prepared to manage EU grants effectively.

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Deadline: 2026-09-15

Persona: General

Urgency: Normal