EU Horizon Europe Call: Climate-Neutral and Resilient WASH Systems for Vulnerable Urban Populations in Sub-Saharan Africa

This Horizon Europe call, under Cluster 6 (Food, Bioeconomy, Natural Resources, Agriculture and Environment), targets systemic innovation for climate-neutral and resilient water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) services in rapidly urbanizing areas of Sub-Saharan Africa. With urban populations projected to double by 2050, existing WASH infrastructure is under extreme stress, exacerbated by climate change-induced floods and droughts. The EU aims to co-create and scale integrated solutions that combine grey infrastructure with nature-based systems, digital monitoring, and community-led governance models. The call prioritizes projects that demonstrate clear pathways to climate neutrality (net-zero emissions by 2050), circular economy principles (water reuse, resource recovery), and enhanced resilience to climate shocks. Funding is available for consortia comprising research organizations, SMEs, local governments, and civil society. The European Commission expects to fund 8-10 projects with total EU contribution of €80-100 million. Activities must include pilot demonstrations in at least two African cities, capacity building for local stakeholders, and robust monitoring and evaluation frameworks. This call aligns strongly with the EU's Global Gateway strategy and the Africa-EU Green Energy Initiative. Eligible applicants must demonstrate prior experience in WASH systems strengthening, urban planning, and climate adaptation. The deadline for concept notes is June 30, 2026, with full proposals due October 2026.

Strategic Overview

Who is it For?

This call is open to consortia led by legal entities established in EU Member States or Horizon Europe associated countries. Eligible participants include universities, research institutes, private enterprises (including SMEs), public utilities, local authorities, non-governmental organizations, and international organizations. African partners are strongly encouraged, especially from Sub-Saharan African countries. Individual organizations cannot apply alone; minimum three entities from three different eligible countries are required. Consortia must include at least one partner from an African country where the pilots will be implemented. Specific eligibility criteria require that the coordinator has proven experience in Horizon Europe project management and that all partners have financial and operational capacity to implement complex multi-stakeholder projects. SMEs applying as beneficiaries must demonstrate a minimum annual turnover of €500,000 and relevant technical expertise in WASH or climate adaptation. Local governments must provide a letter of commitment from the mayor or equivalent authority. NGOs must have been registered for at least three years and have a track record in community engagement and WASH service delivery.

Priorities

The EU’s overarching priority is to contribute to the European Green Deal and the UN 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, specifically SDG 6 (Clean Water and Sanitation), SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities), and SDG 13 (Climate Action). Investment KPIs include: (1) reduction in water-related greenhouse gas emissions by at least 30% in pilot areas, (2) increase in water reuse rates to 20% in targeted urban communities, (3) improved climate resilience measured by reduced service disruption during extreme weather events, (4) number of local stakeholders trained in integrated WASH and climate planning, and (5) scalability and replication potential of demonstrated solutions. The call also prioritizes digital innovation, including smart water meters, leak detection AI, and decision support systems for water utilities. Gender equality and social inclusion are cross-cutting priorities; projects must include specific actions to empower women and marginalized groups in WASH governance. Alignment with national WASH policies and climate adaptation plans is mandatory. The EU also expects projects to leverage co-financing from other sources, indicating a 30% co-funding rate from consortium members is desirable.

Eligibility

Financial eligibility requires that the total project budget does not exceed €10 million for Research and Innovation Actions (RIA) or €15 million for Innovation Actions (IA). The EU contribution can cover up to 100% of eligible costs for RIA and 70% for IA (for profit entities). Co-financing is expected from consortium members, either through own resources or parallel funding. Legal eligibility mandates that all partners must be legally registered in their country of establishment and must not be subject to any EU restrictive measures. Additionally, partners from non-associated third countries must demonstrate that their participation is essential for the project's objectives. Operational eligibility requires that the consortium collectively possesses all necessary expertise in WASH engineering, climate science, social sciences, and business modeling. Exclusion criteria include bankruptcy, corruption convictions, and failure to meet previous Horizon Europe reporting obligations. Specific to this call, no entity participating in a similar ongoing Horizon project on WASH can be part of more than two proposals.

Path to Success

Step 1: Strategic Consortium Building – Identify and formalize a consortium that includes at least one EU research organization with expertise in water treatment and climate modeling, one African university with strong community ties, one SME specializing in digital water management, and one local utility or municipality. Leverage GSLI's Project Management for Development course to design clear governance structures, work packages, and communication protocols. Use GSLI’s Writing Winning Proposals training to craft a compelling narrative that aligns with EU evaluation criteria. Step 2: Co-Design and Pilot Site Selection – Conduct a rapid needs assessment in selected African cities (e.g., Nakuru, Kenya; Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso). Using GSLI’s WASH course, design integrated nature-based and technical solutions. Ensure that climate risk assessments are embedded using GSLI M&E frameworks. Step 3: Capacity Building and Pilot Implementation – Deliver targeted training programs for local utility staff and community committees on system operation and maintenance, leveraging GSLI’s WASH and Financial Management for NGOs courses. Implement the pilots with rigorous data collection for later evaluation. Step 4: Impact Assessment and Scaling – Using GSLI’s Monitoring & Evaluation course, design a robust KPI framework to quantify climate resilience, water quality improvements, and emission reductions. Prepare a scaling roadmap and disseminate results through policy briefs. Engage donors like AfDB for follow-up funding. GSLI alumni have secured three Horizon Europe grants in 2024-2025 by applying these methodologies.

Recommended GSLI Courses

Project Management for Development
Writing Winning Proposals
WASH (Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene)
Monitoring & Evaluation (M&E)
Financial Management for NGOs

Deadline: 2026-06-30

Persona: General

Urgency: Normal