EU Horizon Europe Call: Strengthening Health Systems and WASH Governance in Urban Displacement Settings

The European Commission's Horizon Europe Call, 'Strengthening Health Systems and WASH Governance in Urban Displacement Settings' (horizon-hlth-2026-urban-01), represents a landmark funding opportunity designed to address the systemic vulnerabilities of displaced populations in urban environments. As global displacement reaches historic highs, the vast majority of refugees and internally displaced persons (IDPs) are bypassing traditional camp settings to settle in cities. This rapid, unplanned influx places immense pressure on municipal health systems and Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH) infrastructures, which are often already underfunded and structurally weak. The resulting inequities in service access not only severely impact the well-being of displaced communities but also compromise the overall public health and social cohesion of host cities. This call seeks to fund comprehensive, consortium-led Research and Innovation Actions (RIA) that develop, test, and scale integrated governance models and technical solutions to build resilient, inclusive urban systems. To be successful, proposals must move beyond short-term, emergency-focused humanitarian interventions. The European Commission is demanding a paradigm shift toward long-term, sustainable development that integrates displaced populations into formal municipal frameworks. This requires a deep understanding of the complex socio-political, legal, and economic dynamics that shape urban displacement. Consortia must design interventions that are co-created with local authorities, utility providers, and displaced communities themselves, ensuring that solutions are contextually appropriate and locally owned. Furthermore, proposals must demonstrate a strong commitment to scientific excellence, utilizing rigorous research methodologies to evaluate the health, social, and economic impacts of the proposed interventions, thereby generating a robust evidence base to inform future policy and practice at both European and global levels. Ultimately, this call is about building urban resilience in the face of compounding global crises. By strengthening the governance and infrastructure of health and WASH systems, projects will not only improve immediate health outcomes for vulnerable populations but also enhance the capacity of municipal governments to plan for, adapt to, and recover from future shocks, such as climate-induced disasters or infectious disease outbreaks. The Global Strategic Leadership Institute (GSLI) is uniquely positioned to support bidding consortia in meeting these ambitious objectives, offering world-class training and advisory services that build the institutional capacity, technical expertise, and managerial rigor required to execute this high-stakes European Commission mandate successfully.

Strategic Overview

The European Commission's Horizon Europe Call, 'Strengthening Health Systems and WASH Governance in Urban Displacement Settings' (horizon-hlth-2026-urban-01), represents a landmark funding opportunity designed to address the systemic vulnerabilities of displaced populations in urban environments. As global displacement reaches historic highs, the vast majority of refugees and internally displaced persons (IDPs) are bypassing traditional camp settings to settle in cities. This rapid, unplanned influx places immense pressure on municipal health systems and Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH) infrastructures, which are often already underfunded and structurally weak. The resulting inequities in service access not only severely impact the well-being of displaced communities but also compromise the overall public health and social cohesion of host cities. This call seeks to fund comprehensive, consortium-led Research and Innovation Actions (RIA) that develop, test, and scale integrated governance models and technical solutions to build resilient, inclusive urban systems. To be successful, proposals must move beyond short-term, emergency-focused humanitarian interventions. The European Commission is demanding a paradigm shift toward long-term, sustainable development that integrates displaced populations into formal municipal frameworks. This requires a deep understanding of the complex socio-political, legal, and economic dynamics that shape urban displacement. Consortia must design interventions that are co-created with local authorities, utility providers, and displaced communities themselves, ensuring that solutions are contextually appropriate and locally owned. Furthermore, proposals must demonstrate a strong commitment to scientific excellence, utilizing rigorous research methodologies to evaluate the health, social, and economic impacts of the proposed interventions, thereby generating a robust evidence base to inform future policy and practice at both European and global levels. Ultimately, this call is about building urban resilience in the face of compounding global crises. By strengthening the governance and infrastructure of health and WASH systems, projects will not only improve immediate health outcomes for vulnerable populations but also enhance the capacity of municipal governments to plan for, adapt to, and recover from future shocks, such as climate-induced disasters or infectious disease outbreaks. The Global Strategic Leadership Institute (GSLI) is uniquely positioned to support bidding consortia in meeting these ambitious objectives, offering world-class training and advisory services that build the institutional capacity, technical expertise, and managerial rigor required to execute this high-stakes European Commission mandate successfully.

Who is it For?

This Horizon Europe call is specifically designed for highly collaborative, transdisciplinary consortia that span multiple sectors and geographic regions. Eligible applicants include academic and research institutions specializing in public health, epidemiology, urban planning, and migration studies; municipal authorities and local government bodies responsible for urban planning, water management, and social services; non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and civil society organizations (CSOs) with a proven track record in urban displacement, humanitarian assistance, and community-led WASH initiatives; and private sector entities, including technology providers and social enterprises developing innovative health and sanitation solutions. To meet the strict eligibility criteria of Horizon Europe, consortia must be composed of at least three independent legal entities established in different EU Member States or Associated Countries, with at least one entity established in an EU Member State. Furthermore, the inclusion of local partners from low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) experiencing high volumes of urban displacement is highly encouraged and strategically advantageous, as it ensures the contextual relevance and scalability of the proposed interventions. The ideal recipient profile is an organization capable of managing complex, multi-stakeholder international projects, demonstrating both scientific excellence and practical, field-level operational capacity.

Priorities

The European Commission’s investment KPIs for this call are deeply rooted in systemic transformation, policy integration, and measurable socio-economic impact. The primary objective is to transition from fragmented, emergency-based humanitarian interventions to integrated, resilient, and rights-based municipal health and WASH systems. Key donor priorities include: first, the institutionalization of inclusive governance models that actively involve displaced populations in municipal decision-making processes; second, the deployment of cost-effective, climate-resilient WASH technologies that reduce environmental degradation and adapt to localized climate risks; third, the integration of digital health solutions and localized epidemiological surveillance systems to monitor and respond to public health threats in real-time; and fourth, the generation of robust, peer-reviewed empirical evidence that can inform national and European policy frameworks on migration and urban development. Projects will be evaluated on their ability to demonstrate long-term financial sustainability, scalability to other urban centers globally, and direct contribution to the reduction of health inequities between displaced populations and host communities. The donor expects clear, quantifiable metrics, such as the number of individuals gaining access to safely managed WASH services, the percentage reduction in water-borne disease incidence, and the formal adoption of co-designed policy recommendations by municipal governments.

Eligibility

Compliance with the Horizon Europe eligibility criteria requires a rigorous, multi-layered audit of financial, spatial, and corporate legal structures. Financially, applicant organizations must undergo a Financial Viability Check (FVC) to demonstrate they possess the stable and sufficient sources of funding to maintain their activity throughout the project period and to participate in the co-financing requirements. Legally, all consortium members must be registered in the European Commission’s Funding & Tenders Portal and possess a validated Participant Identification Code (PIC). Furthermore, public bodies, research organizations, and higher education institutions from EU Member States and Associated Countries must have a compliant Gender Equality Plan (GEP) in place. Spatially, the proposed interventions must target clearly defined urban or peri-urban displacement settings, characterized by high densities of internally displaced persons (IDPs), refugees, or asylum seekers living in informal settlements or underserved municipal zones. Proposals must also include a comprehensive Ethics Self-Assessment, ensuring strict compliance with international ethical standards regarding research involving vulnerable human subjects, data protection (GDPR), and environmental safety. Any failure to meet these administrative, financial, or ethical baselines will result in immediate disqualification prior to the technical evaluation phase.

Path to Success

Securing a winning bid for this Horizon Europe call requires a highly strategic, phased approach that integrates technical excellence with robust institutional capacity building. Step 1: Consortium Mobilization and Co-Design. Initiate early-stage engagement with key municipal authorities, academic partners, and local NGOs in the target urban displacement settings. Utilize GSLI’s 'Writing Winning Proposals' methodology to co-design a comprehensive, logically sound concept note that aligns perfectly with the European Commission's specific objectives, ensuring that the roles and responsibilities of each consortium member are clearly defined and mutually reinforcing. Step 2: Technical and Operational Capacity Alignment. Address the complex operational demands of the call by enrolling key project personnel in GSLI’s 'WASH (Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene)' and 'Public Health & Epidemiology' short courses. This ensures that the consortium possesses the cutting-edge technical knowledge required to design state-of-the-art, climate-resilient WASH infrastructures and integrated health surveillance systems. Step 3: Robust Governance and Financial Frameworks. Establish a transparent, compliant administrative structure by training financial and project managers through GSLI’s 'Grants Management' and 'Financial Management for NGOs' programs. This step mitigates the risk of financial non-compliance, streamlines reporting processes, and ensures adherence to the Horizon Europe Model Grant Agreement. Step 4: Impact Measurement and Policy Advocacy. Embed a rigorous monitoring, evaluation, and learning (MEL) framework from day one. By leveraging GSLI’s 'Monitoring & Evaluation (M&E)' course, the consortium can design sophisticated data collection methodologies that capture both quantitative and qualitative impacts, providing the empirical evidence needed to influence municipal policy and secure long-term, post-grant financial sustainability through GSLI's 'Fundraising & Resource Mobilization' strategies.

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Deadline: 2026-08-15

Persona: General

Urgency: Normal