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

The EU Horizon Europe call 'Strengthening Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) Systems for Climate Resilience in Sub-Saharan Africa' (topic HORIZON-CL6-2026-WATER-01) is a highly competitive funding opportunity under the European Commission's Horizon Europe framework, specifically within Cluster 6 (Food, Bioeconomy, Natural Resources, Agriculture and Environment). This call is part of the EU's commitment to tackle global challenges through research and innovation, with a particular focus on climate adaptation and sustainable development. Sub-Saharan Africa is a critical target region because it faces some of the most severe water-related impacts of climate change, including erratic rainfall, frequent droughts, and flooding, which directly affect the availability and safety of water, sanitation, and hygiene services. The call is designed to support projects that adopt a systems-based approach, addressing the entire WASH service chain from water source management to end-user behavior. This means integrating technical, institutional, social, and financial dimensions to create resilient and sustainable WASH systems. The expected project duration is typically 36 to 48 months, with the European Commission offering co-funding up to 100% of eligible costs. The total budget per project is estimated between €10 million and €12 million, though this can vary based on the scope and number of partners. Applicants must form consortia that include at least three independent legal entities from three different eligible countries, with at least one from an EU member state and one from a Sub-Saharan African country. The call emphasizes transdisciplinary collaboration, bringing together water engineers, public health experts, social scientists, local authorities, and community representatives. The deadline for submission is September 15, 2026, at 17:00 Brussels local time. Given the 'NORMAL' urgency, organizations have sufficient time to develop high-quality proposals, but careful planning is required to meet the strict compliance and technical criteria. The evaluation criteria are based on excellence, impact, and quality of implementation, with a clear scoring system. This overview underscores the importance of this call for organizations seeking to contribute to global development while strengthening their research and implementation portfolios.

Strategic Overview

Who is it For?

This call is designed for a wide array of legal entities established in EU member states, associated countries, and eligible non-EU countries, including those in Sub-Saharan Africa. Eligible applicants include higher education institutions, research organizations, SMEs, large private companies, non-governmental organizations (NGOs), public authorities at national and local levels, international organizations, and foundations. The European Commission strongly encourages consortia comprising at least three independent entities from three different eligible countries, with at least one from an EU member state and one from a Sub-Saharan African country. This transdisciplinary requirement ensures a blend of technical expertise, local knowledge, and implementation capacity. Particular attention is given to organizations with proven experience in WASH systems strengthening, climate adaptation, community engagement, and policy advocacy. Entities must demonstrate financial stability and operational capacity to manage EU grants, typically evidenced by audited accounts and organizational profiles. Additionally, the call favors proposals that include capacity-building components for local stakeholders, thereby fostering ownership and sustainability. Early-career researchers and innovators are explicitly encouraged to participate, aligning with Horizon Europe's mission to nurture talent. The call is not open to individuals; only legal entities can apply. For non-EU partners, the eligibility criteria may include additional conditions such as the existence of an agreement with the EU for research funding, but Sub-Saharan African countries generally benefit from a favorable status given the call's regional focus.

Priorities

The donor's global priorities for this call are multifaceted, focusing on systemic transformation of WASH sectors in Sub-Saharan Africa to withstand climate shocks. Key investment KPIs include: (1) Enhanced resilience of WASH infrastructure to extreme weather events, measured by reduced service disruptions (target: 30% reduction in downtime during climate events); (2) Improved water resource management through integrated approaches that balance human and ecological needs, with at least 20% increase in water use efficiency in targeted basins; (3) Strengthened institutional capacity for WASH governance, evidenced by adoption of climate-resilient policies in at least 5 local governments per project; (4) Increased access to safely managed sanitation and hygiene services for vulnerable populations, particularly women and girls, targeting a 25% increase in coverage in project areas; (5) Promotion of innovative financing mechanisms for WASH, such as blended finance or performance-based contracts, aiming to mobilize at least 15% co-funding from non-grant sources. These KPIs align with the EU's broader strategic objectives: the European Green Deal's zero-pollution ambition, the Global Gateway's focus on sustainable infrastructure, and the EU-Africa partnership's emphasis on climate adaptation. The call also prioritizes digital transformation, encouraging use of remote sensing, IoT, and AI for monitoring WASH systems. Ultimately, the donor expects proposals to demonstrate clear pathways to scale and replication, contributing to the global goal of safely managed water and sanitation for all by 2030.

Eligibility

Eligibility criteria are comprehensive and must be meticulously addressed. Financial: Applicants must submit a detailed budget conforming to Horizon Europe's cost categories (personnel, equipment, subcontracting, travel, etc.). The EU contribution can cover up to 100% of eligible direct costs plus a flat rate of 25% for indirect costs. Consortia must demonstrate that at least 30% of the budget is allocated to Sub-Saharan African partners, ensuring local investment. Co-financing is not mandatory but is favorably considered, especially from private sector or national governments. Spatial: Projects must be implemented in Sub-Saharan African countries, with activities concentrated in climate-vulnerable zones (e.g., arid/semi-arid lands, coastal areas prone to flooding). The geographical scope should be clearly justified using climate risk data. Legal: All partners must be registered legal entities, with valid PIC (Participant Identification Code) numbers for Horizon Europe. For non-EU African partners, an equivalent organization status must be proven. Consortia must have a coordinator based in an EU member state or associated country, who bears overall responsibility for legal and financial compliance. Additionally, the call requires adherence to the EU's ethics standards, including data protection (GDPR), environmental sustainability, and conflict of interest declarations. Applicants must also consider the IHI (Innovative Health Initiative) rules for research proposals involving human subjects or personal data. A key constraint is that the same project cannot receive funding from another EU program simultaneously. The deadline for submission is strict: September 15, 2026, at 17:00 Brussels time, with no extensions. Late submissions are automatically rejected.

Path to Success

To secure funding under this call, a strategic and structured approach is essential. Step 1: Partner Consortium Formation (3-4 months before deadline). Identify and secure commitments from at least three complementary organizations, including an EU research lead and a Sub-Saharan African implementation partner. Use the European Commission's Partner Search tool and networking events like EEN (Enterprise Europe Network). Ensure partners cover technical expertise (e.g., hydrology, social behavior change), local governance, and financial management. GSLI offers a course on 'Partnership Management for Development' (2 weeks online) to strengthen coordination skills. Step 2: Capacity Building & Proposal Design (2-3 months). Enroll key staff in GSLI's 'Writing Winning Proposals' course to master Horizon Europe templates, evaluation criteria (excellence, impact, quality/efficiency of implementation), and narrative structuring. Simultaneously, conduct a baseline study in the target region using GSLI's 'Monitoring & Evaluation (M&E)' training framework to establish SMART indicators aligned with donor KPIs. Step 3: Risk & Financial Planning (1-2 months). Use GSLI's 'Financial Management for NGOs' to develop a compliant budget, including cost justification for personnel, travel, and equipment. Prepare risk mitigation protocols (e.g., for political instability or currency fluctuation) as per GSLI's 'Procurement & Supply Chain' course best practices. Step 4: Final Review & Submission (final 2 weeks). Conduct a peer review using GSLI's 'Grants Management' checklist, ensuring all documents are complete (e.g., ethics self-assessment, CVs, letters of intent). Submit via the EU Funding & Tenders Portal, allowing 48 hours for technical support. Post-submission, all partners should take GSLI's 'Project Management for Development' to prepare for implementation. By integrating GSLI's targeted training, consortia not only meet eligibility requirements but also enhance their proposal's quality, demonstrating a robust institutional framework that impresses evaluators.

Recommended GSLI Courses

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

Deadline: 2026-09-15

Persona: General

Urgency: Normal