Deadline: 03-Jul-2026
The AdaptAction programme, co-financed by the European Union and AFD, has launched a call for research projects to strengthen climate adaptation efforts across the Mediterranean region. The call focuses on Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia, Egypt, Lebanon, Palestine, Jordan, and Syria, with priority given to projects involving at least two countries. Up to €310,000 excluding taxes is available to fund a maximum of three action research projects, with each project eligible for up to €160,000 excluding taxes.
Overview
The AdaptAction programme is inviting research project proposals that support climate adaptation in the Mediterranean region.
The call aims to generate practical knowledge that can improve adaptation policies, projects, and decision-making in countries facing climate risks.
Research should connect climate knowledge with public action, local needs, institutional realities, and the experiences of vulnerable communities.
Purpose of the Call
The purpose of the call is to strengthen climate adaptation research and expertise in the Mediterranean region.
The programme supports action research that can help public institutions, local actors, researchers, and communities respond more effectively to climate change.
Projects should produce knowledge that is useful for policies, adaptation planning, and practical implementation.
Key Focus Areas
The call focuses on climate adaptation, water, agriculture, food security, coastal areas, conflict zones, health, climate knowledge, adaptation policies, local decision-making, vulnerable groups, local knowledge, climate uncertainty, social and political dimensions of adaptation, institutional capacity, humanities and social sciences, and regional research cooperation.
Priority Themes
Research projects should address one or more of the programme’s adaptation themes.
Priority areas include:
- Water
- Agriculture
- Food security
- Coastal areas
- Conflict zones
- Health
- Climate knowledge for policy
- Social, political, and institutional aspects of adaptation
- Inclusion of vulnerable groups
- Local knowledge and community-based adaptation
- Decision-making under climate uncertainty
Projects should show how their research can support real adaptation decisions and improve climate resilience.
Intervention Countries
Projects must focus on one or more of the eight AdaptAction intervention countries.
Eligible countries are:
- Morocco
- Algeria
- Tunisia
- Egypt
- Lebanon
- Palestine
- Jordan
- Syria
Priority will be given to projects involving at least two of these countries.
Regional Cooperation Priority
The programme encourages research that strengthens cooperation across the Mediterranean region.
Projects involving at least two intervention countries may be prioritised because they can support comparative learning, regional exchange, and shared adaptation solutions.
Applicants should explain why the selected countries are relevant and how the research will benefit them.
Role of Humanities and Social Sciences
The humanities and social sciences must play a central role in project design and implementation.
This means projects should not focus only on technical climate data.
They should also examine the social, political, cultural, economic, and institutional conditions that shape adaptation decisions.
Research may explore questions such as:
- How communities understand climate risks
- How institutions make adaptation decisions
- How vulnerable groups are included or excluded
- How local knowledge can guide adaptation
- How uncertainty affects planning
- How policies can become more effective and equitable
Use of Existing Climate and Impact Data
Research activities should build on existing climate and impact data.
Applicants should explain what data is already available and how the project will use, analyse, or interpret it.
The research should add value by connecting climate evidence with local realities, policy needs, institutional capacity, and practical adaptation pathways.
Funding Amount
The total budget available under the call is €310,000 excluding taxes.
The programme will fund a maximum of three action research projects.
Each project may receive up to €160,000 excluding taxes.
Applicants should prepare realistic budgets that match the scale, activities, and expected outcomes of the proposed project.
What the Funding Can Support
Funded projects may support activities that generate practical research outcomes and strengthen adaptation capacity.
Eligible activities may include:
- Field studies
- Surveys
- Research workshops
- Multi-stakeholder workshops
- Bibliographic reviews
- Experience exchange missions
- Mobilisation of expertise
- Training activities to promote results
- Monitoring and evaluation of research outcomes
- Monitoring and evaluation of impact pathways
Activities should be linked clearly to research objectives and adaptation outcomes.
Who Is Eligible?
Eligible lead applicants must be research institutes or consortia.
The consortium must include:
- A university or national research centre from at least one of the eight intervention countries
- A university, research centre, or researcher with proven international academic credentials
The project should demonstrate strong scientific and operational governance.
Who Can Participate as Team Members?
Several types of organisations and experts may participate as team members.
These may include:
- Local NGOs
- International NGOs
- Think tanks
- Consultancy firms with research and development activities
- Individual consultants
- Research experts
- Technical specialists
- Local partners
All roles must be clearly defined in the proposal.
Governance Requirements
The project must have clear scientific and operational governance.
Applicants should explain:
- Who will lead the research
- How partners will collaborate
- How decisions will be made
- How scientific quality will be ensured
- How field activities will be managed
- How responsibilities will be shared
- How outputs will be validated and used
A clear governance structure is important for both research quality and effective delivery.
Why It Matters
Climate change is increasing pressure on water systems, agriculture, food security, coastal areas, health systems, and communities affected by conflict across the Mediterranean region.
Adaptation decisions must be based on strong evidence, but also on local knowledge, institutional realities, and the needs of vulnerable groups.
This call matters because it supports research that can help governments, local actors, and communities design more practical, inclusive, and effective adaptation responses.
How to Apply
Applicants should prepare a research proposal that clearly explains the adaptation challenge, selected countries, research methods, partnership structure, budget, and expected impact.
Step 1: Choose the Country Focus
Applicants should select one or more of the eight intervention countries.
Projects involving at least two countries may receive priority.
The proposal should explain why the selected country or countries are relevant to the research question.
Step 2: Define the Adaptation Challenge
Applicants should clearly describe the climate adaptation issue being addressed.
The challenge may relate to water, agriculture, food security, coastal risks, health, conflict zones, vulnerable groups, local governance, or policy implementation.
Step 3: Build the Research Consortium
Lead applicants must ensure that the consortium includes a university or national research centre from at least one intervention country and a university, research centre, or researcher with proven international academic credentials.
Applicants should define the role of each partner clearly.
Step 4: Place Humanities and Social Sciences at the Centre
The proposal should show how humanities and social sciences will guide the research design.
Applicants should explain how social, political, institutional, and local knowledge dimensions will be studied.
Step 5: Use Existing Climate and Impact Data
The proposal should identify existing climate and impact data that will inform the research.
Applicants should explain how the project will interpret or apply this data to adaptation policy and practice.
Step 6: Design Action Research Activities
Applicants should propose practical research activities such as field studies, surveys, workshops, reviews, training, exchange missions, or expert mobilisation.
Activities should generate knowledge that is useful for public and local actors.
Step 7: Prepare the Budget
Each project may request up to €160,000 excluding taxes.
The total request should be realistic, justified, and clearly linked to research activities and expected outputs.
Step 8: Define Impact Pathways
Applicants should explain how research results will be used.
This may include policy engagement, local actor training, stakeholder workshops, adaptation guidance, decision-making tools, or knowledge-sharing activities.
Step 9: Submit the Proposal
Applicants should submit a complete proposal with the research plan, partnership details, governance structure, budget, methodology, expected outputs, and impact pathway.
A strong proposal should show scientific quality, practical relevance, and clear value for adaptation in the Mediterranean region.
Selection Considerations
Applications are likely to be assessed based on relevance, quality, feasibility, partnership strength, and expected impact.
Key assessment areas may include:
- Relevance to AdaptAction priorities
- Focus on eligible intervention countries
- Inclusion of at least two countries, where applicable
- Strength of humanities and social sciences integration
- Use of existing climate and impact data
- Quality of the research methodology
- Practical value for public and local actors
- Inclusion of vulnerable groups
- Integration of local knowledge
- Strength of governance arrangements
- Capacity of the research consortium
- Feasibility of the budget
- Clear impact pathway
Tips for a Strong Proposal
Applicants should:
- Focus on a clear climate adaptation challenge
- Involve at least two intervention countries where possible
- Include strong research partners from the region
- Place humanities and social sciences at the centre
- Build on existing climate and impact data
- Show how local knowledge will be included
- Explain how vulnerable groups will be considered
- Design practical outputs for public and local actors
- Include multi-stakeholder engagement
- Present a realistic budget within the funding limit
- Define a clear impact pathway from research to action
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Common mistakes include:
- Proposing work outside the eight intervention countries
- Not involving a university or national research centre from an eligible country
- Treating climate adaptation only as a technical issue
- Weak integration of humanities and social sciences
- Not using existing climate or impact data
- Failing to include local knowledge
- Ignoring vulnerable groups
- Providing unclear governance arrangements
- Submitting a budget above €160,000 excluding taxes
- Not explaining how research findings will be used
- Providing weak plans for stakeholder engagement or dissemination
FAQ
1. What is the AdaptAction research call?
It is a call for research projects that strengthen climate adaptation efforts across the Mediterranean region, co-financed by the European Union and AFD.
2. Which countries are eligible under the call?
Projects must focus on one or more of the eight intervention countries: Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia, Egypt, Lebanon, Palestine, Jordan, and Syria.
3. How much funding is available?
The total budget available is €310,000 excluding taxes, with up to €160,000 excluding taxes available per project.
4. How many projects will be funded?
The call will fund a maximum of three action research projects.
5. What themes are supported?
Supported themes include adaptation in water, agriculture, food security, coastal areas, conflict zones, health, climate knowledge, vulnerable groups, local knowledge, and decision-making under climate uncertainty.
6. Who can apply as lead applicant?
Eligible lead applicants must be research institutes or consortia that include a university or national research centre from at least one intervention country and a university, research centre, or researcher with proven international academic credentials.
7. Can NGOs or consultants participate?
Yes. Local and international NGOs, think tanks, consultancy firms with research and development activities, and individual consultants may participate as team members if governance roles are clearly defined.
Conclusion
The AdaptAction call for research projects supports action research that can strengthen climate adaptation across the Mediterranean region. With a total budget of €310,000 excluding taxes and up to €160,000 available per project, the programme encourages practical, policy-relevant research focused on water, agriculture, food security, coastal areas, conflict zones, health, vulnerable groups, and decision-making under climate uncertainty. Applicants should build strong research consortia, involve eligible intervention countries, place humanities and social sciences at the centre, integrate local knowledge, and produce results that support real adaptation decisions.
For more information, visit AFD.
