Capacity Building Project for Source-to-Sea Risk Framework Development (UK)

Deadline: 09-Mar-2026

The Centre of Expertise for Waters (CREW) invites proposals for a capacity building project to synthesise evidence, analyse gaps, and review methodologies addressing land- and freshwater-based pressures on marine and estuarine environments. Funding of up to £90,000 supports Scottish higher education institutions and research institutes in developing integrated, cumulative-impact approaches to inform future source-to-sea risk frameworks and geospatial decision-support tools.

About the Initiative

CREW’s 2026 capacity building call aims to strengthen understanding of how terrestrial and freshwater pressures affect marine and estuarine ecosystems. The project focuses on evidence synthesis, gap analysis, and methodological review to inform a strategic appraisal of land-use patterns, land management practices, and environmental conditions influencing marine systems. This preparatory project will lay the foundation for future development of source-to-sea risk frameworks and geospatial tools for policy and regulatory decision-making.

Key Focus Areas

Projects should address:

1. Evidence Synthesis – Collate and review existing datasets on land- and freshwater-based pressures affecting marine environments.

2. Gap Analysis – Identify knowledge and data gaps, including spatial and temporal limitations in current measurements.

3. Methodological Review – Examine approaches for understanding sensitivities of key marine natural assets and cumulative impacts.

4. Integrated Understanding of Pressures – Move beyond reductionist links between single pressures and sensitivities, encouraging a holistic view of interacting pressures.

5. Support Future Frameworks – Outputs will inform source-to-sea risk assessment tools and geospatial decision-making frameworks.

Why It Matters

Marine and estuarine ecosystems are increasingly impacted by land- and freshwater-derived pressures, yet current monitoring and classification approaches are limited in scope and resolution. By synthesising evidence and reviewing methodologies, this project will:

• Improve understanding of cumulative impacts on marine natural assets.

• Provide guidance on using existing data effectively for strategic and regulatory purposes.

• Support the development of future risk assessment frameworks and geospatial decision-support tools.

Who is Eligible?

• Scottish higher education institutions and research institutes.

• One eligible organisation must lead the bid.

• Subcontracting is allowed to UK-based higher education institutions, research institutes, or SMEs.

• Participation from both experienced researchers and early career researchers under mentorship is encouraged.

Funding: Up to £90,000, exclusive of VAT.

How to Apply

1. Check Eligibility – Confirm that your institution meets CREW requirements.

2. Define Scope – Focus on evidence synthesis, gap analysis, and methodological review related to land- and freshwater-based pressures.

3. Plan Multi-Actor Contributions – Include experienced researchers, early career researchers, and subcontracted partners if applicable.

4. Prepare Proposal – Outline methodology for dataset collation, review processes, and approaches to assess cumulative impacts.

5. Submit Proposal – Follow CREW submission guidelines and deadlines, ensuring compliance with grant terms.

6. Evaluation and Funding – Projects evaluated on relevance, methodological rigour, expertise, and potential to inform future source-to-sea frameworks.

Common Tips for Applicants

• Emphasize integration of multiple pressures rather than single-pressure analysis.

• Highlight existing datasets and knowledge gaps to inform future frameworks.

• Include mentorship plans for early career researchers.

• Demonstrate capacity to support subsequent phases (e.g., source-to-sea risk and prioritisation tools).

• Align methodology with CREW’s three core themes and policy-relevant outcomes.

FAQs

1. Who can apply? Scottish higher education institutions or research institutes; one must lead the proposal.

2. What is the funding amount? Up to £90,000, exclusive of VAT.

3. Can subcontractors be included? Yes, UK-based HEIs, research institutes, or SMEs may contribute under grant terms.

4. Is participation of early career researchers encouraged? Yes, under appropriate supervision and mentorship.

5. What is the project focus? Evidence synthesis, gap analysis, and methodological review of land- and freshwater-based pressures on marine and estuarine ecosystems.

6. What outputs are expected? Synthesised evidence, identified knowledge gaps, methodological recommendations, and guidance for future source-to-sea frameworks.

7. Is this linked to future projects? Yes, it prepares for a Phase 2 project developing a geospatial source-to-sea risk and prioritisation framework.

Conclusion

The CREW 2026 capacity building funding enables Scottish research institutions to strengthen evidence-based understanding of land- and freshwater pressures on marine and estuarine environments. By integrating datasets, identifying gaps, and reviewing methodologies, the project will inform future risk assessment tools, support policy and regulatory decision-making, and promote cumulative-impact approaches for sustainable marine management.

For more information, visit CREW.