Deadline: 15-Feb-22
European Commission is calling for proposals for Climate Sensitive Water Allocation Systems and Economic Instruments.
Scope
- Current water allocation regimes are largely shaped by historical preferences and usage patterns. They are therefore usually not well equipped to deal with the growing water needs and intensifying competition of the different water use sectors, the impacts of climate changes, especially water scarcity and/or shifts in societal preferences, such as increasing value placed on water related ecological services. It is therefore important to assess current water allocation systems in different regions and sectors and to develop pertinent water allocation models that are able to perform well under both average and extreme conditions and could demonstrate adaptive efficiency in order to adjust to climate conditions.
- Actions under this topic should address ways to value water appropriately, taking into account the multiple and diverse values of water to different groups and sectors, and ways to develop appropriate tariffs and prices to ensure access to water which should be available and affordable to all, while also securing adequate pricing policies allowing for systematic renewal of water service infrastructure. Actions should develop and demonstrate in relevant river basins and sectors, innovative tools / instruments on intelligent water allocation schemes relevant for decision-making recommendations (e.g. on permits). The opportunities for developing water allocation schemes based on digital technologies should be explored.
Funding Information
The check will normally be done for the coordinator if the requested grant amount is equal to or greater than EUR 500 000, except for:
- public bodies (entities established as a public body under national law, including local, regional or national authorities) or international organisations; and
- cases where the individual requested grant amount is not more than EUR 60 000 (lowvalue grant).
Expected Outcomes
Projects results are expected to contribute to several of the following expected outcomes
- Achieve transparent water sharing and adjust water allocation across environmental and human uses towards long-term water replenishment capacity and availability,
- Adopt inclusive, forward-looking and climate risk-informed water allocation planning and management processes, foster adoption of digital technologies in water management
- Guide decision makers in transboundary rivers to share transboundary waters equitably, reaping the benefits of appropriate water allocation regimes.
- Identify water efficiency deficiencies and achieve improvement by at least 50% by 2030, in regions under water stress, now or in the future, and for water bodies at risk of failing to achieve good ecological or quantitative status.
- Reduce the water footprint of water-using sectors, especially agriculture, energy and industry.
- Promote financing mechanisms to smoothen the transition to more appropriate water pricing policies in water supply and sanitation and in the different economic sectors, such as agriculture, energy and industry, taking into consideration the opportunities available in various EU (e.g. CAP, Cohesion Policy funds, etc.) and national funding mechanisms and policies.
- Help structure an appropriate policy dialogue to support water allocation reforms and increase stakeholders engagement.
- Support the implementation of the European Green Deal and the Sustainable Development Goals, notably the SDG 6 “Ensure availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all”.
Eligibility Criteria
To be eligible for funding, applicants must be established in one of the eligible countries, i.e.:
- the Member States of the European Union, including their outermost regions;
- the Overseas Countries and Territories (OCTs) linked to the Member States;
- eligible non-EU countries:
- countries associated to Horizon Europe
- low- and middle-income countries
For more information, visit https://bit.ly/3ofjgus