Deadline: 15-Jul-25
The Partnership for Research and Innovation in the Mediterranean Area (PRIMA) has opened a call for Thematic Area 1 Water Management Program to upscale Nature Based Solutions for sustainable water management to address extreme events in the Mediterranean.
Scope
- Nature-Based Solutions (NBS) are pivotal in mitigating the effects of extreme events and water pollution in the Mediterranean by enhancing ecosystem resilience and promoting sustainable adaptation strategies. Despite their well-recognised importance, several key challenges remain. Evidence on the cost-efficiency and socio-cultural impacts of NBS is still fragmented, and there is a notable lack of holistic approaches and guidelines for their uptake at large catchment scales.
- Moreover, there is a pressing need to demonstrate the effectiveness of combining different types of NBS. This includes showcasing their multiple benefits in addressing a range of challenges, such as salinity management and pollution control, especially from diffuse sources (e.g., agriculture). For instance, certain vegetation types can play a significant role in improving water quality by filtering pollutants and enhancing ecosystem health. Effective integration of these solutions is crucial for managing both salinity and pollution, thus providing comprehensive and sustainable responses to the diverse environmental challenges faced in the Mediterranean region.
Funding Information
- Total indicative amount allocated to this call: EUR 10.9 million.
Duration
- PRIMA considers that proposals with a duration of 36 months would allow these outcomes to be addressed appropriately.
Aspects
- The successful proposals should cover at least one of the following aspects:
- Identify existing Nature-Based Solutions (NBS) tailored to the diverse ecological and socio-economic contexts of the Mediterranean region to address risks like floods, droughts, water pollution and other hazards, as well as the barriers to their acceptance, with the aim to re-define regulatory frameworks accordingly.
- Test, validate, assess cost-effectiveness and benefits, and scale up NBS in diverse Mediterranean contexts (i.e., urban and rural scenarios), to mitigate droughts, floods, water pollution, heat waves, storms, while improving ecosystem biodiversity and resilience, recharge aquifer and preventing soil salinisation and erosion.
- Formulate new business models, governance approaches, and recommendations tailored for the Mediterranean region to promote widespread NBS adoption and their integration into existing policies, environmental and land use regulations.
- Explore combined NBS: A system of NBS interventions and also highlight the potential to combine NBS with other kinds of solutions/interventions (hybrid infrastructure).
- Develop decision-support tools for optimising NBS selection based on environmental conditions and stakeholder needs.
Expected Outcomes
- Aligned with the priorities of the European Green Deal, including the EU biodiversity strategy for 2030, as well as the EU climate adaptation and mitigation ambitions for 2030 and 2050, successful proposals will focus on scaling up Nature-based Solutions (NBS). These solutions will enhance water security and improve the management of water-related risks amidst a changing climate, emphasising principles such as green, blue, and circular approaches (e.g., Natural Water Retention Measures, NWRMs) to mitigate the impacts of extreme events and water pollution.
- Project results are expected to contribute to the following expected outcomes:
- Improved water management, enhanced climate resilience and adaptive capacity of ecosystems and communities19 through the implementation of cost-effective Nature-Based Solutions (NBS)
- Increased knowledge sharing and capacity building among stakeholders at all levels to effectively design, implement, and maintain NBS.
- Improved monitoring and evaluation systems for continuous enhancement of NBS leading to their integration into environmental, agricultural, and urban planning policies, as well as climate adaptation and mitigation and environmental protection strategies, supported by innovative governance frameworks.
Eligibility Criteria
- Entities eligible to participate:
- Any legal entity, regardless of its place of establishment including legal entities from no associated third countries or international organizations (including international European research organizations) is eligible to participate (whether it is eligible for funding or not) provided that the conditions laid down in the Horizon Europe Regulation and any derogations to these as specified in the amending Decision (EU) 2024/1167 of the European Parliament and Council as regards the continuation of the Union’s participation in the Partnership for Research and Innovation in the Mediterranean Area (PRIMA) under Horizon Europe have been met along with any other conditions laid down in the specific call topic.
- The PRIMA Participating States
- The following EU Member States (MS): Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, France, Germany, Greece, Italy, Luxembourg, Malta, Portugal, Spain, Slovenia, including the Overseas Countries and Territories (OCT) linked to these Member States.
- The following third countries associated with Horizon Europe (AC): Israel, Tunisia, and Türkiye.
- The following Third Countries not Associated with Horizon Europe (TC): Algeria, Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon, and Morocco. These countries will continue to be considered PRIMA Participating States only upon the conclusion of an agreement, in the form of an exchange of letter with the Union setting new terms for their continued participation in PRIMA to update the scientific and technological cooperation international agreements.
- These Associated Countries (AC) and Third Countries (TC) mentioned above are the Mediterranean Partner Countries (MPC).
For more information, visit PRIMA.