The Water4All Partnership has launched its fifth Joint Call for research and innovation projects, bringing together 32 funding organisations from Europe and beyond to support international collaboration on sustainable water management.
The 2026 Joint Transnational Call focuses on “Sustainable Water Management” and invites researchers, research institutions and eligible organizations to develop collaborative projects addressing some of the major challenges facing water systems.
The call is structured around four research and innovation topics covering water monitoring, nature-based solutions, smart infrastructure, systemic change, policy coherence and inclusive governance.
With projects expected to begin at the end of 2027 or beginning of 2028, the initiative provides researchers with an opportunity to build international partnerships and develop solutions that can contribute to resilient and sustainable water systems.
Water4All Sustainable Water Management Call 2026 at a Glance
Opportunity: Water4All Joint Transnational Call on Sustainable Water Management
Call: Fifth Water4All Joint Call
Funding Partners: 32 funding organisations from Europe and abroad
Focus: Sustainable water management
Call Opening: September 8, 2026
Preproposal Deadline: November 10, 2026, at 15:00 CET
Full Proposal Deadline: April 6, 2027, at 15:00 CEST
Expected Funding Decisions: September 2027
Expected Project Start: End of 2027/beginning of 2028
Kick-off Meeting: Spring 2028
Applicant Webinar: September 17, 2026, at 14:00 CEST
Four Research Topics
The Water4All call is organized around four priority areas designed to encourage research and innovation addressing interconnected water challenges.
Topic 1: Integrated Monitoring and Assessment for Sustainable Water Management
The first topic focuses on improving the monitoring and assessment of water systems. Research under this area can contribute to better understanding of water resources, their condition and the pressures affecting their sustainability.
Integrated approaches can help decision-makers and water stakeholders access relevant information for improved planning, management and protection of water resources.
Topic 2: Nature-Based Approaches for Resilient Water Management
The second topic focuses on nature-based approaches that can strengthen water management at hydrological and hydrogeological system scales.
Projects in this area can explore approaches that work with natural processes and ecosystems to improve water-system resilience while addressing environmental and societal challenges.
Topic 3: Smart, Secure and Adaptive Water Infrastructures
The third topic targets the development of smarter and more adaptable water infrastructure.
Research and innovation projects can focus on approaches that improve the ability of water infrastructure to respond to changing conditions while strengthening security, resilience and sustainability.
Topic 4: Resilient Water Systems Through Systemic Change, Policy Coherence and Inclusive Governance
The fourth topic recognizes that sustainable water management extends beyond technology and infrastructure.
It focuses on systemic change, policy coherence and inclusive governance, encouraging approaches that bring together different stakeholders and address the institutional, policy and societal dimensions of water management.
Who Can Benefit from the Call?
The Water4All Joint Call is particularly relevant to researchers, universities, research institutions and organizations working on water-related research and innovation.
Because this is a Joint Transnational Call involving funding organizations from multiple countries, applicants should carefully review the eligibility requirements applicable to their country or region.
Importantly, the call is accompanied by a list of participating funding partner organizations and national contact points. Applicants should therefore consult the specific national or regional regulations before developing and submitting a proposal.
The national and regional rules can determine important issues such as eligible applicants, funding conditions, project requirements and other participation criteria.
International Research Collaboration
A major feature of the Water4All initiative is its emphasis on transnational research and innovation collaboration.
The call provides a framework for researchers and organizations from participating countries to work together on shared water challenges. Such collaboration can help combine scientific expertise, technological capabilities, policy knowledge and local perspectives.
Projects addressing sustainable water management can also have wider relevance to climate resilience, environmental protection, sustainable development and improved governance of water resources.
Important Dates
The call opened on September 8, 2026.
Applicants preparing proposals should take note of the following timeline:
- September 8, 2026: Call opens
- September 17, 2026: Information webinar for applicants at 14:00 CEST
- November 10, 2026: Preproposal submission deadline at 15:00 CET
- Early February 2027: Selection of preproposals
- April 6, 2027: Full proposal submission deadline at 15:00 CEST
- September 2027: Selection of funded proposals
- End of 2027/beginning of 2028: Projects expected to start
- Spring 2028: Kick-off meeting for funded projects
Information Webinar for Applicants
Prospective applicants will have an opportunity to learn more about the call through an Information Webinar scheduled for September 17, 2026, at 14:00 CEST.
The webinar can be useful for researchers and institutions seeking clarification about the call, its research topics and the application process.
Applicants are encouraged to consult the official call webpage and relevant national contact points before preparing their proposals.
Application Deadline
The deadline for submitting preproposals is November 10, 2026, at 15:00 CET.
Applicants whose preproposals are selected will subsequently be invited to submit full proposals by April 6, 2027, at 15:00 CEST.
Researchers should begin reviewing the national/regional eligibility rules and forming eligible international partnerships well ahead of the preproposal deadline.
The full call announcement, participating funding organizations, national contact points and applicable national/regional regulations should be reviewed carefully before submission.
