SpongeWorks Open Call for Associated Regions
ClosedDescription
The SpongeWorks project aims to demonstrate practical, effective, economically feasible and socially inclusive integrated approaches and sustainable solutions that enhance the sponge functioning of interconnected ground-water, soil, and surface water systems at the regional scale. The objective of the open call is to support the transfer of knowledge from SpongeWorks to the selected associated regions, allowing them to benefit from the demonstration activities and solutions developed as part of the project. This cooperation between the SpongeWorks project partners and the associated regions aims to make a significant contribution to a more integrated approach to enhancing landscape water retention capacity at the regional scale across Europe. The SpongeWorks project partners will continuously share their experiences, knowledge, and outcomes with the associated regions. The selected regions will thus benefit from enhanced capacities to develop and implement innovative sponge measures and strategies, including action plans and roadmaps, based on an integrated and inclusive multi-actor approach to managing landscapes, water, and soils. The focus will be on ecosystem restoration and improving water retention at the landscape scale. From the project’s perspective, it is expected that each associated region will: Enable showcasing of the feasibility, replicability, and scalability of the developed approaches, methods, tools, and solutions within SpongeWorks. Draw up a sponge strategy, consisting of an action plan and a roadmap, during the SpongeWorks project lifetime on how they plan to replicate and scale up sponge measures and strategies in the future to increase landscape and soil water retention capacity in their territory. Will contribute their potentially existing experiences to the SpongeWorks project learning process and Sponge Knowledge Platform.
Beneficiary & submission
The open call aims to select eight associated regions that will receive financial support up to €100,000 each in the form of a grant to develop and implement innovative sponge measures and strategies in their territory.
The Guidelines for Applicants and the Application Form can be downloaded from the online application platform at : https://inbo.synapse-consult.com/
Proposals must be submitted via the online application platform.
All applications must:
- Be submitted in English.
- Be in PDF format.
- Use the provided Application Form.
Proposals will be evaluated according to the following criteria:
- Relevance: How much does the proposal relate the SpongeWorks project and have a European dimension?
- Resources: What resources (human, technical, financial, institutional) does the proposal have at its disposal to implement the proposed actions?
- Local Network: How robust is the local network of the organisation(s) submitting the proposal?
- Impact: What is the estimated contribution of the proposal to the objectives of the SpongeWorks project in terms of showing the feasibility, replicability and scalability of the developed solutions?
Further information
Who can apply?
Local and regional authorities, as well as river basin organisations and authorities, from EU member states and Horizon Europe associated countries, except Austria, France, Germany, Greece, the Netherlands and the United Kingdom.
More details about the SpongeWorks Open Call for Associated Regions can be found at: https://spongeworks.eu/associated-regions
Applicants are strongly encouraged to carefully read the Guidelines for Applicants before preparing their application.
Questions may be submitted via the online application platform up to 7 days before the submission deadline.
Contact: b.dhont@oieau.fr / s.bernard@oieau.fr