Thematic Area 1 Water management in Nexus

Description

1) Objective

This call is designed to promote the creation of innovative solutions rooted in the Nexus approach, with a cross-sectoral perspective that enhances the sustainability of irrigated regions within the Mediterranean area. Moreover, projects should focus on mitigating current challenges that obstruct the effective implementation of the WEFE Nexus approach when adopting novel irrigation technologies. These challenges may include gaps in data availability, systemic disconnect between institutions, and uneven power distributions across sectors. Through a multi-actor approach, the proposals should be demonstrated at large sites in irrigated areas that are experiencing recurrent or permanent water scarcity conditions and anticipate solutions for current and future challenges. Proposals will support strategies for advancing the  WEFE Nexus approach in practice, linking food systems with farming, ecosystem services and healthy diets.

Proposals should assemble innovative technologies and or strategies developed at sectoral level and test them in a combined way at the demonstration sites to improve the efficiency and sustainability of water, energy, and food use in irrigated agriculture, taking also into consideration water and groundwater quality (i.e., the ecosystem component of the nexus). Specific areas worthy of consideration include wastewater reuse systems, optimizing combinations of technological innovations in irrigated agriculture with alternate water resources and their energy requirements, ICT (e.g., smart agriculture) for smallholders, nature-based solutions or sustainable practices, such as agro-ecological, as well as modelling and decision-making tools and institutional/policy frameworks. The reuse of wastewater and the use of alternate water resources might need the development and the review of policy frameworks in certain countries. Proposals should address stakeholders driven needs with their participation towards improvement of WEFE sustainable practices.

2) Eligibility

Any legal entity created under the European Union law is eligible.

3) Location

The following Member States (MS) of the European Union (EU) are eligible: Croatia, Cyprus, France, Germany, Greece, Italy, Luxembourg, Malta, Portugal, Spain, Slovenia. The following Third Countries associated to Horizon 2020 (AC) are eligible: Israel, Tunisia, and Turkey. The following Third Countries not associated with to Horizon 2020 (TC), having concluded international agreements for scientific and technological cooperation setting out the terms and conditions of their participation in PRIMA are eligible: Algeria, Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon, and Morocco.

4) Budget

Total available funding is €9,200,000. Funding rate is 70% (except for non-profit legal entities, where a rate of 100% applies).

5) Application

The application deadline for pre-proposals is 2 April 2024. Selected full proposals are then due on 25 September 2024.