Dam Removal: Pre-Demolition Grant
In context
This call is open to non-profits, registered charities and local authorities and 3 others, at idea and R&D stage and prototype and pilot stage. Funding is a grant. Coverage is read from the notice itself: any country.
This grant funds the preparatory and planning stages of dam removal projects, including feasibility studies and environmental assessments, before physical demolition begins. It is designed for organizations undertaking river restoration and conservation work through dam removal.
About this grant
The European Open Rivers Programme is a grant-giving organisation that funds the removal of small dams and the restoration of river flow and biodiversity across Europe. Its stated rationale is that around one million dams are fragmenting European rivers, and that there is considerable potential and need for dam removal. The programme was shaped by two years of research and stakeholder engagement. The programme is particularly interested in dam removal projects that will allow at least 10 km of river to flow freely again. It is currently accepting applications through an online portal, with a submission deadline of 13:00 CET on 13 November 2026. The programme's stated priority for the foreseeable future is preparatory and dam removal projects. It will not invite applications for A1 Barrier Identification and Prioritisation grants in the current call. The Pre-Demolition grant appears in the site navigation under Grant types, but this homepage does not describe the pre-demolition grant's specific activities, eligible costs, or conditions. Those details would be on the dedicated grant type or application resources pages. As an example of funded work, the programme reports a project update on North Macedonia's first dam removal on the Pčinja River, carried out by the NGO Eko-svest with the Municipality of Kumanovo and programme support. The programme also announced support for 33 new projects in August 2026, though those recipients are not named on this page.
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Eligibility
This page does not state eligibility criteria for the Pre-Demolition grant. It indicates that the programme funds preparatory and dam removal projects that restore river flow, with a preference for projects enabling at least 10 km of river to flow freely. Applicants apply through the online portal. Organisation types, geography and prior-recipient rules are not specified on this page.
Key requirements
- ✓Project must be a dam removal initiative in preparatory/pre-demolition phase
- ✓Eligible activities include feasibility studies, environmental impact assessments, and planning activities
- ✓Focus on river restoration and conservation outcomes
Recent past awardees
Knowing who's won the last rounds tells you whether you're in the strike zone.
- Eko-svest · 2025
Funder contact
The notice names a programme contact you can speak to before applying.
Frequently asked questions
- When is the Dam Removal: Pre-Demolition deadline?
- Applications close 13 Nov 2026 12:00.
- Who can apply for Dam Removal: Pre-Demolition?
- Eligibility covers organisations in GLOBAL; nonprofit, charity, local-authority, research-institution, university, consortium. See the eligibility criteria above for the full conditions.
Relevant sectors
About this sector
Biodiversity funding backs habitat restoration, species protection, protected areas and nature-positive business. It comes from environment agencies, multilateral nature funds and conservation philanthropy, often through competitive calls with defined regions. Applicants are usually asked for baseline surveys, local partners and indicators that show ecological change.
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