Water4All 2026 call: sustainable water management

About this grant

The Water4All 2026 joint translational call on sustainable water management funds UK researchers to collaborate with international partners on joint applications to the Water4All transnational call. The call focuses on sustainable water management, excluding extreme events and circularity, and invites proposals addressing integrated water resource management, river basin management, groundwater management, water resilience, data monitoring and use, and water-positive solutions. Proposals must address at least one of four overlapping topics; the UK funds projects within Topics 1, 2 and 3 only. Topic 1 covers integrated monitoring and assessment; Topic 2 covers nature-based approaches for resilient water management at hydrological and hydrogeological scales; Topic 3 covers smart, secure and adaptive water infrastructures; Topic 4 (not UK-funded) covers systemic change, policy coherence and inclusive governance. UKRI will fund 80% of full economic cost of the UK budget, up to a maximum of £312,500 FEC per project, for up to 36 months. The latest UK award start date is 31 March 2028. A minimum of eight projects with UK partners is anticipated. Budgets above £312,500 at 100% FEC require additional justification. Eligible costs include standard UKRI costs and NERC non-ship marine facilities and equipment; PhD studentships, international co-lead costs, NERC ship-time and equipment of £25,000 or more are excluded. Applications follow a two-step process via the Water4All Electronic Proposal Submission System, beginning with a mandatory pre-proposal, followed by a full proposal assessed for excellence, impact and quality and efficiency of implementation. Successful UK applicants then submit through the UKRI Funding Service. Consortia must include teams from at least three financially participating countries, including at least two EU Member States or Horizon Europe associated countries.

Eligibility

The UK project lead must be based at a UK research organisation eligible for UKRI funding, including eligible public sector research establishments and independent research organisations. Research by the UK component must fall within NERC or EPSRC remit. Applications are open to research groups and individuals at any career stage, subject to NERC eligibility criteria. There is no limit on UK project co-leads, but each must make a clear unique contribution. Individuals may be involved in no more than two applications, only one of which may be as Project Partner Coordinator. International researchers cannot be UK project co-leads (international), though they may be project partners. Consortia must include at least three countries financially participating in the call.

How it's scored

Pre-proposals are assessed on Excellence and Impact. Full proposals are assessed on Excellence, Impact, and Quality and Efficiency of Implementation. Assessment is by independent experts in a two-stage process led by the Water4All partnership. Further detail is available on the Water4All website; no weightings are stated on this page.

Key requirements

• ✓Research must advance understanding, assessment, management, or governance of water across scales (catchment, groundwater, source-to-sea)
• ✓Projects must enable better decision-making for public authorities, water managers, and other stakeholders
• ✓Eligible applicants typically include universities, research institutions, and public bodies; consortium partnerships encouraged

Funder contact

The notice names a programme contact you can speak to before applying.

Frequently asked questions

How much funding does Natural Environment Research Council (NERC) offer?

Water4All 2026 call: sustainable water management offers up to £313K.

When is the Water4All 2026 call: sustainable water management deadline?

Applications close 6 Apr 2027 13:00.

Who can apply for Water4All 2026 call: sustainable water management?

Eligibility covers organisations in GB, EU; university, research-institution, nonprofit, local-authority, consortium. See the eligibility criteria above for the full conditions.

Relevant sectors

About this sector

Water funding covers supply, sanitation, wastewater treatment, water efficiency, catchment management and flood risk. A large share is public procurement for infrastructure and services, alongside grants for innovation and access in underserved areas. Bidders and applicants are typically assessed on technical capacity, operating experience and community impact.