Cofunded by the European Union

Call for Experts: Contribution to the Water4All’s strategic agenda update

The Water4All Partnership, co-funded by the European Union within the frame of the Horizon Europe programme, aims at enabling water security for all. It will boost systemic transformations and foster the matchmaking between problem owners and solution providers. 

To guide its activities and attain the grand challenge of “securing water for all”, the Partnership is built on a comprehensive Strategic Research and Innovation Agenda (SRIA). The SRIA evolves in response to emerging environmental, socioeconomic and political changes, and it takes into consideration the perspectives of diverse water research and innovation players and stakeholders. A first version was released in 2022 and is to be updated by the end of 2025, halfway through the Water4All programme. For the updated version of the SRIA, the Water4All Partnership will seek to prioritise the knowledge gaps listed in order to provide a better understanding of specific areas for which urgent actions are recommended to secure water for all.

To this end, Water4All Partnership is setting up five (5) working groups of up to seven (7) experts. Working groups will relate to each one of the following SRIA scientific themes:

  1. Water for circular economy: smart water value
  2. Water for ecosystems and biodiversity
  3. Water for the future: sustainable water management
  4. Water and health
  5. Infrastructures for water

NB: governance and international cooperation will be addressed in each working group as cross-cutting themes. Experience in these 2 cross-cutting issues is an additional asset.

By joining this Water4All’s expertise network, you will be asked to:

  • Read and analyse different sources of information, including the deliverables of water projects funded by the Water JPI, Horizon 2020, Horizon Europe and PRIMA, as well as peer-reviewed articles in order to identify water knowledge gaps that could be included in the SRIA. The outputs of the “Literature review” task carried out by Water4All partners during the first two years of the programme will have to be considered.
  • Provide a critical analysis of research and innovation priorities that could be highlighted in the updated SRIA version. 
  • Participate to a two-full day working meeting that will take place in Paris on the 3rd and 4th of April 2025 (fixed date).
  • Deliver a final report in collaboration with the other members of the working group.

Each expert will be granted 1250 Euros for their work. Travel and accommodation will be offered by Water4All and arranged by the ANR (Agence Nationale de la Recherche) according to ANR’s procedures.

How to Apply

If you are interested to contribute to these Water4All’s activities as an expert, please fill in the survey.

You are also encouraged to share this call with your contacts with relevant expertise.

Timeline

Deadline for application: 3rd December 2024 EOB

The selection of the experts will be carried out by a Task Force to be appointed by Water4All partners and selected members of the Water4All’s Advisory Board.

Do not hesitate to contact the Water4All partnership coordination team if you have any questions at: Water4All@agencerecherche.fr.

The Water4All Partnership - Water Security for the Planet - is a funding programme for scientific research in freshwater. It aims to tackle water challenges to face climate change, help to achieve the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals and boost the EU’s competitiveness and growth.

It is co-funded by the European Union within the frame of the Horizon Europe programme (a key funding programme for research and innovation). The Partnership duration is for seven years from 2022.

The Water4All objective is to enable water security at a large scale and in the long term. Its goal is also to tackle water issues in a holistic frame. 

All forms of life on earth need water. All human activities operate with this resource. Water is part of our everyday life. It is also integrated within urban and countryside landscapes. It is one of the most valuable elements we share with plants and animals.

These simple facts must be kept in mind to understand the Water4All ambition.

This resource is weakened in many places due to climate changes, and human habits. We know that we can improve the way we use water. Everyone has a role to play and especially the scientific research community.

Scientific research is the heart of the Partnership as It is a powerful tool to improve knowledge on preserving, restoring, and managing this essential resource. 

International cooperation is also needed as water has no borders on Earth and runs from one country to another.

Water4All brings together a broad and cohesive group of 90 partners from 33 countries in the European Union and beyond. This consortium gathers partners from the whole water Research, Development and Innovation (RDI) chain.