The joint transnational call will be launched in the framework of the European partnership Water4All and will support research and innovation projects aimed at delivering knowledge, models, approaches, tools and methodologies to better understand hydrological processes at different scale, in order to respond more efficiently to emerging water issues related to extreme events. In line with the strategic objectives of Water4All, the results of the projects will contribute to the implementation of evidence-based, global, EU and national water management policies and strategies, within the frameworks of the Green Deal, the Water Framework Directive, Just Transition and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. Furthermore, governance playing a key role in water challenges, the 2022 Joint Transnational Call will seek for innovative governance models, and enhanced participation of stakeholders in water management issues related to extreme events.

Call Topics:

The call will focus on solutions for hydroclimatic extreme events, as described in the Water4All Strategic Research and Innovation Agenda Theme III “Water for the future: sustainable water management”, as well as address the cross-cutting Theme VII “Governance” and Theme V “Water Infrastructures”. Research & innovation proposals submitted under the Water4All 2022 Joint Transnational Call are required to address at least one of the following topics:

Topic 1. Resilience, adaptation and mitigation to hydroclimatic extreme events

• Addressing knowledge gaps in our understanding of the causes of water scarcity, drought events, seasonal variability in climate impacts to develop adaptation and mitigation measures, taking climate change into account.
• Developing and demonstrating innovative (or improved) societally acceptable adaptation and mitigation strategies to cope with hydro-climatic extreme events and their increase in length and duration. This includes floods and droughts, although is not limited to them, adopting a regional or a basin scale wide approach.
• Improving resilience and adaptation capacity of water infrastructure (e.g., industrial water facilities, urban networks, wastewater treatment facilities, stormwater management systems and rural systems) to hydroclimatic extreme events.

Topic 2. Tools for water management - in the context of hydroclimatic extreme events

• Developing tools (e.g., multi-risk approach, decision support tools, monetary/non- monetary costs valuation) to support the design and implementation of strategies for adaptation and mitigation to hydro-climatic extreme events, especially floods (including “flash-floods”), heat waves and droughts in a catchment to sea perspective.
• Generating new methodologies, tools and models for water resources assessment/modelling for water bodies in scarcely monitored /data scarce areas. A combination of physical and digital solutions is expected, and opportunities provided by citizen science should be seized.
• “Smartening the water system” and use of innovative digitalization, including improved/new sensors, models, communications and computing technologies.

Topic 3. Improved water governance in the context hydroclimatic extreme events and international contexts

• Undertaking an analysis and developing robust Governance models for the management of water resources in the context of extreme events, is critical increasing the decision-making capacity of institutions and involvement of citizens. This should include ways of improving coordination between water managers to increase our capacity to reduce vulnerability to extreme events, as well as effectively respond to them.
• Addressing and encouraging international cooperation in the field of water, including management of transboundary water resources and contribution to Water Diplomacy.

Click here to read the Call Announcement.

More information: http://www.waterjpi.eu/joint-calls/joint-call-2022-water4all