SUNDANSE Open Call: Up to €100,000 for Local and Regional Authorities to Boost Freshwater Health

The EU-funded SUNDANSE project, dedicated to improving the health and resilience of freshwater ecosystems across Europe, has opened its second Open Call for Associated Regions. This cascade funding opportunity provides up to €100,000 for two local or regional authorities to turn strategic plans for river and basin health into concrete, on-the-ground action.

Freshwater ecosystems across Europe face increasing pressure from pollution, climate change, and human intervention. While many of the threats are visible, some of the most critical challenges lie beneath the surface: sediment dynamics and water flow management.

With this Open Call, SUNDANSE aims to support local and regional authorities in addressing these hidden challenges. The funding will enable authorities to:

• Deploy tools and methods for water flow monitoring
• Implement sediment quantity tracking and sediment quality assessments to better understand pollution and deposition  
• Run localised public awareness campaigns on freshwater basin care and sediment management  

The call will select two Associated Regions from among the 31 eligible European and associated countries, each receiving:

• Up to €100,000 in direct grant funding for one project in their municipality or region  
• Tailored technical and scientific support from the SUNDANSE consortium  
• Access to innovative methodologies for sustainable sediment solutions  
• Opportunities to collaborate with diverse stakeholders and experts in freshwater ecosystem health  
   

This Open Call is designed specifically for local and/or regional public authorities seeking to strengthen the sustainability and resilience of their freshwater systems. By applying, authorities can:

• Build sustainable practices for managing rivers, lakes, and water basins  
• Gain access to state-of-the-art sediment management tools and scientific expertise  
• Launch or scale up water flow monitoring and pollution mitigation efforts  
• Develop community-focused awareness and education campaigns on freshwater protection  
• Secure grant funding of up to €100,000 to implement a flagship project in their territory  

If you believe your local freshwater ecosystems and water basins could be healthier, this Open Call is an opportunity to obtain both financial backing and expert support to tackle sedimentation challenges, manage water flow, and engage your citizens.
 

The target group of this Open Call is local and/or regional authorities (e.g. municipalities, regional administrations, river basin authorities) established in one of the following eligible countries:

Albania, Armenia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Cyprus, Czechia, Denmark, Finland, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Kosovo, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Moldova, Montenegro, Netherlands, North Macedonia, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Türkiye, United Kingdom.

Important notice: Authorities from countries that are part of the SUNDANSE consortium (Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Estonia, France, Ireland, Israel, Romania, Serbia, Ukraine) cannot participate in this Open Call.