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Call key data
Implementing the climate action pillar of the EU-African Union Partnership on Climate Change and Sustainable Energy
Funding Program
Horizon Europe: Cluster 5 - Climate, Energy and Mobility
Call number
HORIZON-CL5-2025-06-D1-07
deadlines
Opening
06.05.2025
Deadline
24.09.2025 17:00
Funding rate
100%
Call budget
€ 4,000,000.00
Estimated EU contribution per project
between € 3,000,000.00 and € 4,000,000.00
Link to the call
Link to the submission
Call content
short description
The action is intended to set the foundation for future collaborative activities between the African Union (AU) and the European Union (EU) on climate change research in the context of the implementation of the Partnership on Climate Change and Sustainable Energy (CCSE) under the AU-EU High Level Policy Dialogue (HLPD) on Science, Technology, and Innovation and its Innovation Agenda.
Call objectives
African societies and productive sectors are already experiencing widespread impacts from both natural hazards and human induced climate change. These include loss of lives and biodiversity, increased disease burden, water shortages, ocean acidification, reduced food production, and diminished labour efficiency and economic growth. The IPCC warns that with additional warming, the risks will further escalate, making a strong case for prioritising climate risk reduction and adaptation efforts while transitioning to low-carbon future. Socioeconomic, political, and other environmental factors - such as high demographic pressure, violent conflicts, biodiversity loss and pollution, unsustainable land and ocean use, strong reliance on agriculture and natural resources - interact with climate change to amplify the region’s vulnerability. These compounded challenges undermine Africa’s socio-economic advancements, hindering its efforts towards sustainable development. Yet, the continent is very poorly equipped to deal with these challenges: only 40% of its population has access to early warning systems – the lowest rate of any region of the world, and many countries lack quality climate knowledge and data.
In addition, despite multiple efforts to promote climate research and capacity development, African scientists, scholars, and practitioners are still significantly underrepresented in international fora, such as the IPCC. Furthermore, the bulk of research concerning the region is performed by groups from developed and emerging countries, not sufficiently incorporating indigenous knowledge, local contexts and needs. It is now vital that the assessments of climate change, and its related impacts, risks and response strategies are increasingly delivered by the African community.
This action is intended as a preparatory step towards future joint collaborative activities between the EU and the AU, and their respective Member States to support the implementation of the “Climate Action for adaptation and mitigation” Pillar of the CCSE partnership. This pillar encompasses 1) climate-related data, 2) climate services, 3) and an integrated knowledge approach to support AU countries in their efforts to implement the Paris Agreement. These priorities should be used to frame the activities of the project. The action should establish a joint strategy for improving the availability and accelerating the uptake of advanced climate knowledge, data, and products across Africa. The aim is to enhance climate literacy, to develop and increase uptake of climate services and early-warning systems, and to support capacity building while taking into consideration the continent’s socio-economic circumstances and user needs.
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Expected effects and impacts
It is expected to address all of the following aspects:
- Develop a joint roadmap identifying priorities, flagship actions and feasible implementation architecture (including most appropriate financing instruments, not limited to EU level) to pave the way towards more targeted EU-AU cooperation on climate change research, with particular focus on climate risk reduction and resilience building (to be delivered within the first year of the project);
- Mobilise and secure commitments from European and African national funding entities and other actors (e.g., philanthropies, international cooperation entities and financial institutions) necessary to implement joint EU-AU collaborative activities, including a potential Horizon Europe co-fund action in 2026-2027 work programme (ideally within the first year of the project);
- Map the relevant EU funded projects (such as CONFER, FOCUS-Africa, DOWN2EARTH, ALBATROSS, SAFE4ALL, HABITABLE, TEMBO-Africa, SINCERE), match their outputs with the objectives of the CCSE Partnership, and cluster them to establish a vibrant community. Develop and implement a strategy to consolidate, curate, valorise and disseminate the projects’ outputs towards African and European stakeholders to amplify their impact. This should include a user-friendly approach (ideally integrated into and complementing existing mechanisms/repositories) for sharing best practises and lessons learnt from past and ongoing EU-funded projects, and with links to internationally and nationally funded activities, to provide visibility and enable scaling and replication of successful initiatives. In addition, the action should also investigate how Europe could best learn from Africa and how to valorise, disseminate knowledge and implement solutions from the EU Mission on Adaptation to Climate Change, other relevant EU Missions and other initiatives (like the Partnership for Research and Innovation in the Mediterranean region, PRIMA) that are of relevance to the African context;
- Design and start implementing training and capacity building strategy that should enable: i) effective climate action planning and management, ii) enhanced representation and diversity of African science and scientists in international fora, iii) upscaled generation of policy relevant knowledge, data, products and services, on climate change, and iv) a greater participation of women, youth, indigenous and marginalised communities.
The action should bring together core European and African funding agencies (and define a credible pathway for mobilising additional funders), research organisations and other key African entities such as regional and national climate service centres. Strong representation of African partners in the consortium is a core requirement. In addition, the action should strive at better connecting scientists, policy makers, practitioners, and local communities for integrated solutions, at mobilising private sector engagement and at promoting the uptake of indigenous knowledge and Citizen Science. Efforts should be made to ensure that the data produced in the context of this topic is managed according to the FAIR principles.
The action should build on and aim at improving the coordination between existing and forthcoming multilateral and bilateral initiatives, such as the Climate Services for Risk Reduction in Africa (CS4RRA), the ClimSA programme, as well as projects funded by the EU (Horizon 2020 and Horizon Europe) and the JPI-Climate (ERA4CS). Synergies should also be sought, where possible, with relevant activities of the World Climate Research Programme, the World Adaptation Science Programme, the World Meteorological Organisation, the Group on Earth Observations, or the Copernicus programme. It is advisable that the action integrates the lessons learnt from the implementation of the energy pillar of the CCSE Partnership.
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Expected results
Project results are expected to contribute to all of the following expected outcomes:
- Stakeholders, including funding entities, contribute more effectively to the implementation of the climate action pillar of the AU-EU CCSE Research and Innovation Partnership through an agreed strategy and reinforced R&I coordination;
- The R&I agendas and initiatives on climate issues relevant for Africa are better aligned and defragmented between the EU, national and multilateral levels. The impact of funding is enhanced;
- The climate-related data gap on Africa is reduced and AU countries are better able to access, utilise, and deploy state-of-art climate knowledge and services to inform decision-making and to accelerate a science-based implementation of the Paris Agreement and the Agenda 2030 on Sustainable Development;
- Impacts and risks of climate change are more accurately assessed, adaptation strategies are developed, and early warning systems are deployed. This strengthens climate and disaster resilience in the AU member states, contributing to the international dimension of the EU Adaptation Strategy, the EU Disaster Resilience Goals, the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction, the Nairobi Declaration and the Early Warnings for All initiative;
- The climate research community in the AU is strengthened, with researchers and scientific institutes enabled to engage more effectively in international fora and multilateral collaboration networks, with positive effects on diversity and quality of climate science and benefiting key international assessments and processes (e.g., IPCC, IPBES).
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Eligibility Criteria
Regions / countries for funding
Moldova (Moldova), Albania (Shqipëria), Armenia (Հայաստան), Bosnia and Herzegovina (Bosna i Hercegovina / Босна и Херцеговина), Canada, Faeroes (Føroyar / Færøerne), Georgia (საქართველო), Iceland (Ísland), Israel (ישראל / إِسْرَائِيل), Kosovo (Kosova/Kosovë / Косово), Montenegro (Црна Гора), New Zealand (Aotearoa), North Macedonia (Северна Македонија), Norway (Norge), Serbia (Srbija/Сpбија), Tunisia (تونس /Tūnis), Türkiye, Ukraine (Україна), United Kingdom
eligible entities
EU Body, Education and training institution, International organization, Non-Profit Organisation (NPO) / Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO), Other, Private institution, incl. private company (private for profit), Public Body (national, regional and local; incl. EGTCs), Research Institution incl. University, Small and medium-sized enterprise (SME)
Mandatory partnership
Yes
Project Partnership
To be eligible for funding, applicants must be established in one of the following countries:
- the Member States of the European Union, including their outermost regions
- the Overseas Countries and Territories (OCTs) linked to the Member States
- countries associated to Horizon Europe - see list of particpating countries
Only legal entities forming a consortium are eligible to participate in actions provided that the consortium includes, as beneficiaries, three legal entities independent from each other and each established in a different country as follows:
- at least one independent legal entity established in a Member State; and
- at least two other independent legal entities, each established in different Member States or Associated Countries.
If eligible for funding, legal entities established in the African Union member states may exceptionally participate in this Coordination and Support Action as beneficiary or affiliated entity.
In addition, international organisations with headquarters in a European Union Member State, Horizon Europe Associated Country or an African Union Member State are also exceptionally eligible to participate.
At least 40% of the beneficiaries must be legal entities established in the African Union Member States.
Any legal entity, regardless of its place of establishment, including legal entities from non-associated third countries or international organisations (including international European research organisations) is eligible to participate (whether it is eligible for funding or not), provided that the conditions laid down in the Horizon Europe Regulation have been met, along with any other conditions laid down in the specific call topic.
A ‘legal entity’ means any natural or legal person created and recognised as such under national law, EU law or international law, which has legal personality and which may, acting in its own name, exercise rights and be subject to obligations, or an entity without legal personality.
other eligibility criteria
Specific cases:
- Affiliated entities (i.e. entities with a legal or capital link to a beneficiary which participate in the action with similar rights and obligations to the beneficiaries, but which do not sign the grant agreement and therefore do not become beneficiaries themselves) are allowed, if they are eligible for participation and funding.
- Associated partners (i.e. entities which participate in the action without signing the grant agreement, and without the right to charge costs or claim contributions) are allowed, subject to any conditions regarding associated partners set out in the specific call conditions.
- Entities which do not have legal personality under their national law may exceptionally participate, provided that their representatives have the capacity to undertake legal obligations on their behalf, and offer guarantees to protect the EU’s financial interests equivalent to those offered by legal persons.
- Legal entities created under EU law (EU bodies) including decentralised agencies may be part of the consortium, unless provided for otherwise in their basic act.
- International European research organisations are eligible to receive funding. International organisations with headquarters in a Member State or Associated Country are eligible to receive funding for ‘Training and mobility’ actions or when provided for in the specific call/topic conditions. Other international organisations are not eligible to receive funding, unless provided for in the specific call/topic conditions, or if their participation is considered essential for implementing the action by the granting authority.
- Joint Research Centre (JRC)— Where provided for in the specific call conditions, applicants may include in their proposals the possible contribution of the JRC but the JRC will not participate in the preparation and submission of the proposal. Applicants will indicate the contribution that the JRC could bring to the project based on the scope of the topic text. After the evaluation process, the JRC and the consortium selected for funding may come to an agreement on the specific terms of the participation of the JRC. If an agreement is found, the JRC may accede to the grant agreement as beneficiary requesting zero funding or participate as an associated partner, and would accede to the consortium as a member.
- Associations and interest groupings — Entities composed of members (e.g. European research infrastructure consortia (ERICs)) may participate as ‘sole beneficiaries’ or ‘beneficiaries without legal personality’. However, if the action is in practice implemented by the individual members, those members should also participate (either as beneficiaries or as affiliated entities, otherwise their costs will NOT be eligible.
- EU restrictive measures — Entities subject to EU restrictive measures under Article 29 of the Treaty on the European Union (TEU) and Article 215 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the EU (TFEU) as well as Article 75 TFEU, are not eligible to participate in any capacity, including as beneficiaries, affiliated entities, associated partners, third parties giving in-kind contributions, subcontractors or recipients of financial support to third parties (if any).
- Legal entities established in Russia, Belarus, or in non-government controlled territories of Ukraine — Given the illegal invasion of Ukraine by Russia and the involvement of Belarus, there is currently no appropriate context allowing the implementation of the actions foreseen in this programme with legal entities established in Russia, Belarus, or in non-government controlled territories of Ukraine. Therefore, even where such entities are not subject to EU restrictive measures, such legal entities are not eligible to participate in any capacity. This includes participation as beneficiaries, affiliated entities, associated partners, third parties giving in-kind contributions, subcontractors or recipients of financial support to third parties (if any). Exceptions may be granted on a case-by-case basis for justified reasons.
With specific regard to measures addressed to Russia, following the adoption of the Council Regulation (EU) 2024/1745 of 24 June 2024 (amending Council Regulation (EU) No 833/2014 of 31 July 2014) concerning restrictive measures in view of Russia’s actions destabilising the situation in Ukraine, legal entities established outside Russia but whose proprietary rights are directly or indirectly owned for more than 50% by a legal person, entity or body established in Russia are also not eligible to participate in any capacity. - Measures for the protection of the Union budget against breaches of the principles of the rule of law in Hungary — Following the Council Implementing Decision (EU) 2022/2506, as of 16 December 2022, no legal commitments can be entered into with Hungarian public interest trusts established under the Hungarian Act IX of 2021 or any entity they maintain. Affected entities may continue to apply to calls for proposals and can participate without receiving EU funding, as associated partners, if allowed by the call conditions. However, as long as the Council measures are not lifted, such entities are not eligible to participate in any funded role (beneficiaries, affiliated entities, subcontractors, recipients of financial support to third parties, etc.).In case of multi-beneficiary grant calls, applicants will be invited to remove or replace that entity in any funded role and/or to change its status into associated partner. Tasks and budget may be redistributed accordingly.
Additional information
Topics
Relevance for EU Macro-Region
EUSAIR - EU Strategy for the Adriatic and Ionian Region, EUSALP - EU Strategy for the Alpine Space, EUSBSR - EU Strategy for the Baltic Sea Region, EUSDR - EU Strategy for the Danube Region
UN Sustainable Development Goals (UN-SDGs)
Additional Information
Applications must be submitted electronically via the Funders & Tenders Portal electronic submission system (accessible via the topic page in the Search Funding & Tenders section). Paper submissions are NOT possible.
Applications must be submitted using the forms provided inside the electronic submission system (not the templates available on the topic page, which are only for information). The structure and presentation must correspond to the instructions given in the forms.
Applications must be complete and contain all parts and mandatory annexes and supporting documents.
The application form will have two parts:
- Part A (to be filled in directly online) contains administrative information about the applicant organisations (future coordinator and beneficiaries and affiliated entities), the summarised budget for the proposal and call-specific questions;
- Part B (to be downloaded from the Portal submission system, completed and then assembled and re-uploaded as a PDF in the system) contains the technical description of the project.
Annexes and supporting documents will be directly available in the submission system and must be uploaded as PDF files (or other formats allowed by the system).
The limit for a full application (Part B) is 30 pages.
Call documents
Horizon Europe Work Programme 2025 Cluster 5 - Climate, Energy and MobilityHorizon Europe Work Programme 2025 Cluster 5 - Climate, Energy and Mobility(2548kB)
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