Briefly
Program description
The SoS2LearnDBS grant programme, implemented under the Horizon Europe framework, aims to support innovative pilot actions focused on restoring aquatic ecosystems in the Danube River basin and the Black Sea region.
Within this call, consortia are invited to submit project proposals to implement community-led solutions that contribute to the restoration of rivers and marine ecosystems, strengthen local community capacity, and enhance cross-regional cooperation.
The total budget available under the call is up to EUR 7 million and will be distributed among selected projects. Funding is intended for initiatives that combine environmental impact with capacity building at the community level and the development of regional partnerships.
Projects are expected to align with EU strategic priorities, particularly the mission “Restore our Ocean and Waters by 2030” and focus on:
- habitat restoration;
- pollution prevention;
- the development of a sustainable blue economy.
The programme prioritizes innovative ecosystem-based solutions that integrate environmental protection measures with active community engagement and long-term sustainability.
Main Information
Eligibility
1. Submission Requirements
- Applications must be submitted exclusively through the official online platform before the stated deadline.
- Late submissions or applications sent via other channels will not be considered.
- The application form and supporting documents must be submitted in English.
- The technical proposal and budget must follow the official templates provided.
2. Consortium Requirements
| Criterion | Key Requirement |
|---|---|
| Consortium composition | Minimum 3 and maximum 7 independent legal entities |
| Types of entities | At least 2 different types of organisations |
| Consortium leader | Established in a Danube–Black Sea region country; legally established no later than 2023 |
| Community link | At least one partner directly represents or works with local communities |
| Legal status | All members must be legally registered and capable of implementing the project |
3. Eligible Applicant Types
Eligible entities include, among others:
- Local and regional public authorities
- NGOs and foundations
- Educational institutions
- SMEs active in relevant sectors
- Research organisations
- Other entities linked to Mission Communities (e.g., environmental, tourism, fisheries stakeholders)
4. Geographic Requirements
- The consortium leader must be located in one of the eligible Danube–Black Sea region countries.
- Partners may be based in EU Member States or Horizon Europe-associated countries.
- International consortia are encouraged, particularly those with cross-border cooperation potential.
5. Thematic Alignment
- The project must be implemented in one of the Danube–Black Sea basin regions.
- The proposal must contribute to at least one objective of the EU Mission “Restore our Ocean and Waters” and address at least one of the defined challenges.
6. Compliance with Horizon Europe Rules
Applicants must:
- Agree to the contractual obligations set out in the Horizon Europe Model Grant Agreement;
- Comply with rules on conflict of interest, confidentiality, visibility, and record-keeping;
- Accept audit and control rights by relevant EU authorities.
Financing
Under the SoS2LearnDBS, funding is aimed at implementing long-term, impact-oriented actions in the Danube River Basin and Black Sea region. At least 10 projects will be supported.
Each project may receive funding ranging from EUR 500,000 to EUR 1,000,000. The minimum grant amount is EUR 500,000, and the maximum is EUR 1,000,000.
Special attention is given to balanced geographical coverage. Funding will be distributed across the Upper Danube, Middle Danube, Lower Danube, Danube Delta, and Black Sea regions. At least two projects are expected to be supported in each region, ensuring regional representation and meaningful contribution to the overarching objectives of the SoS2LearnDBS Mission.
The budget parameters and funding structure are defined to support applicants in preparing realistic and well-justified project proposals.
Funding Parameters for the SoS2LearnDBS
| Parameter | Description |
|---|---|
| Total budget available | €7,000,000 for the OC-Led-SoS2LearnDBS-2025 open call* |
| Number of projects to be funded | Minimum of 10 community-led actions |
| Minimum and Maximum funding per project | Funding tier 1: €200,000–€400,000 per project (smaller-scale, targeted initiatives addressing specific regional or thematic challenges).Funding tiers 2: €500,000–€1,000,000 per project (larger-scale actions, potentially covering multiple categories of eligible activities and addressing more complex challenges with broader, lasting impact). |
| Maximum funding per organisation | €500,000 |
| Project duration | Between 18 and 30 months |
| Minimum action to be funded by region (Danube River basin and Black Sea) | Two (2) per region:Upper Danube (2), Middle Danube (2), Lower Danube (2), Danube Delta (2), Black Sea (2) |
| Funding rate | 100% of eligible costs (co-financing is not mandatory) |
| Type of grant | Lump sum** |
| Cost categories | Personnel costs: Estimated staff costs based on expected effort and standard salary levels.Travel and accommodation: Project-related travel, accommodation, and subsistence.Equipment: Depreciation costs for equipment used in the project.Other goods, works and services: Costs for items or services directly linked to project activities (e.g., consumables, dissemination materials, printing, translations, materials, supplies, native plants, seeds, monitoring equipment, educational materials, etc.).Subcontracting: Costs for external providers contracted to perform specific tasks that cannot be carried out by the beneficiary(ies); limited to a maximum of 30% of the total project budget requested.Indirect costs: Flat rate of 25% applied to direct costs (in line with Horizon Europe rules). |
| Minimum budget to be reserved for joint activities with the SoS2LearnDBS consortium | Funding Tier 1: Minimum of 10% of total project budget.Funding Tier 2: Minimum of 4% of total project budget. |
| No profit rule applies | Beneficiaries may not generate profit from the grant. |
| No double funding | Activities funded under this call must not receive funding from other EU sources. Projects combining different EU funding opportunities must clearly separate and delineate activities for each grant (no overlap). |
Footnotes
* The SoS2LearnDBS Consortium reserves the right not to award all available funds or to redistribute them between open calls depending on proposal quality and evaluation results.
** Lump sum grants are defined based on a fixed amount without the need to report actual costs. Payments are made upon completion of predefined and agreed activities and are not based on real cost reimbursement.
Supported Activities
Within the framework of the grant programme, innovative and cross-sectoral initiatives aimed at restoring aquatic ecosystems and promoting sustainable development in the Danube–Black Sea region are supported. Projects are expected to combine technological, nature-based, social, regulatory, and financial innovations, as well as new governance models where appropriate.
Main Categories of Supported Projects
| Category | Project Focus |
|---|---|
| Habitat and ecosystem restoration | Nature-based solutions for restoring marine and freshwater ecosystems; biodiversity conservation |
| Pollution prevention and reduction | Water treatment initiatives, water quality monitoring, waste reduction and circular approaches |
| Sustainable blue economy and circular resource use | Sustainable economic models, efficient water resource use, innovative solutions for coastal and river regions |
Recommended Cross-Cutting Elements
Projects are encouraged to:
- cooperate with scientific institutions to develop transdisciplinary solutions;
- integrate Social Sciences and Humanities expertise;
- apply a bottom-up, community-led approach;
- build on and further develop existing tools and knowledge;
- demonstrate scalability and replicability in other regions;
- include clear deployment, replication, and long-term sustainability plans;
- leverage additional or co-financing where possible.
Core Project Characteristics
Supported projects should:
- contribute to at least one relevant EU Mission objective;
- have a practical focus, including piloting with potential for scaling up;
- demonstrate a clear impact logic, strong partnerships, and implementation capacity;
- ensure long-term impact beyond the funding period.
Roadmap
| Stage of the Call | Planned Date |
|---|---|
| Call opening | 27 November 2025 |
| Deadline for submission | 30 March 2026 |
| Evaluation & Selection | 31 March – 30 June 2026 |
| Information on evaluation results | 10 July 2026 |
| Sub-grant agreement signature | 31 August 2026 |
| Project implementation timeframe |
Start: 1 September 2026 End: February 2028 (18 months) – 28 February 2029 (30 months) |
How to Apply
The programme foresees a three-stage process for preparing and submitting an application through the official online platform.
1. Review the Call Documentation
Applicants are required to carefully study the full set of open call documents in advance, including:
- the Guidelines for Applicants;
- the Application Form;
- the Technical Annex template;
- the Budget template;
- the required declarations and legal documentation.
Failure to comply with the instructions may result in automatic rejection of the proposal.
2. Prepare the Application Package
To apply, applicants must:
- complete the online Application Form;
- prepare the Technical Annex in line with the required template;
- complete the Budget using the official template.
Submission of all required documents is a mandatory eligibility condition.
3. Submit the Proposal
Applications must be submitted exclusively via the electronic submission system before the official deadline. Submissions through other channels will not be considered.
After submission, applicants receive an automatic confirmation email. If no confirmation is received, it is the applicant’s responsibility to verify that the submission was completed successfully.
Applicants may edit their proposal until the call deadline. Early submission is strongly recommended, as technical issues or system congestion close to the deadline are not accepted as valid grounds for extension.
Additional Notes
- One application must be submitted per project proposal.
- Multiple proposals are allowed; however, funding may be awarded to only one.
- Evaluation results will be communicated by email and published through the programme’s official communication channels.
- Requests for clarification are accepted only until the specified deadline via the official contact email.
Evaluation Criteria
Applications are assessed through a multi-stage process combining eligibility verification, independent expert evaluation, ranking, external review, and a final consensus decision.
1. Evaluation Stages
| Stage | Description |
|---|---|
| 1. Eligibility verification | Administrative and admissibility check. Non-compliant applications are rejected without further evaluation. |
| 2. Individual expert assessment | Each proposal is evaluated by at least three independent evaluators. |
| 3. Ranking | A final weighted score is calculated; proposals are ranked by region and funding tier. |
| 4. External expert review | Independent experts validate consistency and fairness of the evaluation results. |
| 5. Consensus decision | Final selection is made by the evaluation committee based on scores and deliberation. |
| 6. Redress procedure | Applicants may request a review of the results within the defined timeframe. |
2. Evaluation Criteria
Applications are assessed against a structured set of criteria covering innovation, community engagement, implementation quality, and sustainability.
| Code | Criterion | Focus of Assessment |
|---|---|---|
| EvC1 | Innovation | Novelty of the solution, added value for the region, contribution to EU Mission objectives. |
| EvC2 | Community-led and participatory approach | Engagement of local stakeholders, strength of partnerships, cross-regional cooperation. |
| EvC3 | Social innovation and societal impact | Contribution to social resilience, public engagement, societal benefits. |
| EvC4 | Dissemination and communication | Clarity and effectiveness of communication and outreach strategy. |
| EvC5 | Feasibility and implementation capacity | Soundness of work plan, team expertise, operational and management capacity. |
| EvC6 | Commitment to Mission objectives | Clear targets, transparency, and monitoring mechanisms. |
| EvC7 | Quality and relevance of expected outcomes | Measurable, credible, and relevant results aligned with objectives. |
| EvC8 | Sustainability and scaling potential | Long-term impact, replication potential, and ability to attract additional funding. |
The Community-led and Participatory Approach (EvC2) carries increased weight in the final scoring.
3. Scoring Scale
| Score | Interpretation |
|---|---|
| 0 | Fails to address the criterion / insufficient information |
| 1 | Very poor |
| 2 | Fair, with significant weaknesses |
| 3 | Good |
| 4 | Very good |
| 5 | Excellent |
- The minimum threshold for each criterion is 3 points.
- Any proposal scoring below 3 on any criterion is automatically rejected.
- The final score is a weighted average of evaluators’ scores.
4. Tie-Breaking Rules
In case of equal final scores, priority is given based on:
- Higher score under Community-led and Participatory Approach;
- Higher score under Social Innovation and Societal Impact;
- Higher score under Dissemination and Communication;
- International or multi-partner consortium composition;
- Inclusion of women in key leadership roles.
5. Redress Procedure
Applicants may submit a formal request for review within the specified deadline after receiving the evaluation outcome. Re-evaluation is conducted only in cases of procedural errors that may have affected the final decision.
Required Documents
1. Documents for Application Submission (at proposal stage)
| No. | Document | Who submits | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Application Form | All applicants | Main online application form. |
| 2 | Technical Annex template | All applicants | Detailed project description (Word file), uploaded to the application form. |
| 3 | Budget template | All applicants | Detailed project budget (Excel file), uploaded to the application form. |
2. Documents for Selected Projects (after award decision)
| No. | Document | Who submits | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Applicant Declaration of Honour template | Successful applicants | Must be signed by all selected applicants. |
| 2 | Sub-grant agreement template | Successful applicants | Grant agreement to be signed by the selected beneficiaries. |
| 3 | Legal Entities and Bank Account Form | All members of the selected consortium | Provides legal entity details and bank account information; must be completed and signed by all consortium members. |
| 4 | SME Declaration form (only for SMEs) | Only SMEs within the consortium | Mandatory for private companies classified as SMEs. |
Reporting and Compliance
Within the framework of the programme, funded beneficiaries are required to ensure full alignment of their projects with the EU Mission “Restore our Ocean and Waters by 2030” monitoring framework and comply with established reporting and participation procedures.
1. Monitoring and Alignment with Mission Objectives
| Aspect | Requirement |
|---|---|
| Impact alignment | Expected project outcomes must align with the official EU Mission 2030 monitoring framework |
| Indicators | Projects must define measurable objectives and indicators relevant to their regional and thematic scope |
| Supplementary indicators | Applicants are encouraged to include indicators reflecting community engagement and broader social and governance impact |
| Realism | Targets must be realistic and proportionate to the budget, timeframe, and local context |
2. Periodic Reporting
Funded projects are required to submit regular written reports (at least a mid-term and a final report), covering:
| Reporting Component | Description |
|---|---|
| Measurable impact | Demonstrated progress toward Mission objectives |
| Scalability | Potential for replication or broader application |
| Stakeholder engagement | Level of involvement of local stakeholders and long-term commitment |
| Interdisciplinary approach | Inclusion of diverse sectors and relevant expertise |
| KPIs | Quantitative indicators measuring implemented activities |
In addition, beneficiaries must provide:
- Photo, video, and social media documentation of activities and results;
- Active participation in joint events and knowledge-sharing activities.
3. Mandatory Participation in Programme Activities
Beneficiaries are expected to participate in the following programme-level activities:
| Activity Type | Format |
|---|---|
| Kick-off meeting | In person |
| Final meeting | In person |
| Public launch event | Online |
| Regular coordination meetings | Online |
| Study visits / staff exchanges | At least one in person |
| Thematic workshops and training sessions | Online |
| Joint capacity-building events | Online |
| “Peer huddles” (consortium group sessions) | Online or in person |
4. Compliance Obligations
Beneficiaries must:
- Ensure transparency and accuracy of reported data;
- Comply with monitoring and reporting requirements;
- Actively engage in coordination and programme-level activities;
- Contribute to cross-consortium knowledge exchange;
- Maintain alignment of project activities with EU Mission objectives.
Failure to comply with reporting or participation obligations may affect continued funding or the final assessment of the project.
Legal Terms
Beneficiaries must comply with Horizon Europe rules, including conflict of interest, confidentiality, ethics, and record-keeping. Applicants must not be under liquidation or in financial difficulty. The project must be based on original ideas.