Long-term Europe – Africa WEF Nexus (LEAWEF) Multilateral Research Programme Matchmaking

Objectives of the LEAWEF multilateral research programme

Since the Bonn 2011 Conference, the Water-Energy-Food (WEF) Nexus approach has gained recognition internationally and nationally as a cross-sectoral approach to resource management and sustainable development. It provides the overall framework for this programme and addresses the interlinkages, synergies, and trade-offs between the management, production and consumption chain of water, energy and food resources. This holistic approach is crucial to achieving increased security, inclusion, equity and sustainability in water, energy and food provision and distribution in all countries involved.

The Science Granting Councils (SGCs) aim to enhance and strengthen sustainable research collaboration between their countries, by inviting consortia in which researchers from knowledge institutions from the involved countries will work with societal partners from the public, semi-public and private sector, in order to increase the societal relevance of their research.

This programme, therefore, serves as an international research platform designed to provide the knowledge needed to support transformations towards sustainability. The programme seeks to:

• Develop and connect knowledge to increase the (societal) impact of research;

• Explore new development pathways; and

• Find new ways to accelerate transitions towards sustainable development.

 Focus of the call

The focus of this Call aligns with the objectives of the LEAWEF multilateral research programme. It furthermore focuses on two subthemes: 1. Climate Change Adaptation and 2. Just Energy Transitions. A description hereof is provided in the call for proposals. Applicants are expected to focus on one or both subtheme(s), within the context of the WEF Nexus.

 Applicants are also asked to consider the knowledge sector, the public sector and the private sector, and the power relations and governance at different levels.

Countries participating in the Call for proposals

For a consortium to be eligible it should consist of applicants from at least three countries participating in the Call for proposals. This consortium should include at least one partner from practice from a public, semi-public or private institute. Please note that a proposal that does not adhere to these conditions will be considered ineligible. Please refer to Chapter 3 in the call for proposals for all eligibility criteria.

• Burkina Faso

• Côte d’Ivoire

• Ethiopia

• Ghana

• Kenya

• Mozambique

• Netherlands

• South Africa

• Tanzania

• Zimbabwe

Broad consortia with research and practice

This research programme calls on knowledge institutions, societal stakeholders and practitioners to form broad consortia that cooperate in research projects. In a consortium, the entire knowledge chain from fundamental to applied and practice-based research is represented, as well as expertise from societal partners.

Important deadlines

• The deadline for the submission of Partnership request forms (not mandatory), which are to be submitted to NWO, is 4 November 2024, at 14:00:00 hours CET.

• The deadline for the submission of Concept notes (mandatory), which are to be submitted to NWO, is 11 February 2025, at 14:00:00 hours CET.

• The deadline for the submission of Full proposals (mandatory) is 14 July 2025, at 14:00:00 hours CEST. All applications must be submitted to NWO. Additionally, some Science Granting Councils require a submission via their national system (see national annexes).