About this opportunity
When a flood or a drought is coming, the difference between loss and preparedness often comes down to warning, and warning delivered early enough to act. The SEWA Grants 2026 call funds regional pilots that develop and test impact-based forecasting tools and services across four regions of Sub-Saharan Africa: Western, Central, Eastern, and Southern Africa with the Indian Ocean Islands.
The grants sit under the SEWA Action, a four year initiative jointly implemented by the African Union Commission, ECMWF and the World Meteorological Organization, financed by the European Union through Global Gateway. Each pilot must be a genuine African-European partnership: the consortium must include at least one legal entity established in Europe, the Regional Climate Centre responsible for the region covered (AGRHYMET, CAPC-AC, ICPAC or SADC-CSC), and ACMAD as the continental Regional Climate Centre. Projects are carried out in Sub-Saharan Africa and last 24 months.
The total available budget is EUR 5,000,000, with the aim of awarding four grants of up to EUR 1,250,000 each. Proposals are submitted electronically through the ECMWF submission portal, and only the organisation coordinating the proposal should register. The closing date is 30 September 2026 at 14:00 Central European Summer Time, so coordinating organisations should move quickly.
What you receive
- Grants of up to EUR 1,250,000 per project, four awards from a EUR 5,000,000 budget
- Initial pre-financing of up to 50 percent of the estimated budget
- A structured African-European partnership under Global Gateway
- Regional pilots embedded in workflows that support early warning across Sub-Saharan Africa
Who can apply
- A consortium, not a single organisation
- At least one legal entity established in a country eligible under the call and located in Europe, for example an EU or ECMWF Member State
- The Regional Climate Centre for the region covered: AGRHYMET, CAPC-AC, ICPAC or SADC-CSC
- ACMAD, the continental Regional Climate Centre
- The project must be carried out in Sub-Saharan Africa
Who should not apply
- No grant may be awarded retroactively for projects already completed
- Grants must not generate a profit; any surplus is deducted from the final grant amount
- Multiple submissions are discouraged, with each applicant encouraged to join no more than one proposal per region
Documents to prepare
- Full proposal with estimated budget and proposed participants
- Documents in line with the SEWA Guidelines for Applicants and the Call for Proposals
- Registration of the coordinating organisation on the ECMWF submission portal
How to apply
- Read the 2026_SEWA_G233 Call for Proposals, the Guidelines for Applicants and the Grant Agreement Template on the ECMWF grants page at https://www.ecmwf.int/en/about/grants/sewa-grants
- Register the coordinating organisation at https://procontract.due-north.com/Register, selecting CPV code 73000000 for SEWA opportunities
- Prepare the proposal with your consortium, budget and work plan for the chosen region
- Submit electronically through the portal before 30 September 2026 at 14:00 CEST
Selection process
- Eligibility check against the call requirements
- Evaluation by ECMWF with financial and operational capacity assessment
- Notification of results, followed by grant signature and a project start normally after signing
Sources and verification
- Official source , Discovered by the opportunity automation module.
Questions applicants ask
Can a single African organisation apply on its own?
No. Proposals must come from a consortium that includes a European entity, the Regional Climate Centre for the region, and ACMAD.
Who should register on the submission portal?
Only the organisation coordinating the preparation of the proposal should register. Registration is free of charge.
Important disclaimer
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