The National Geographic Society invites proposals under a Request for Proposals for scientific research on ecological dynamics in the Okavango River Basin, spanning Angola, Namibia, and Botswana. National Geographic will hold an informational webinar on 01 September 2026 ahead of the deadline. General eligibility across all Society RFPs requires applicants to be 18 or older, and the Society states a preference for applicants with strong ties to the local context. Applicants may lead only one active proposal at a time, and anyone who previously led a National Geographic Society grant must submit that project’s final report before applying to lead a new one. The deadline is 23 September 2026. Ecological Research
Category: Water Resources
The Donors’ Initiative for Mediterranean Freshwater Ecosystems (DIMFE) launches a call for projects to fund work on the conservation and restoration of freshwater ecosystems and biodiversity, the sustainable use and management of water resources, and the development of sustainable financing mechanisms for freshwater conservation. Grants range from €100 thousand to €500 thousand (with 25% co-financing required for requests over €300 thousand). The call is open to NGOs, scientific institutions, local authorities, and small private enterprises in the region. The deadline for submission is 15 October 2026. Link to DIMFE
The Elisabeth & Amelie Fund supports sustainable water management in developing countries, among others by financing on-the-spot internships for students from developing countries who are studying in Belgium. The internship will take place in a developing country (the student’s country of origin or another country). The grant will cover the expenses inherent to the internship, up to a maximum of €5 thousand. The internships are for students from developing countries who are pursuing a master’s level degree that is linked to water management. The deadline is 20 October 2026. Scholarships for Water Management Fieldwork
The Free Rivers Fund collects donations from adventure sports companies and distributes funds to conservation groups. The idea is to give financial support to those who spend their free time protecting rivers from being dammed. The Free Rivers Fund offers emergency grants to help initiatives that have just formed in order to prevent a dam. Applications for emergency support can be submitted anytime. Free Rivers Emergency Grant
The Arab Youth Center invites applications for the Global Youth Water Envoys Program. The center will select 100 young people from across the world’s regions and prepare them to take part in the 2026 UN Water Conference (Abu Dhabi/December 2026). Applicants must be aged 18 to 35 at the time of the conference, be proficient in English, and have an interest or relevant experience in water governance, public policy, climate action, sustainability, innovation, finance, or a related field. The program is open worldwide. The deadline is 13 August 2026. Youth Delegates
- Tags: august2026, early-career, individuals, MENA, water, workshops/conferences, youth
MDPI, a publisher of peer-reviewed, open-access journals, invites applications for the 2025 Water Travel Awards. Three awards of CHF 800 each will go to junior scientists to present an oral presentation and/or poster at an international conference in 2027. Applicants must be postdoctoral researchers or Ph.D. students working in the field of water or related areas. Applications have to be submitted by 31 October 2026. Click here
The Korea Water Forum invites solutions for the World Water Challenge, an international contest that aims to identify global water issues and find feasible solutions. Anyone, including individuals, businesses, and organizations from any country, can participate by submitting innovative technologies, scientific methods, or policy ideas. The organizers offer a total prize pool of KRW16 million (approximately US$11 thousand), including a grand prize of KRW10 million, with the top winners invited to present their ideas during the Korea International Water Week. The deadline for submitting solutions is 12 July 2026. Know more
- Tags: awards/prizes, individuals, july2026, nonprofit orgs, universities, water, worldwide
The Open Rivers Programme invites applications for grants to support the removal of small dams and barriers to restore free-flowing rivers across Europe. Non-governmental organisations, public authorities, and community groups can apply for funding to complete preparatory work, technical assessments, and the physical removal of redundant instream structures. The program offers different grant categories, with funding amounts varying depending on the scope of the project, including small grants under €10 thousand for preparatory phases and larger allocations for full-scale barrier removals. The deadline for the current application cycle is 26 June 2026. Open Rivers
The Catalyst Social Impact Program supports social enterprises focused on health, hygiene, water, sanitation, and climate resilience. The program provides tailored business development, mentorship, and funding to scale purpose-driven ventures that address systemic inequalities and deliver community-level impact. The program is open to entrepreneurs from Nigeria, Kenya, South Africa, India, Pakistan, Indonesia, Mexico, Brazil, and the United States. The deadline to apply for the 2026 cohort is 09 August 2026. Social Impact Program
The UNICEF Sustainable WASH Innovation Hub invites submissions for proven innovative water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) solutions that have demonstrated evidence in addressing critical global challenges. The program targets individuals, businesses, small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), and organizations worldwide with scalable technologies or models that align with UNICEF’s strategic problem statements, such as groundwater mapping, climate-sensitive data, or innovative financing. Selected participants gain access to UNICEF’s global network across more than 190 countries, technical guidance from experts, and strategic matchmaking to scale their impact, though specific monetary funding amounts are not disclosed. There is no fixed deadline, as submissions are reviewed on a rolling, quarterly basis. Innovative WASH Solutions