Support for a multilateral initiative on climate change and health research

The Horizon Europe call for proposals, specifically HORIZON-HLTH, focuses on supporting the establishment of an international multilateral initiative aimed at addressing the intersection of climate change and health. This initiative is a Coordination and Support Action (CSA) structured as a lump sum grant, with a total funding amount of €3,000,000, anticipated to support one project. The call will open on February 10, 2026, and the application deadline is April 16, 2026. Eligible applicants include organizations capable of providing coordination and support services, such as research funding organizations, universities, public research institutions, and specialized coordinators. Applicants must be established in an EU Member State or an Associated Country, though entities from the United States may exceptionally participate under certain provisions. The initiative seeks to coordinate research funding organizations globally to enhance collaboration in addressing climate-related health challenges. Required activities include developing governance structures, supporting strategic workplans, and facilitating communications among funding organizations. The project stage focuses on establishing an operational framework rather than conducting research itself. As a single-stage application process, proposals must be comprehensive and submitted electronically. This opportunity aims to reduce fragmentation in climate-health research funding globally and enhance the collective impact of funding streams. While no mandatory co-funding is required, coordination with multiple stakeholders is essential for success. The nature of this grant emphasizes financial support for organizational efforts supporting the broader initiative rather than traditional research activities. The initiative's success is expected to improve alignment, share best practices, and create synergies among various research funding instruments. Given only one grant will be awarded, competition is expected to be high.

This is a Horizon Europe call for proposals under the Cluster 1 Health, specifically targeting the topic HORIZON HLTH 2026 01 ENVHLTH 05 Support for a multilateral initiative on climate change and health research. It is a Coordination and Support Action (CSA) with a lump sum grant type. The call aims to establish an international multilateral initiative to coordinate research and innovation funding organizations addressing climate change and health, supported by a secretariat defining a governance model and implementation plan. The goal is to connect research funders, improve coordination, align priorities, and increase the impact of funding in the climate health nexus. The research community, civil society, and policymakers should be well-informed and benefit from the initiative.

The scope includes addressing climate-related health challenges through coordinated action and synergies between Research and Innovation (R&I) funding instruments. R&I is crucial for understanding climate-related vulnerabilities and developing effective interventions. The Commission will develop a collaborative interface for research funders to discuss challenges, share best practices, and build a shared vision. Proposals should focus on providing administrative and technical support for the establishment and implementation of this multilateral initiative.

Specific activities to be supported include:

1. Delineating the operational structure and governance model of the multilateral initiative, building on preparatory work and supporting exchanges between relevant parties in collaboration with the European Commission.

2. Facilitating and supporting the drafting of the workplan for the first period of activities of the multilateral initiative.

3. Providing administrative and organizational support to the board of the multilateral initiative, in close collaboration with the chairs of the initiative.

4. Providing scientific and technical support in aspects relevant to the development and implementation of the multilateral initiative.

5. Facilitating communication between members of the initiative as well as with external stakeholders and organizations, and supporting the organization of necessary meetings and the preparation of supporting material.

6. Supporting external communication activities such as the creation of a website, newsletters, social media outreach and any other relevant communication and dissemination materials to promote the multilateral initiative.

The call is a single stage process, with a planned opening date of 10 February 2026 and a deadline of 16 April 2026, 17:00:00 Brussels time.

General conditions for participation include:

1. Admissibility conditions as described in Annex A and Annex E of the Horizon Europe Work Programme General Annexes. Proposal page limits and layout are described in Part B of the Application Form.

2. Eligible countries as described in Annex B of the Work Programme General Annexes. Specific provisions may exist for non EU/non Associated Countries.

3. Other eligibility conditions:Legal entities from the United States of America may participate and receive Union funding. Coordinators must be legal entities established in an EU Member State or Associated Country. Projects using satellite data must use Copernicus and/or Galileo/EGNOS.

4. Financial and operational capacity and exclusion as described in Annex C of the Work Programme General Annexes.

5. Evaluation and award:Award criteria, scoring and thresholds as described in Annex D of the Work Programme General Annexes. The thresholds for each criterion will be 4 (Excellence), 4 (Impact) and 4 (Implementation). The cumulative threshold will be 12. Submission and evaluation processes are described in Annex F of the Work Programme General Annexes and the Online Manual. Indicative timeline for evaluation and grant agreement are described in Annex F of the Work Programme General Annexes.

6. Legal and financial set up:Eligible costs will be a lump sum as defined in the Decision of 7 July 2021. Legal and financial set up are described in Annex G of the Work Programme General Annexes. Specific conditions are described in the specific topic of the Work Programme.

Application and evaluation forms and additional documents include:

Standard application form (HE CSA) available in the Submission System.

Standard evaluation form (HE CSA).

HE Programme Guide.

Model Grant Agreement (MGA).

Lump Sum MGA.

Detailed budget table (HE LS).

Guidance:"Lump sums what do I need to know?".

HE Main Work Programme 2026 2027 1. General Introduction.

HE Main Work Programme 2026 2027 4. Health.

HE Main Work Programme 2026 2027 15. General Annexes.

HE Programme Guide.

HE Framework Programme 2021/695.

HE Specific Programme Decision 2021/764.

EU Financial Regulation 2024/2509.

Decision authorising the use of lump sum contributions under the Horizon Europe Programme.

Rules for Legal Entity Validation, LEAR Appointment and Financial Capacity Assessment.

EU Grants AGA Annotated Model Grant Agreement.

Funding & Tenders Portal Online Manual.

Funding & Tenders Portal Terms and Conditions.

Funding & Tenders Portal Privacy Statement.

The budget overview lists various topics under the HORIZON HLTH 2026 01 call, including their budget, action type, opening and deadline dates, contribution amounts, and indicative number of grants. The HORIZON HLTH 2026 01 ENVHLTH 05 topic has a budget of €3,000,000 and aims to award 1 grant.

Partner search announcements are available for those seeking collaboration. The submission system will open on the date stated in the topic header. General FAQs and support are available through the provided links and resources.

In summary, this Horizon Europe call seeks proposals to provide administrative and technical support for establishing a multilateral initiative focused on climate change and health research. The initiative aims to connect research funders globally, coordinate efforts, and increase the impact of research funding in this critical area. The call is structured as a Coordination and Support Action with a lump sum grant, and proposals are due by April 16, 2026.

Eligible Applicant Types:Legal entities established in an EU Member State or Associated Country can coordinate projects. Legal entities from non-EU/non-Associated Countries may participate if specific provisions are made available for their funding, as detailed in the Horizon Europe Programme Guide. In particular, legal entities established in the United States of America may exceptionally participate as a beneficiary or affiliated entity and are eligible to receive Union funding.

Funding Type:Grant. Eligible costs will take the form of a lump sum contribution under the Horizon Europe Programme and the Research and Training Programme of the European Atomic Energy Community. The specific type of action is HORIZON CSA, which stands for HORIZON Coordination and Support Actions.

Consortium Requirement:While not explicitly stated, the nature of the activities suggests that a consortium of multiple applicants is preferred, as the goal is to establish a multilateral initiative.

Beneficiary Scope (Geographic Eligibility):EU Member States, Associated Countries, and exceptionally, the United States of America. Other non-EU/non-Associated Countries may be eligible if specific provisions are made for their funding.

Target Sector:Health, Climate, Research and Innovation (R&I). The program targets activities that support a health-promoting environment and address climate-related health challenges.

Mentioned Countries:EU Member States, Associated Countries, United States of America.

Project Stage:The project stage is focused on the establishment and implementation of a multilateral initiative, suggesting a development and implementation phase.

Funding Amount:The funding is variable, depending on the specific topic. For HORIZON HLTH 2026 01 ENVHLTH 05, the contribution is around €3,000,000. Other topics within the same call have different contribution ranges, from €1,500,000 to €11,000,000.

Application Type:Single-stage call.

Nature of Support:Money. Beneficiaries will receive funding in the form of lump sum contributions.

Application Stages:1.

Success Rates:Success rates are not explicitly mentioned, but the indicative number of grants for each topic provides some insight. For example, HORIZON HLTH 2026 01 ENVHLTH 05 indicates one grant will be awarded.

Co-funding Requirement:The text does not explicitly mention a co-funding requirement.

Summary:

This Horizon Europe funding opportunity aims to establish an international multilateral initiative focused on the intersection of climate change and health. The goal is to foster coordination and synergy between research and innovation funding organizations worldwide. The selected project will provide administrative and technical support to establish and implement this initiative, including defining a governance model, drafting a work plan, supporting the board, facilitating communication, and managing external communication activities. Eligible applicants include legal entities from EU Member States, Associated Countries, and, in certain cases, the United States of America, with project coordinators required to be based in the EU or an Associated Country. The funding is provided as a lump sum, and the application process involves a single stage. The initiative seeks to connect research funders, improve coordination, align priorities, and increase the collective impact of funding streams in the climate-health nexus.