Citizen engagement for sustainable land management through local and regional authorities

The main goal of this opportunity is to improve soil literacy and strengthen the capacities of local and regional authorities across Europe. It aims to foster sustainable land management, enhance citizen engagement, and address challenges related to soil health. Key focus areas include training public authorities, launching Territorial Management Agreements, and supporting capacity-building and participatory activities. The initiative helps regions and municipalities adapt to and mitigate climate change while contributing to global sustainability goals. Activities are targeted at sub-national levels within EU Member States, Associated Countries, and certain non-EU regions with specific funding arrangements.

• Projects must focus on improving soil literacy and capacity-building for local or regional authorities.
• They should support sustainable land management or participatory processes for soil health.
• Activities must involve the co-design or implementation of Territorial Management Agreements.
• Proposals must follow the page limits and layout requirements of the official Application Form.
• Applicants must be from eligible countries as defined for Horizon Europe, with specific provisions for some non-EU participants.
• Projects must align with the open call and support the objectives of the Soil Deal for Europe Mission.

Examples:

• A regional authority launches a training program for staff on sustainable soil management practices.
• A municipality co-designs a Territorial Management Agreement with local stakeholders to restore degraded soils.
• A local government organizes citizen engagement workshops on soil health and climate adaptation.

• Expenses for training and capacity-building activities for local and regional authorities
• Costs related to organizing participatory workshops and citizen engagement events
• Development and implementation of Territorial Management Agreements
• Materials and resources for educational campaigns on soil health
• Consultancy or expert fees for supporting soil management projects
• Travel and accommodation for project-related meetings and field visits
• Communication and dissemination of project results
• Costs for collaboration with entities like the European Union Soil Observatory (EUSO)
• Project management and coordination expenses

Note: The maximum eligible expense per third party is EUR 60,000. Expenses must directly support the objectives of the call.

• Budget for this Call: 5.000.000€
• Number of Grants attributed: 1

• Applicants must be local or regional authorities at sub-national levels (NUTS 2 or NUTS 3 units).
• Applicants should be from EU Member States, Associated Countries, or eligible non-EU countries with specific arrangements.
• Proposals must follow the official application format and page limits.
• Applicants must address the objectives of the Soil Deal for Europe Mission.
• Participation may require collaboration with networks or partnerships, particularly for knowledge sharing and capacity building.
• Applicants must be able to demonstrate a plan for open access, sustainability, and collaboration with organizations such as EUSO.