Fostering equity and justice in climate policies – Societal Readiness Pilot

The main goal of this opportunity is to promote equity and justice in climate policies, both within the European Union and globally. It seeks to make climate policies more inclusive and fair, ensuring they are accepted in various socio-economic and development settings. The focus areas include just transitions in sectors like agriculture, forestry, and land use, supporting vulnerable communities in disaster risk reduction and adaptation, and improving models and tools to better represent equity. Projects should also explore innovative climate policy instruments that prioritize fairness over economic efficiency. Geographic coverage includes the EU as well as low and middle-income countries worldwide.

• Proposals must follow the required page limit and format, with a maximum of 52 pages to address Societal Readiness issues.
• The consortium must include at least three independent legal entities from three different low or middle-income countries.
• Projects must involve Social Sciences and Humanities experts to address equity, poverty, and gender concerns, and must plan for networking and collaboration activities.
• International cooperation between European and low/middle-income country research teams is required, including engagement with stakeholders, regional experts, and civil society.
• Projects should focus on justice and equity in climate policies, either within the EU or globally, and may emphasize one area while referencing the other.

Example projects:

• A collaboration between universities in Kenya, Brazil, and Vietnam to develop fair land use policies that support smallholder farmers in adapting to climate change.
• A partnership between European and African NGOs to co-design disaster risk reduction strategies that prioritize the needs of vulnerable urban communities.
• A multinational research project improving climate models to better capture the impacts of climate policies on gender equality in Southeast Asia.

• Personnel costs for researchers and project staff
• Travel and accommodation for project meetings and fieldwork
• Costs for organizing stakeholder workshops and public engagement events
• Materials and supplies needed for research activities
• Subcontracting of specific services (e.g., data analysis, translation)
• Equipment necessary for project implementation
• Costs for dissemination and communication of project results
• Networking and clustering activities with other relevant projects
• Consultancy fees for Social Sciences and Humanities experts

Restrictions: All costs must fit the lump sum funding model as defined in the Horizon Europe Programme. Detailed eligible cost categories are described in the official programme documents.

• Other financial details: Funding is provided as a lump sum contribution under the Horizon Europe Programme. For more information about eligible costs and payment, see the official guidance document: Lump Sum Decision.

• Applicants must be from countries eligible under the Horizon Europe Programme rules.
• The consortium must include at least three independent legal entities established in three different low or middle-income countries, as defined by the World Bank.
• Applicants must follow the standard Horizon Europe funding rules.
• Social Sciences and Humanities experts must be involved in the project team.
• Proposals must plan for networking and collaboration with other relevant projects.
• International cooperation is required between European and low/middle-income country research teams.
• Only participants from eligible countries are automatically eligible for funding.