Call For Proposals 2026 Regional Pilots on Impact-Based Forecast Tools and Services in Support of Early Warning Western Africa, The European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts (ECMWF) and the Strengthening Early Warning in Africa (SEWA) Grants support African-European consortia in developing regional pilot projects that use impact-based forecasting tools and services to strengthen early warning systems across Sub-Saharan Africa.
The initiative aims to improve preparedness and resilience to extreme weather events by bringing together African and European expertise, data, and space-based technologies. Through the grants, participating consortia can co-develop and demonstrate impact-based forecasting services designed to address regionally relevant hazards.
These hazards include floods, droughts, heatwaves, dust storms, thunderstorms, and tropical cyclones. The program seeks to enhance the availability and practical use of forecasting information so that communities and relevant stakeholders can better anticipate and prepare for weather-related risks.
Applicants are encouraged to carefully review the full details and submit their applications before the specified deadline to seize this grant opportunity.
Last Date of Submission: 30th September 2026
Overview for Call For Proposals 2026 Regional Pilots on Impact-Based Forecast Tools and Services in Support of Early Warning Western Africa
The Strengthening Early Warning in Africa (SEWA) Initiative is part of the Africa-EU Space Partnership Programme (AESPP), which promotes strategic cooperation between Africa and Europe in the use of space-based technologies and services to strengthen early warning systems across Sub-Saharan Africa.
The initiative is financed by the European Union through the Neighbourhood, Development and International Cooperation Instrument – Global Europe (NDICI–Global Europe).
SEWA is jointly implemented by:
- The African Union Commission
- The European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts (ECMWF)
- The European Organisation for the Exploitation of Meteorological Satellites (EUMETSAT)
Call For Proposals 2026 Regional Pilots on Impact-Based Forecast Tools and Services in Support of Early Warning Western Africa
What Does SEWA Support?
SEWA supports the development and uptake of impact-based forecast (IbF) demonstration services and tools. Unlike conventional weather forecasting, impact-based forecasting focuses not only on what weather conditions are expected, but also on what those conditions could mean for people, infrastructure, communities, and vulnerable systems.
Through funded regional pilot projects, the initiative aims to demonstrate how impact-based forecasting tools and services can improve early warning and early action across different African regions.
Call For Proposals 2026 Regional Pilots on Impact-Based Forecast Tools and Services in Support of Early Warning Western Africa
Objectives
The SEWA Initiative seeks to:
- Strengthen early warning systems across Sub-Saharan Africa.
- Improve the development and use of impact-based forecasting tools.
- Support regional demonstration pilot projects.
- Address the growing frequency and intensity of extreme weather events.
- Connect African and European technical expertise.
- Promote better use of African and European data resources.
- Strengthen regional capacity for early warning and preparedness.
- Encourage long-term cooperation between African and European partners.
- Promote knowledge exchange and peer-to-peer learning.
Regional Hazards Supported
Regional pilot projects are expected to address hazards that are relevant to their specific geographic and climatic contexts. Potential hazards include:
- Floods
- Droughts
- Heatwaves
- Dust storms
- Thunderstorms
- Tropical cyclones
- Cascading hazards
- Compound hazards
Applicants should select hazards based on the specific needs, geographic characteristics, and climate risks of the region targeted by their proposed pilot.
Regional Pilot Projects
The grants are designed to support regional pilot projects, rather than isolated or stand-alone activities. Proposals should demonstrate how the selected hazards can be addressed through co-developed forecasting tools and services.
Applicants should take into account the differences between African regions and explain how their proposed solutions respond to local and regional geographic, climatic, and environmental conditions.
Projects should demonstrate clear practical value for strengthening early warning systems and improving the ability of relevant stakeholders to anticipate, prepare for, and respond to extreme weather events.
African-European Collaboration
Balanced cooperation between African and European partners is a central element of the SEWA Initiative. Consortia are expected to establish genuine peer-to-peer African-European collaboration, rather than placing the responsibility for project development or implementation primarily on one side.
Proposals should demonstrate:
- Balanced collaboration between African and European partners
- Knowledge exchange and technical cooperation
- Capacity strengthening
- Long-term partnership development
- Joint development of forecasting tools and services
- Shared learning and expertise
- Sustained cooperation beyond the immediate pilot project
Who Can Apply?
Applications must be submitted by a consortium of African and European entities that meets the required partnership structure.
The consortium must include:
- At least one legal entity established in a European country
- One of the four relevant Regional Climate Centres in Sub-Saharan Africa
- The African Centre of Meteorological Applications for Development (ACMAD)
The Regional Climate Centre included in the consortium should correspond to the African region addressed by the proposed pilot project.
Regional Climate Centres
The required Regional Climate Centre must be one of the following:
- AGRHYMET
- CAPC-AC
- ICPAC
- SADC-CSC
The appropriate centre should be selected according to the African region covered by the proposed project.
Role of ACMAD
The African Centre of Meteorological Applications for Development (ACMAD) is a mandatory member of the consortium. Its participation helps connect regional pilot activities with broader African meteorological expertise, forecasting capabilities, and early warning systems.
Applicants should therefore ensure that their proposed consortium fully meets the mandatory participation requirements before submitting an application.
Consortium Requirements
The consortium should be designed to promote meaningful, balanced, and long-term cooperation between African and European partners.
Proposals should clearly demonstrate:
- African-European peer-to-peer collaboration
- Clearly defined roles for consortium members
- Joint development of forecasting tools and services
- Effective knowledge-sharing mechanisms
- Capacity-building activities
- Strong regional expertise
- Access to relevant data and technical resources
- A commitment to continued cooperation beyond the pilot period
Space-Based Technologies and Data
SEWA builds on the broader Africa-EU partnership in the use of space-based technologies and services for early warning and climate-related risk management.
Projects can draw on relevant African and European expertise, technologies, and data resources to improve forecasting and early warning capabilities. The initiative builds upon previous EU-funded efforts and aims to strengthen the practical application of existing knowledge, technologies, and data in the development of impact-based forecasting services.
Link to Global Early Warning Efforts
The SEWA Initiative contributes to wider international efforts to strengthen early warning and early action. It aligns with global frameworks and programmes, including the United Nations Early Warnings for All Initiative and the Africa Multi-Hazard Early Warning and Early Action System.
Through this alignment, SEWA contributes to broader efforts to ensure that communities, institutions, and relevant stakeholders have better access to timely, actionable, and useful information about weather- and climate-related hazards.
Why This Grant Opportunity Is Special
The Strengthening Early Warning in Africa (SEWA) Grants stand out because they combine climate science, space-based technologies, data, and African-European technical expertise to address one of the region’s most urgent challenges: preparing communities and institutions for extreme weather events.
Unlike funding focused on isolated activities, SEWA supports regional pilot projects that can demonstrate practical impact-based forecasting solutions. The initiative also places strong emphasis on genuine African-European peer-to-peer collaboration, knowledge exchange, capacity building, and long-term partnerships.
Another important feature is its focus on a wide range of climate and weather hazards, including floods, droughts, heatwaves, dust storms, thunderstorms, tropical cyclones, and compound or cascading hazards. By connecting forecasting information with potential impacts on people, infrastructure, and vulnerable systems, the initiative can help stakeholders move from simply receiving weather warnings to taking timely and informed action.
Tips for a Strong Proposal
- Clearly define the regional challenge: Explain the specific weather or climate risks affecting your target region and why they require stronger early warning and early action.
- Select relevant hazards: Choose hazards that are genuinely important to the proposed region and explain their potential impacts on communities, infrastructure, livelihoods, and vulnerable groups.
- Demonstrate impact-based forecasting: Clearly show how your proposed tools or services will go beyond conventional weather forecasts and provide actionable information about potential impacts.
- Build a balanced consortium: Clearly define the roles and contributions of both African and European partners and demonstrate genuine peer-to-peer cooperation.
- Meet the mandatory partnership requirements: Ensure that the consortium includes the required European entity, appropriate Regional Climate Centre, and ACMAD before submission.
- Highlight technical expertise and data: Explain what data, forecasting capabilities, space-based technologies, and technical resources will be used and how they will improve the proposed solution.
- Focus on practical results: Explain how the pilot will strengthen existing early warning systems and help relevant stakeholders anticipate, prepare for, and respond to extreme weather.
- Include a strong capacity-building component: Show how local and regional institutions will gain knowledge, technical skills, and capabilities that can continue beyond the project.
- Explain sustainability: Demonstrate how the tools, services, partnerships, and knowledge developed through the pilot can be maintained or expanded after the grant period.
- Show long-term collaboration: Emphasize how African-European cooperation will continue beyond the immediate pilot and contribute to stronger regional early warning capabilities.
How to apply?
Get full access to the grant information, visit the Official Website Link
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Who can apply for the SEWA Grants?
Applications must be submitted by a consortium of African and European entities. The consortium must include at least one legal entity established in a European country, the appropriate Regional Climate Centre for the target region, and the African Centre of Meteorological Applications for Development (ACMAD).
2. What type of projects does SEWA support?
SEWA supports regional pilot projects focused on developing and demonstrating impact-based forecasting tools and services that can strengthen early warning and early action for weather and climate-related hazards.
3. What hazards can a proposed project address?
Projects can address regionally relevant hazards such as floods, droughts, heatwaves, dust storms, thunderstorms, tropical cyclones, cascading hazards, and compound hazards. The selected hazards should reflect the specific risks and characteristics of the target region.
4. Is African-European collaboration mandatory?
Yes. Genuine and balanced African-European peer-to-peer cooperation is a central feature of the initiative. Proposals should demonstrate joint development, knowledge exchange, technical cooperation, capacity strengthening, and long-term partnership building.
5. Which Regional Climate Centres can participate?
The required Regional Climate Centre must be one of the four relevant centres: AGRHYMET, CAPC-AC, ICPAC, or SADC-CSC. The selected centre should correspond to the African region addressed by the proposed pilot.
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