Restore4Life call for Associated Regions

You can download all relevant documents and access the Application form in the “Documentation” section above this FAQ.

No, the application must be submitted via local authorities. You can apply as single entity or as a consortium of two or three entities, but in case of a consortium, all applying beneficiaries should be local/regional authorities. But it is possible that the authorities decide to subcontract the work (e.g. to an NGO).

Is it possible that applying local/regional authorities subcontract work, that they can’t execute by themselves, to other institutions (e.g. universities or NGOs). The topics of subcontracting can be e.g. monitoring, executing workshops, developing a roadmap. The Authority/authorities will act as representative of the Associated Region and will receive the grant. In the end they will need to put the invoices of those tasks into their Financing Report.

The contact details you are providing in the application form need to be from the applying authority. Of course, it is possible that universities or NGOs support the authority with the application form. But if the contact details contain information from an (supporting) entity, which is not eligible, the application is rejected! In addition, the contract preparation and signature phase can not be supported by external members apart the applying authority (or authorities).

The meaning of local authorities is an organization that is in charge of the public services for a community. So normally those are governmental institutions. But each country has other regulations about the definition of regional and local authorities. In such cases we would need a proof from the legislation that your (educational) entity is defined as such an authority within your country. Otherwise the institution is not eligible.

This is depending on your country’s rules. In Germany for example National Parks are defined as regional authorities and would therefore be eligible. In other countries it may be handled as national authorities and would not be eligible. You would need to find out how the legislation is for your country and if necessary, send us an official proof that it is defined as local or regional authority to be eligible.

No, any kind of regional and/or local governmental authorities (also small public administrations) are eligible.

You can find the map for eligible countries here on our webpage. All countries listed there are eligible to apply. For France and Portugal this also includes the Outermost regions like the Azores! 

Unfortunately, the Restore4Life Open Call is restricted to EU member states and countries (already) associated to Horizon Europe. Third countries are not eligible. But other Open Calls within Horizon Europe may be suitable for you. For more information about the Associating countries in Horizon Europe (apart from the EU member states) look here: https://ec.europa.eu/info/funding-tenders/opportunities/docs/2021-2027/common/guidance/list-3rd-country-participation_horizon-euratom_en.pdf

As long as you can’t find any restrictions in the document of Associating countries in Horizon Europe (https://ec.europa.eu/info/funding-tenders/opportunities/docs/2021-2027/common/guidance/list-3rd-country-participation_horizon-euratom_en.pdf), both countries are allowed to apply!

Co-financing is not an obligation, but the beneficiaries may decide on using additional funds (own or from another entity). This is up to you. 

The personnel costs are just for the official staff within the applying authority (in case of consortium all applying entities). The subcontracting costs need to be calculated within the section “Purchase costs – Services”.

There are no rules in how you want to split up the fund (just the indirect costs can be up to 25 % of the direct costs). Cofinancing, in addition, is also possible and it is up to you if you want to use it. How you split up the fund along the cost categories will not be a criterium of the selection process.

Indirect costs are costs for the applying authority/authorities that are not directly attributable to the project, but necessary for its realisation (e.g. electricity, office rent, general equipment). You can treat them as lump-sums. They need to be justified with your work plan and fit to it.

Yes, the indirect costs can be up to 25% and you can decide individually which amount you want to use in your cost calculations.

There are no timely restrictions for allocating the fund as long as you spend the money during the project duration (until February 2027).

As our goal is to create roadmaps for new restoration activities and to speed up the planning process, we are looking for regions where it is planned to implement a new project within the next years. But of course, it is possible to do this in regions where former measures have already been implemented and it should be adapted on this (but not only with monitoring). For the similarity to one of our Implementation Sites it is relevant to take the preconditions for the planned project you are applying with.

No, the roadmap we will set up together means to have a plan for the restoration; if you get all permissions in time, implementation of the restoration activities is possible within the project duration, but this is not an obligation. 

The activities we are doing together with you as Associated Region (workshops, roadmaps) will be carried out until February 2027, therefore the money of the grant needs to be spent within this period as well. The implementation of the actions planned in the roadmap can of course be done after the project duration. There is no limit from our side.

No, there are no requirements belonging the size and other features of the wetlands you will applicate with. Just the country it is situated in and the planned restoration measures need to be eligible and it should show some similarities to one of our Implementation sites.