Find the right funding for your water innovation

Earlier this year The Dutch government programme Partners for Water granted it lasts subsidies within the current programme (2022 – 2027). However, we remain committed to supporting innovation and collaboration in water security and management. To help partners move forward, we have created an overview of alternative funding opportunities — not only for developing new ideas, but also for scaling up existing projects. In this way, we continue to strengthen impact beyond our own subsidy programme.

Partners for Water (PfW) aims to enhance water security internationally in long-term cooperation with local partners and the Dutch water sector. For the support of the early stages of water innovations, the programme (2022 – 2027) has granted subsidy to 68 water-related innovation projects, executed in 31 countries on 5 continents. By supporting feasibility studies and pilot projects, Partners for Water aims to pave the way for further development: upscaling the water innovations.

Funding opportunities beyond the Partners for Water subsidy

Many innovations start strong with initial support but struggle to maintain momentum or grow further once funding runs out. Creating pathways for scaling and sustaining these initiatives can mean the difference between short-term success and long-term impact. By expanding the range of financing options and giving our partners the ability to grow beyond the initial stages, Partners for Water empowers Dutch companies and organisations to continue making a difference in water management and sustainability for years to come.

Funding options for projects not selected by Partners for Water

The programme encounters many initiatives with huge potential and impact but often do not meet the specific criteria required to secure PfW funding. By listing a broad spectrum of alternative financing options, we can ensure that project partners have access to the financial resources they need, even if they don’t align with PfW’s specific eligibility criteria.

Contents guide

This overview is divided into three sections, each focusing on different sources of funding available for water-related projects, these categories are: Dutch, EU, and other international funding sources.

A living document

At Partners for Water, we are fully aware of the fact that this overview is not complete and that information might be outdated or not fully correct. The majority of the information gathered for this overview will come from desk research, drawing on publicly available sources. If you see any room for improvements, please contact my colleague Bram van der Wielen with suggestions or updates. Your input will help us keep this document accurate and up to date. We will update this concept version before the end of 2025. We hope that this overview will help you find the way to alternative funding.