SEACURE Open Call for Associated Regions aims to finance activities that promote the implementation of holistic strategies related to the prevention, minimization, reduction and remediation of nutrient pollution, empowering regions facing similar nutrient pollution issues in the Mediterranean basin and beyond and strengthening their capacity to replicate innovative solutions developed within the SEACURE project.

The main objective is to empower regions where eutrophication is a significant issue to effectively manage biogeochemical cycles, particularly those of Nitrogen (N) and Phosphorus (P), by leveraging and expanding the rollout of systemic innovative solutions developed within the project. This empowerment includes enhancing the capabilities of the awarded ARs in implementing innovative approaches, supported by technical assistance from SEACURE consortium partners.

Through this Open Call, SEACURE intends to mobilize geographic areas into action, assessing the replicability potential of SEACURE strategies in the awarded ARs, and directing efforts towards the collaborative development of public policies, strategic plans and enabling mechanisms. It also aims to engage regional stakeholders to strengthen their capacity to address water and soil health challenges, while enhancing their skills, capabilities and knowledge exchange. Together, these actions aim to enable the future scale-up of the most suitable SEACURE solutions in the region.

The Application Form’s work plan must address the expected outcomes of the Open Call:

1- Identification of the most appropriate SEACURE solutions to address nutrient pollution in each associated region: replicability assessment of SEACURE solutions in the awarded Associated Regions (AR). Applicants must explain in WP1 of the Application Form how this outcome will be achieved reflecting the current knowledge, capacity and competence of the region regarding the identified prioritized SEACURE solutions, including previous work done in the region in this regard as well as how SEACURE technical assistance will complement and improve the current situation (roadmap (i.e., how and when) of the activities key to executing and achieving the goals of technical assistance to implement WP2 and WP3). One of the outputs of this WP must be the ARs Action Plan to be developed with SEACURE consortium.

2- Engagement with key actors within the regional innovation ecosystem to enable coordinated actions to tackle nutrient pollution. This outcome could be achieved through the implementation of capacity-building activities, actions to raise societal awareness, and activities to strengthen the bonds between ecosystem actors, or through a combination of all three activities together. Applicants must explain in WP2 of the Application Form how this outcome will be achieved including the current capacity to engage with key actors within the regional innovation ecosystem and detailing what is foreseen to further advance in this regards, with the technical assistance support of SEACURE project partnership (for example: key stakeholder mapping, capacity buildings, site visits, stakeholder consultations, social awareness campaigns, citizen science...). .

3- Tailor-made roadmaps for replicating and scaling up the selected solutions in the Associated Regions, including the development of public policies, strategic plans, or implementation mechanisms, such as mobilizing new funding and resources or planning specific projects. Applicants must explain in WP3 of the Application Form how this outcome will be achieved, including how they intend to tackle nutrient pollution in their region and which decision-making steps they foresee in order to further scale up the replication of SEACURE solutions (for example: updating Environmental Management Plans/Policies, designing regional upscaling plans, or applying for additional infrastructure/project funding).