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Applications open for the 2027-2028 IWA & Grundfos Youth Action for SDG 6 Fellowship

Published on Oct 4, 2026

The International Water Association (IWA) and Grundfos are pleased to announce the call for applications for the third cohort of the IWA & Grundfos Youth Action for SDG 6 Fellowship. Established in 2022, the Fellowship supports Young Water Professionals (YWPs) to strengthen their leadership, professional capabilities and contribution to global water challenges.

Building on the experience of the first two cohorts, the 2027–2028 Fellowship will place a stronger focus on innovation and on increasing the uptake of technology and innovative solutions in the water sector. The programme will support YWPs who are already exploring or developing an idea, solution or innovative approach to a clearly identified water challenge and who would benefit from a structured journey to refine, test, strengthen and position that work for wider uptake.

For IWA, YWPs are individuals aged 18 to 35 years old. The Fellowship will remain a global programme and will seek a cohort that reflects gender, geographical and professional diversity.

The Fellowship
The third cohort will combine online and in-person activities over approximately two years. Selected Fellows will participate in structured capacity development, peer learning, project-sharing and review, engagement with IWA and Grundfos experts and networks, and selected international water-sector events.

The programme is expected to include:

Online onboarding and regular monthly meetings (February 2027 to December 2028);
An initial in-person gathering involving activities with IWA and Grundfos during the first semester of 2027 (London/United Kingdom, and Bjerringbro/Denmark);
Tailored capacity-development sessions related to innovation, entrepreneurship, adoption and implementation;
Thematic peer-learning groups and project progress reviews;
Engagement with practitioners, utilities, researchers, innovators, entrepreneurs and other relevant experts and partners;
Participation in selected IWA activities and international water-sector events (second semester 2027);
Opportunities to communicate, showcase and strengthen the visibility of Fellows’ work;
Continued engagement with alumni from previous Fellowship cohorts;
Participation at the 2028 IWA World Water Congress & Exhibition in Malaysia.

The precise programme and capacity-development activities will be further tailored to meet the needs and profiles of the selected Fellows. Participation in the Fellowship requires active and sustained commitment throughout the programme.

Focus of Cohort 3: innovation and uptake

Cohort 3 will focus on increasing the uptake of technology and innovation in the water sector. Innovation is understood broadly and may involve a new or significantly improved technology, product, service, process, financing approach, capacity-development model or other solution addressing a water-related challenge.

Applicants will be asked to identify the area that most closely reflects their proposed work:

Applied research and product/solution innovation: Translating research, technical knowledge or emerging technologies into practical products, services or solutions that respond to real water-sector needs.
Innovative financial mechanisms and business models: Exploring financing approaches and business models that can enable the development, adoption or scaling of water solutions.
Capacity building and enabling approaches: Developing innovative approaches that strengthen the capacity of people, organisations, utilities or communities to adopt, implement and benefit from water solutions.

These areas are intended to guide applications and the selection process. They are not rigid programme tracks; the final thematic and peer-learning groups will be shaped by the profile of the selected Fellows and their projects.

Important: The Fellowship supports participation, professional development and capacity building. It does not provide direct funding, investment or grants for the implementation of Fellows’ innovations or projects. All intellectual property rights relating to innovations, solutions or projects developed or further advanced by Fellows through the programme will remain with the respective Fellow(s). The Fellowship aims to provide Fellows with the knowledge, skills, networks and exposure needed to strengthen their solutions and become better positioned to pursue appropriate partnerships, implementation opportunities, accelerator programmes or external financing.

Who should apply?

We welcome applications from students, researchers, entrepreneurs and professionals working in utilities, companies, public institutions, non-governmental organisations and other water-related organisations. Applicants should bring an existing innovation, solution or approach that they intend to develop through the Fellowship.

The proposed work should:

Respond to a clearly identified water-related problem or opportunity;
Have a defined concept or proposed approach;
Identify intended users, beneficiaries or customers;
Demonstrate that the applicant has already taken tangible steps to explore, develop or validate the solution;
Be sufficiently developed to benefit from testing, technical input, capacity development, peer exchange and professional networks; and
Remain at a stage where participation in the Fellowship can meaningfully influence its development and pathway towards implementation or wider uptake.

Indicative maturity: The Fellowship is particularly suited to solutions at the idea/concept, prototype or early-pilot stage. An idea alone is not sufficient: applicants at concept stage must demonstrate tangible action towards developing or validating the proposed solution. Applicants do not need to have established a company or start-up.

Application

Applications must be submitted in English through the online application form. Candidates will be asked to complete the form, upload all required documents, and accept the terms of the selection process.

Candidates must provide:

Curriculum Vitae (maximum 2 pages);
Motivation letter (maximum 2 pages);
Letter of reference, ideally from an IWA member (maximum 1 letter, 1 page); and
Innovation proposal (maximum 2 pages).

Application period: 05/10/2026 – 05/11/2026
Application link: https://www.iwa-network.org/iwa-grundfos-youth-fellowship
Deadline to apply: 05/11/2026
Tentative timeline for interviews: late November
Expected announcement of selected candidates: mid-December

Motivation letter

The motivation letter should address, as relevant:

Relevant professional, academic or entrepreneurial experience, particularly in relation to water and SDG 6;
Motivation for applying and how the Fellowship aligns with the applicant’s professional goals;
Skills, knowledge or networks the applicant hopes to develop;
How the applicant intends to contribute to the Fellowship and wider cohort;
Examples of leadership, teamwork, initiative or innovation in the water sector; and
How the applicant intends to apply the Fellowship experience to advance positive change in the water sector.

Innovation proposal

The innovation proposal should describe:

The water-related problem or opportunity being addressed;
The proposed solution or innovation and what is innovative about the approach;
The intended users, beneficiaries or customers;
The current stage of development (for example, concept, testing/validation or early pilot);
Activities undertaken so far to develop, test or validate the solution, including evidence of initial traction where applicable;
The main barriers or challenges currently preventing further development;
What the applicant aims to achieve with the innovation during the Fellowship; and
How participation in the Fellowship could help advance the solution towards implementation, partnerships, wider uptake or future external financing.

Note: The Fellowship does not require applicants to submit a full business plan. The programme is designed to support emerging innovations and approaches, including those originating from research, professional practice, utilities, communities and other settings.

Additional information in the online application

The online form is expected to request information including:

Applicant profile, current organisation/institution and professional status;
IWA membership details;
The thematic area most closely aligned with the proposed innovation;
The current stage of the innovation;
The applicant’s main development needs and challenges;
What the applicant expects to gain from the Fellowship;
What perspectives, expertise or experience the applicant would contribute to the cohort;
Availability and commitment to participate throughout the Fellowship; and
Optional links to relevant prototypes, research, projects, websites, videos or other supporting materials.

Selection process

Applications will first be reviewed by the IWA Secretariat through a preliminary eligibility and quality assessment. Shortlisted candidates will then be invited to an interview with a selection panel including representatives of IWA and Grundfos and, where appropriate, other Fellowship alumni representatives.

The assessment will consider both the applicant and the proposed innovation. Particular attention will be given to:

Relevance and clarity of the water-related problem;
Quality and innovative character of the proposed solution;
Appropriateness of the solution’s stage of development and evidence of tangible progress or traction;
Potential for impact and uptake;
Fit with the Fellowship and the extent to which the programme can add value;
Applicant capability, leadership potential, motivation and commitment; and
Potential contribution to cohort learning and collaboration.

Following IWA’s vision and strategic goals to promote and create a gender and geographically balanced water sector, the final cohort composition will also consider regional and country representation, gender diversity, professional/background diversity, diversity of water challenges and an appropriate balance across the Fellowship’s innovation areas.

Eligibility
Applicants are required to meet the following eligibility requirements:

Be between 18 and 35 years old. The minimum age to apply is 18 years old and the maximum age is 35 by the end of the Fellowship (December 2028);
Be an IWA member – membership status will be verified by the IWA Secretariat;
Be engaged in the water sector through study, research, employment, entrepreneurship or another relevant professional activity;
Show evidence of commitment to delivering positive change in the water sector;
Demonstrate leadership capacity and willingness to collaborate;
Be addressing a relevant local and/or global water challenge through the proposed innovation or solution;
Demonstrate tangible action towards developing or validating the proposed innovation;
Have a working knowledge of English;
Be available and committed to participating in the Fellowship activities throughout the programme; and
Not be a former IWA & Grundfos Youth Action for SDG 6 Fellow;
Not be a participant (current or former) of the IWA Leadership Programme (IWA LeaP);
Not be a participant of the IWA Mentorship Programme.

Funding and participation support
For required Fellowship travel and in-person activities, the Fellowship is expected to cover the following costs for selected Fellows, in line with the arrangements used for previous cohorts:

Air travel (economy class) and subsistence (breakfast, lunch and dinner);
Accommodation (single occupancy);
Ground transportation from and to the airport and from the hotel to Fellowship venues;
Travel insurance; and
Visa application fees.

Selected Fellows will be responsible for applying for their own visa(s) in their countries. IWA and Grundfos cannot guarantee that a visa application will be successful. Detailed travel and reimbursement arrangements will be communicated to selected Fellows.

Important: The Fellowship supports participation and professional/capacity development. It does not provide direct funding, investment or grants for the implementation of Fellows’ innovations or projects. The programme aims to strengthen solutions and help Fellows become better positioned to pursue appropriate partnerships, implementation opportunities, accelerators or external financing.

Further information
Read the Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) here.

In case you wish to withdraw or edit your submission, please contact the IWA Secretariat at ywp@iwahq.org.

If you have any questions regarding the IWA YWP Community or the call, please contact Dr Isabela Espindola, IWA Membership Engagement Senior Officer.

To connect with the #IWAYWP community, please connect with them directly on our global platform IWA Connect Plus, and start a conversation!

Not an IWA member yet? Join IWA today! Unlock a world of opportunities and boost your global connections. For more information, visit: iwa-network.org/join/