The International Water Association (IWA) and Grundfos are accepting applications for the third cohort of the IWA & Grundfos Youth Action for SDG 6 Fellowship, open to water-sector professionals aged 18 to 35. Applications close on 5 November 2026. Fellows get expert access and covered travel for required activities, but no implementation funding.
At a glance
| Deadline | 5 November 2026 (no time zone stated) |
| Who can apply | IWA members aged 18 to 35 working in the water sector, with an innovation already in development |
| Programme | Online meetings from February 2027 to December 2028, plus in-person gatherings |
| Covered for Fellows | Travel, accommodation, meals, insurance and visa fees for required activities |
| Funding | None for implementing innovations |
| Cost to apply | No application fee stated. IWA membership is required |
| Official link | IWA call for the 2027-2028 cohort |
What is the IWA & Grundfos Youth Action for SDG 6 Fellowship?
Launched in 2022, the fellowship is built around Sustainable Development Goal 6, clean water and sanitation. The 2027-2028 call is set out in IWA’s announcement, and applications go through its fellowship page. That page still shows the 2025-2026 cohort in places, so rely on the announcement for current terms.
It is a learning and visibility programme, not a grant. IWA states that it does not fund the implementation of innovations, and that intellectual property stays with the Fellows.
Who can apply?
- Age 18 to 35, measured at the end of the fellowship in December 2028.
- IWA membership, verified by the IWA Secretariat.
- Working knowledge of English. Applications must be in English.
- Involvement in the water sector through study, research, employment, entrepreneurship or similar activity.
- An innovation or solution with tangible action already taken to develop or validate it. An idea alone is not enough.
- Availability for the whole programme.
Former IWA & Grundfos Fellows, current or former IWA LeaP participants and IWA Mentorship Programme participants are not eligible.
What do selected Fellows get?
The programme offers structured learning on innovation, entrepreneurship, adoption and implementation, peer-learning groups, project reviews and contact with IWA and Grundfos experts, utilities and investors. Fellows attend selected water-sector events and can showcase their work.
For required travel and in-person activities, IWA covers economy flights, meals, single-room accommodation, ground transport, travel insurance and visa application fees. Fellows apply for their own visas, and approval is not guaranteed. The number of Fellows is not stated.
How do you apply?
- Read the IWA announcement and check each eligibility point.
- If you are not an IWA member, check the membership cost and join first. The call page does not give the fee.
- Open the IWA fellowship page and complete the application form in English.
- Submit before 5 November 2026. No time zone is given, so submit well ahead of the day.
- Questions on submissions, withdrawals or edits go to ywp@iwahq.org.
Key dates
- Application deadline: 5 November 2026
- Interviews: tentatively late November 2026
- Selection announced: expected mid-December 2026
- Online programme: February 2027 to December 2028
- In-person gathering: first semester 2027, in London and Bjerringbro, Denmark
Advice from the Impact DOTS team
- Document tangible action. The call excludes ideas without development or validation, so list what you built, tested or measured, with dates.
- Check your IWA membership early. The Secretariat verifies it and the fee is not on the call page.
- Confirm you can commit. The programme runs for almost two years with monthly online meetings.
- Write for specialists. Fellows meet IWA and Grundfos experts, utilities and investors, so say who would use your solution and what adoption would take.
FAQ
Is there an application fee?
None is stated. IWA membership is required, and its cost is not on the call page.
Does the fellowship fund my project?
No. IWA states that it does not fund the implementation of innovations.
Can I apply with only an idea?
No. The call requires tangible action to develop or validate the innovation.
Sources: IWA announcement of the 2027-2028 call and IWA & Grundfos Youth Fellowship page.
