These grants will support a range of interventions that lead to the removal of small dams in catchments that offer the highest potential for river restoration and ecosystem recovery.
Category A3 funds the demolition of a barrier, where no pre-demolition work is required or such work has already been funded by a third party.
Projects focus on the removal of small dams. The programme does not support the removal of natural barriers. The rationale is that focusing on the removal of small barriers is the most cost effective method of river restoration.
Projects typically involve barriers around 1-3 metres in height, although higher barriers might be considered as well. When assessing your application, it will be compared with all other submissions and projects that offer the best value for money - i.e., the greatest ecological restoration relative to the programme's investment - will be prioritised.
For a barrier removal to qualify as successful, the dam must be fully removed through its entire vertical extent (i.e. the full height), restoring natural hydraulic connectivity, hydrological conditions, sediment transport, and fish migration.
Projects should be completed within 12 months. Applications for projects that take longer to deliver might be considered, but the assessment process will be stricter, and clear justifications will need to be expressed.
Local stakeholders and public administrations must broadly support the proposed removal(s).
The next application window will be open from 1st to 26th June 2026.
Projects must be implemented in Greater Europe, and the coordinating partners must be registered in Greater Europe.
Projects often involve a range of partners and contributors, including NGOs, government bodies, academia, the private sector, community groups, and individuals. Applications from diverse consortia and collaborations are welcomed and encouraged. However, we have specific criteria regarding who can act as a coordinating partner.
The coordinating partner is the main applicant to the programme and will lead the project management. They will handle the grant finances, sign the grant contract with the programme, and take responsibility for the successful delivery of the project. This partner will usually be based in the country of implementation. If a non-resident organisation applies as the coordinating partner, they must justify why their involvement is essential, for example, if there is no suitable national coordinating organisation in the implementing country.
The eligibility criteria for public sector entities are more restrictive than those for NGO applicants. The programme defines a public sector entity as a department, agency, authority, commission, or any other body established under a legal act for public purposes or the public good. To apply for a grant as a publicly funded entity, you must manage water resources and have proven experience in river restoration and/or dam removal. It is essential that the staff managing the grant have relevant expertise in these areas; general agency experience alone will not suffice. Applicants must also show a commitment to forming partnerships with NGOs and other stakeholders for the project’s implementation. Additionally, applicants must outline the availability of public funding for river restoration and dam removal in the implementing country and justify the need for resources provided by the Open Rivers Programme.
A public entity applying as the lead partner must provide at least 50% of the project costs, as the programme will only contribute up to 50%. The total funding for the project must be shown in the ORP project budget. The majority of the costs should be allocated to the demolition of a barrier Please note that staff, travel, communications, event or permitting costs for public entities are usually not supported.
The information contained on this webpage is sourced directly from the European Commission's Funding and Tenders Portal (https://ec.europa.eu/info/funding-tenders/opportunities/portal/screen/home) or, in the case of draft calls, from external sources. ERRIN does not assume responsibility for the currentness or accuracy of the information provided. We endeavour to keep the information up to date and correct, but any reliance you place on such information is strictly at your own risk.
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