Project ideas wanted: for healthy water bodies
Rivers, lakes, streams, wetlands, and springs are among Switzerland’s most valuable habitats. They are home to an exceptionally high level of biodiversity and fulfill important ecological functions. At the same time, they are among the country’s most severely degraded ecosystems. The restoration and long-term protection of near-natural water bodies are therefore essential for preserving biodiversity and resilient ecosystems.
With its water focus area, Somaha Foundation supports projects that contribute to the protection and restoration of water bodies in Switzerland. Somaha Foundation is looking for approaches that enhance aquatic habitats and their surroundings, promote ecological connectivity, and contribute to the long-term protection of aquatic biodiversity. The Foundation also funds projects that expand knowledge about water bodies and their biodiversity, strengthen collaboration between research, government agencies, and practitioners, raise public awareness of the value of intact water bodies, and create economic incentive structures.
Eligibility requirements:
- Project partner is a tax-exempt Swiss organization
- Project location: Switzerland
- Funding amount: CHF 20,000-80,000
- Project duration: 1-3 years
- The project is financed with less than 50% public funds
- New partnerships and new approaches are preferred
- The project should be scalable or contain scalable elements
- A maximum of one project per organization is funded at any given time
- Documents: Project outline (max. 2 pages, incl. summary, needs, objectives, timeline/milestones, budget/financing and alignment of your project with the Somaha Theory of Change/nature protection(opens in new tab))
- Closing date for submissions: ongoing until March 31, 2027
Somaha Foundation reviews the project outline based on the Somaha funding criteria(opens in new tab). If the project is suitable, you will be invited to submit a detailed project application in a second step.
Do you have a concrete idea that advances the protection and restoration of water bodies? If so, please send Somaha Foundation a brief project outline and confirmation of your organization’s tax-exempt status via the Spheriq(opens in new tab) platform. For more information, visit our website under Submit funding request(opens in new tab).
