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Fellowship · Partly funded

IWA & Grundfos Youth Action for SDG 6 Fellowship (2027-2028, Cohort 3)

International Water Association (IWA) and Grundfos

A roughly two-year global fellowship supporting young water professionals to develop innovative water solutions through capacity building, peer learning and networking.

Award
Travel support for required in-person activities (economy air travel, subsistence, single-occupancy accommodation, ground transport, travel insurance, visa application fees); no direct project funding.
Who can apply
Open worldwide
Where
London (United Kingdom), Bjerringbro (Denmark), Malaysia (2028 congress); online
Deadline
15 Nov

About the programme

Cohort 3 focuses on increasing uptake of technology and innovation in the water sector. Selected Fellows join online onboarding and monthly meetings from February 2027 to December 2028, an in-person gathering in London and Bjerringbro, Denmark, capacity-development sessions, peer-learning groups, and events including the 2028 IWA World Water Congress in Malaysia. The programme provides participation and capacity building, not direct funding for implementing innovations; intellectual property stays with Fellows.

Eligibility

  • Hold an active IWA Young Water Professional membership verified by the IWA Secretariat, or be employed by Grundfos and meet the age requirement
  • Be between 18 and 35 years old (maximum age 35 by December 2028)
  • Be engaged in the water sector through study, research, employment, entrepreneurship or other relevant activity
  • Show commitment to positive change in the water sector and leadership capacity and willingness to collaborate
  • Address a relevant local or global water challenge through a proposed innovation, with tangible action already taken to develop or validate it
  • Working knowledge of English
  • Available and committed to all Fellowship activities throughout the programme
  • Not a former IWA & Grundfos Youth Action for SDG 6 Fellow, and not a current or former participant of IWA LeaP or the IWA Mentorship Programme
  • Sign in to check these against your background.

What they look for

  • Innovation at idea, prototype or early-pilot stage; ideas alone are insufficient
  • Students, researchers, entrepreneurs and professionals from utilities, companies, public bodies and NGOs welcome; diversity of gender, geography and profession valued

Needs your employer. Grundfos employees may apply through a dedicated internal route without IWA membership; the Grundfos application link is distributed internally.

What you will need

  • Curriculum Vitae (max 2 pages)
  • Motivation letter (max 2 pages)
  • Letter of reference, ideally from an IWA member (max 1 letter, 1 page)
  • Innovation proposal (max 2 pages)

How to apply

  1. Apply via the online form (English); IWA YWP members log in to IWA Connect Plus; Grundfos employees use the dedicated Grundfos form link
  2. IWA Secretariat preliminary eligibility and quality review
  3. Shortlisted candidates interviewed by a panel of IWA, Grundfos and alumni representatives (tentatively late November)
  4. Selected candidates announced mid-December

Applications are submitted on International Water Association (IWA) and Grundfos’s own site. Open Doors helps you prepare; it is not the official application portal.

From people who applied

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Source and verification

Last checked
9 Nov 2026, read automatically from the official page

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