The SDC Global Program Water Initiatives is looking for new projects or initiatives addressing issues of: 1. Transboundary Groundwater Governance and Management: About 300 transboundary aquifers have been identified all over the world. In many areas, these aquifers underlay regions of acute water shortage. Thus, the issues related to those aquifers are multidimensional, regarding scientific, legal, socio-economic, institutional and environmental aspects. SDC/WIs is particularly interested in transboundary aquifers located in regions knowing stress on their water resources, as for example sub-Saharian, central American and central Asian countries. The main objectives are to develop a better knowledge on these aquifers, to establish cross-border dialogue and to develop shared management tools.

2. Aquifers Geogenic Contaminents Information and Management Tools: Many governments are aware of the health problems associated with these geogenic contaminants, institutional structures to provide contaminant-free drinking water are often not in place. Helpful tools for information management, decision making and awareness building are absent. Therefore, SDC WIs wants to support the development of appropriate innovative tools, with a potential of global application.

For both thematic priorities, proposals must be linked to international networks, with a potential for strong international advocacy. Proposals have to be relevant at global level and to be implemented in context that allows for testing, replication, up scaling and/or mainstreaming in the next 5 years.