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Call for Application: Kyoto World Water Grand Prize 2027
The Japan Water Forum is now accepting applications for the Kyoto World Water Grand Prize 2027.
Overview
The Kyoto World Water Grand Prize 2027 will be conferred at an award ceremony to be held in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, from March 21 to 25, 2027, in conjunction with the 11th World Water Forum.
The World Water Forum is a global event convened once every three years, bringing together water-related experts, organizations, companies, and stakeholders from around the world to engage in dialogue on water issues.
The Kyoto World Water Grand Prize was established in 2003 as an international award to recognize grassroots organizations working to solve water-related challenges in developing countries. The Prize is co-organized by the Kyoto City and the World Water Council (WWC).
Through recognition and support, the Prize aims not only to honor grassroots actors, but also to broadly communicate the importance of local action in addressing water issues.
The Prize selection is based on the concept that activities which respect the unique social and cultural characteristics of local communities contribute to sustainable development. This concept is inspired by Kyoto’s history of resilience, its ability to recover from natural disasters, epidemics, and other crises while harmonizing tradition and innovation.
Previous awardees have used the support to expand and strengthen their activities, as well as to launch new initiatives.
Eligibility
Applicants must meet all of the following criteria:
・Non-profit, non-governmental, and locally led organizations based in a developing country
・Organizations whose activities are non-sectarian in nature and conducted independently
・Initiatives that demonstrate clear local ownership and are not primarily financed or controlled by external entities from developing countries
For further details, please refer to the Application Guidelines.
Application Period
March 31, 2026 ～ June 12, 2026 (Friday), 11:59 p.m. (JST)
* Applications submitted after the deadline will not be accepted.
How to Apply
Language: English
* Please read the Guidelines carefully before starting your application.
If you experience technical difficulties when submitting the online form due to network issues, please contact the Secretariat:
Kyoto World Water Grand Prize Secretariat: kyoto-waterprize*waterforum.jp
(*Please replace [*] with “@” when sending the email.）
Review and Selection Process
・Eligible projects must have been implemented during the past five years (2020–2024; follow-up activities may extend through 2025)
・Applications will be reviewed by the Kyoto World Water Grand Prize 2027 Selection Committee, which will select one Grand Prize winner
For further details, please refer to the Application Guidelines.
Grand Prize
Prize Money: 2,000,000 JPY (approximately USD 13,000, subject to exchange rate)
* The prize money is intended to support the continuation and enhancement of the awarded activities.
The winning organization is required to submit a report on the activities carried out using the prize money within one year of receiving the award (no specific format required).
Co-organizers
Award Ceremony
・The award will be presented at the Opening or Closing Ceremony of the 11th World Water Forum, to be held in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, in March 2027
・One representative from the winning organization will be invited to attend the ceremony, appear on stage, and deliver an award acceptance speech
Contact:
Kyoto World Water Grand Prize Secretariat: kyoto-waterprize*waterforum.jp
(*Please replace [*] with “@” when sending the email.）
What is the Kyoto World Water Grand Prize?
The Kyoto World Water Grand Prize 2027 will be awarded during the World Water Forum to be held in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, from March 21 to 25, 2027.
The Prize was established in 2003 by the Kyoto City and the World Water Council (WWC) as an international award to honor grassroots organizations working to solve water-related challenges in developing countries. It has since been awarded every three years as part of the World Water Forum and will be presented for the 8th time in 2027.
Through recognition and support, the Kyoto World Water Grand Prize seeks to highlight and disseminate the importance of grassroots actions in addressing water issues. Past awards have led to the expansion of activities and the initiation of new projects by recipient organizations.
Laureates of the Past Prizes
7th Edition, 2024: Youth Sanitation Concern (Indonesia) 【Instagram】
Report of Awarding Ceremony, View on YouTube, Implementation Report
Achievement and future prospect brought by the Grand Prize
6th Edition, 2022: Pragati (India) 【Website】
Report of Awarding Ceremony
5th Edition, 2018: Charité Chrétienne pour Personnes en Détresse (Togo)
4th Edition, 2015: Environment and Public Health Organization (Nepal) 【Website】
Support School for Improved Learning (SUSIL) Project
3rd Edition, 2012: Katosi Women Development Trust (Uganda)
2nd Edition, 2009: Watershed Organization Trust (India) 【Website】
1st Edition, 2006: Gram Vikas (India) 【Website】
