Stockholm Water Prize 2027: Nominate a Global Water Champion for the World’s Leading Water Award

The Stockholm Water Prize 2027 is now accepting nominations for individuals, institutions, and organisations that have made exceptional and lasting contributions to humanity’s understanding, management, protection, and sustainable use of water resources.

Often regarded as one of the world’s most prestigious recognitions in the field of water, the Stockholm Water Prize celebrates achievements that have made a substantial difference to water science, water management, human well-being, ecosystems, and the sustainable development of societies.

The 2027 nomination period is currently open, giving researchers, professionals, institutions, organisations, policymakers, practitioners, and other qualified nominators an opportunity to put forward outstanding water champions whose work deserves international recognition.

The nomination period runs from 17 March 2026 to 15 September 2026.

The prize recognises contributions across a broad range of disciplines, meaning that eligible achievements do not have to come exclusively from traditional water science. Contributions may involve natural sciences, engineering, technology, education, policy, governance, management, human rights, international cooperation, sanitation, water supply, or practical implementation.

About the Stockholm Water Prize

The Stockholm Water Prize is awarded to an individual, institution, or organisation that has made a substantial scientific or other contribution to understanding water resources and to their sustainable use and protection.

The central objective of the prize is to recognise work that has contributed to improved health and well-being for people and ecosystems.

This broad mandate means the award can recognise both groundbreaking scientific discoveries and practical achievements that have transformed how water is governed, managed, supplied, protected, or understood.

The contribution of a potential laureate may therefore come from academic research, technological innovation, public policy, community-level implementation, institutional reform, education, advocacy, or other significant water-related work.

Stockholm Water Prize 2027 Nomination Period

Nominations for the 2027 Stockholm Water Prize are open during the following period:

Opening date: 17 March 2026
Deadline: 15 September 2026

Individuals and organisations wishing to nominate a candidate should submit a short nomination through the official nomination form during the nomination period.

The nomination process begins with a short submission. Candidates who are considered outstanding may subsequently be selected for a more comprehensive nomination process.

Who Can Be Nominated?

The Stockholm Water Prize is unusually broad in the types of candidates it can recognise.

A nominee may be:

• An individual
• An institution
• An organisation

The nominee should have demonstrated outstanding achievements connected to water resources and should have made a meaningful contribution with lasting significance.

The work may have taken place in academia, government, industry, civil society, international organisations, communities, research institutions, or other relevant settings.

Importantly, the announcement does not establish a restriction based on nationality, country, region, race, or continent. This means that the opportunity is not presented as being limited to candidates from a particular geographic area.

Candidates from Africa, Asia, Europe, North America, South America, Oceania, and other parts of the world can therefore potentially be considered, provided their achievements satisfy the prize requirements.

Two Major Categories of Achievement

The main achievements of the proposed laureate must fall into at least one of two major categories: Research or Policy and Practices.

1. Research

The Research category covers both basic and applied research that creates new knowledge or demonstrates scientific leadership in fields relevant to water.

This category can include researchers and research leaders whose work has significantly advanced understanding of water-related challenges.

Potential areas may include research that contributes to:

• Understanding water resources
• Water science
• Sustainable water use
• Protection of water resources
• Water-related environmental challenges
• Water technology
• Scientific innovation
• Water management
• Ecosystem protection
• Human health and water
• Sustainable development
• Other scientific fields relevant to water

The emphasis is not simply on publishing research. The nominee should have demonstrated outstanding achievement and lasting significance, together with evidence that the work has stimulated further important developments.

Scientific leadership can therefore be an important component of a strong nomination.

2. Policy and Practices

The Policy and Practices category recognises achievements that have improved the governance and management of water as a natural and economic resource, and/or as a human right and basic service.

This category is particularly broad and can include people or organisations whose practical, institutional, governmental, legal, technological, or community-based work has produced significant improvements in water management.

Relevant areas specifically include:

• Human rights
• Conflict resolution
• International cooperation
• Sustainable water-resource management
• Safe management of water resources
• Water supply services
• Sanitation services
• Development of appropriate technologies
• Application of appropriate technologies
• Economic principles for sustainable water management
• Legislative approaches to water management
• Institutional approaches to water management
• Administrative principles for efficient water management
• Equitable access to water
• Sustainable provision of water services

This means the prize is not restricted to laboratory scientists or university researchers.

A policymaker, water professional, institution, technology developer, administrator, organisation, or other practitioner could potentially be recognised if their achievements have substantially improved water governance, access, sustainability, or management.

Education, Outreach and Awareness Also Matter

In addition to research and policy or practical achievements, the Stockholm Water Prize places importance on outreach and awareness raising.

For both major categories, achievements involving education, training, information dissemination, and public awareness can strengthen a candidate’s case.

This may include:

• Educating students about water issues
• Training water professionals
• Building the capacity of local communities
• Developing water-related educational programmes
• Disseminating important water information
• Raising awareness among decision-makers
• Increasing public understanding of water challenges
• Supporting community-level knowledge about water resources
• Promoting responsible and sustainable water use

The award therefore recognises not only the creation of knowledge or implementation of solutions, but also the ability to ensure that knowledge reaches the people and institutions who can use it.

Key Eligibility Criteria

A successful nominee must demonstrate more than simply being involved in water-related work.

The Stockholm Water Prize specifically requires candidates to have made outstanding achievements of lasting significance during the last ten years.

The achievement should also have provided stimulation for further important work.

This is an important distinction for potential nominators.

Simply working in the water sector does not automatically make someone a strong candidate. A compelling nomination should demonstrate the significance, impact, originality, longevity, and wider influence of the nominee’s achievements.

A strong candidate should ideally have evidence showing that their contribution has gone beyond routine professional responsibilities and produced meaningful change or advancement.

What Makes a Strong Nomination?

The organisers emphasise that the quality of the nomination is important.

A poorly prepared nomination may fail to communicate the significance of an otherwise exceptional candidate.

A strong nomination should therefore clearly explain:

1. Who the candidate is
2. What the candidate has achieved
3. Why those achievements are exceptional
4. How the achievements relate to water
5. Why the contribution has lasting significance
6. What impact the work has had
7. How the candidate’s work has stimulated further important work
8. Which award category or categories the achievements fit into
9. How the candidate satisfies the stated criteria
10. What evidence supports the claims being made

The organisers encourage nominators to represent their candidate effectively rather than simply submitting incomplete information.

Support Letters May Be Required

An important requirement applies where a nomination cannot be supported by documented scientific merits.

In such circumstances, the nomination should be accompanied by at least two support letters.

The letters should come from individuals or organisations that have no direct professional or family ties to the candidate.

This requirement helps provide independent support for the nominee’s accomplishments and can strengthen the credibility of the nomination.

Nominators should therefore consider the availability of independent experts, institutions, organisations, or other credible supporters when preparing a nomination that does not have extensive documented scientific evidence.

Self-Nominations Are Not Allowed

One of the most important points for prospective candidates is that the Stockholm Water Prize does not accept self-nominations.

The official criteria explicitly state that self-nominations will be disregarded.

Therefore, individuals who believe they are suitable candidates should not attempt to nominate themselves.

Instead, they should encourage an appropriate person, institution, organisation, colleague, professional network, or other qualified nominator to submit their nomination on their behalf.

This also means that institutions and organisations should ensure that the nomination is submitted by someone other than the candidate themselves where applicable.

Who Cannot Be Nominated?

There is also a conflict-of-interest restriction.

A candidate cannot be:

• Employed by the Stockholm Water Foundation; or
• In a close professional relationship with the Stockholm Water Foundation or any of its associated entities.

Potential nominators should carefully consider this requirement before preparing a nomination.

How the Nomination and Selection Process Works

The Stockholm Water Prize follows a multi-stage evaluation process.

Step 1: Submit a Short Nomination

The process begins with the submission of a short nomination through the designated online nomination form.

At this stage, nominators should clearly communicate the candidate’s most important achievements and explain why the individual, institution, or organisation deserves consideration.

Step 2: Initial Selection

The Prize Committee at the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences conducts an initial assessment.

The committee identifies candidates considered to have particularly outstanding achievements.

Step 3: Full Nomination

Nominators of outstanding candidates may subsequently be invited to submit a full nomination.

However, if the information provided in the initial nomination is considered sufficient for evaluation, the committee may determine that additional material is unnecessary.

Step 4: Detailed Review

The outstanding nominations are reviewed by the Prize Committee.

If the committee considers it appropriate, the nominations may also undergo peer review by external expert reviewers.

This stage allows specialists to provide additional assessment of the significance and quality of a candidate’s achievements.

Step 5: Recommendation to the Academy

Following the evaluation process, the Prize Committee presents its recommended laureate and the corresponding motivation at a General Meeting of the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences.

Step 6: Laureate Appointed

The Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences appoints the laureate at its meeting.

The Academy informs the Stockholm Water Foundation of its decision before the end of February.

Step 7: Stockholm Water Foundation Awards the Prize

The Board of the Stockholm Water Foundation then decides to award the Stockholm Water Prize in accordance with the decision made by the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences.

Confidentiality of Nominations

Nominators and candidates should also be aware that the nomination process is confidential.

The organisers state that nominations and all award nomination materials are confidential.

This confidentiality is important because it protects the integrity of the evaluation process and allows the relevant committees and reviewers to assess nominations appropriately.

How to Prepare a Competitive Nomination

Anyone considering nominating a water researcher, policymaker, institution, organisation, technology developer, or practitioner should approach the process strategically.

Clearly Identify the Candidate’s Greatest Achievement

Avoid filling the nomination with unnecessary background information.

Instead, identify the candidate’s most important achievements and explain why they matter.

Demonstrate Lasting Significance

Because the criteria specifically refer to achievements of lasting significance during the last ten years, the nomination should provide evidence of long-term impact.

Where possible, demonstrate how the candidate’s work has continued to influence research, policy, institutions, communities, water management, or other relevant areas.

Connect the Work to Water

A candidate may have a broad professional profile, but the nomination should clearly demonstrate how their outstanding achievements relate to water resources and their sustainable use or protection.

Demonstrate Impact

Strong nominations should move beyond statements such as “the candidate has contributed significantly.”

Instead, explain what changed because of the candidate’s work.

For example, the nomination could demonstrate improvements in:

• Water access
• Sanitation
• Water quality
• Water governance
• Research knowledge
• Environmental protection
• Water-related policy
• Institutional capacity
• Technology
• Community awareness
• International cooperation
• Conflict resolution
• Sustainable resource management

Address the Award Criteria Directly

The organisers specifically advise nominators to compare the candidate’s qualifications with the award criteria.

A well-structured nomination should therefore make it easy for the Prize Committee to see how the candidate satisfies each requirement.

Why the Stockholm Water Prize Is Significant

Water is fundamental to human life, public health, food systems, economic development, environmental sustainability, and the survival of ecosystems.

However, water resources face increasingly complex challenges involving sustainability, pollution, scarcity, sanitation, climate pressures, governance, infrastructure, inequality, and competing demands.

Recognising individuals and organisations that successfully address these challenges can help bring greater attention to innovative approaches and encourage further work in the water sector.

The Stockholm Water Prize therefore provides an international platform for recognising achievements that contribute to better understanding and management of one of the world’s most essential resources.

Who Should Consider Making a Nomination?

The opportunity may be particularly relevant to people and organisations connected to the water sector, including:

• Universities
• Research institutions
• Water professionals
• Scientists
• Engineers
• Policymakers
• Government institutions
• International organisations
• Non-governmental organisations
• Environmental organisations
• Water utilities
• Sanitation professionals
• Technology innovators
• Development practitioners
• Community organisations
• Academic networks
• Professional associations
• Institutions working on water governance
• Organisations involved in sustainable development

A nominator should focus on identifying a candidate whose achievements demonstrate the level of excellence and lasting significance expected by the prize.

Important Deadline

The nomination period for the Stockholm Water Prize 2027 closes on 15 September 2026.

Potential nominators should therefore avoid waiting until the final day.

Preparing a strong nomination may require gathering evidence, documenting achievements, identifying independent supporters where necessary, and carefully explaining how the candidate satisfies the award criteria.

How to Nominate

Nominations must be submitted through the official online nomination form designated by the organisers.

Official nomination form: Link to nomination form

The nomination period is:

17 March 2026 – 15 September 2026

More information VISIT HERE

More nomination opportunities visit OFY Website HERE

Key Details at a Glance

Detail	Information
Opportunity	Stockholm Water Prize 2027
Category	International Award
Eligible nominee types	Individual, institution, or organisation
Main areas	Research; Policy and Practices
Geographic restriction	None specified
Self-nomination	Not permitted
Application/Nomination	Online nomination form
Opening date	17 March 2026
Deadline	15 September 2026
Support letters	At least two may be required where documented scientific merits are unavailable
Recent achievement requirement	Outstanding achievements of lasting significance during the last 10 years
Conflict restriction	Candidates employed by or closely professionally related to Stockholm Water Foundation or associated entities are ineligible
Nomination confidentiality	Yes

Tips for Potential Nominators

Before submitting a nomination, consider the following:

1. Choose the right candidate. Make sure the nominee’s achievements genuinely stand out within the water field.
2. Focus on evidence. Explain the candidate’s achievements using concrete, verifiable information.
3. Show lasting impact. Demonstrate why the work remains important and how it has influenced further developments.
4. Connect achievements to the criteria. Explicitly show how the candidate fits the Research and/or Policy and Practices category.
5. Highlight wider influence. Mention research, policy, practical implementation, education, training, outreach, or awareness-raising where relevant.
6. Prepare independent support where necessary. If documented scientific merits are insufficient, ensure the required independent support letters are available.
7. Complete the form carefully. The organisers specifically advise nominators to fill out all applicable fields.
8. Keep the argument clear and concise. A strong nomination should contain enough information to establish the candidate’s excellence without burying the most important achievements in unnecessary detail.
9. Do not submit a self-nomination. Self-nominations will be disregarded.
10. Submit before the deadline. Ensure the nomination is completed by 15 September 2026.

Conclusion

The Stockholm Water Prize 2027 provides an opportunity to recognise exceptional individuals, institutions, and organisations whose work has made a meaningful and lasting contribution to water science, sustainable water management, water governance, human well-being, and ecosystem protection.

The award is broad enough to recognise both scientific research and practical achievements, covering areas ranging from engineering and technology to policy, human rights, sanitation, water supply, international cooperation, education, and community awareness.

A strong candidate should demonstrate outstanding achievements of lasting significance during the past ten years and evidence that their work has stimulated further important developments.

Importantly, the opportunity is not presented as being restricted to a particular country, nationality, race, or continent. Candidates from around the world can potentially be considered, provided they meet the stated criteria. However, self-nominations are not accepted, and candidates with the specified close employment or professional relationship with the Stockholm Water Foundation or its associated entities are excluded.

Anyone who knows a researcher, policymaker, water professional, institution, organisation, innovator, or practitioner whose work has made an exceptional contribution to the water sector should consider putting that candidate forward.

With the 15 September 2026 deadline approaching, nominators should begin preparing their submissions early and ensure that the nomination clearly communicates the candidate’s achievements, impact, lasting significance, and alignment with the Stockholm Water Prize criteria.