Soil Health Living Labs Network for Combating Desertification and Soil Degradation in the Mediterranean
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Call for External Evaluators

Deadline for applications: 13 July 2026, 17:00 CEST

The Nemesis – Soil Health Living Lab Network for Combating Desertification in the Mediterranean project, funded under the EU Mission “A Soil Deal for Europe”, is launching a call for external evaluators to support the assessment of proposals submitted under Open Call (OC) 1: Strengthening and Expanding Living Labs with Additional Experimental Sites. Nemesis aims to address soil degradation and desertification by establishing and expanding a network of Living Labs across the Mediterranean region, including Cyprus, France, Italy, Spain, and cross-border Tunisia/Algeria. These Living Labs act as collaborative, real-world environments that foster co-creation among researchers, farmers, SMEs, public authorities, and civil society actors. Through OC1, the project will provide Financial Support to Third Parties (FSTP) to integrate additional experimental sites into the Living Labs, enhancing their geographical reach, representativeness, and impact. Within this framework, external evaluators will play a key role in ensuring a transparent, fair, and high-quality evaluation process by providing independent scientific and technical expertise. Their contribution will be essential in identifying the most promising projects that can strengthen the Living Labs and support the development of innovative, real-world solutions for soil health and the fight against desertification.

Role and Responsibilities of Evaluators

External evaluators will contribute to the independent assessment of proposals submitted under OC1. Evaluators will be selected based on their expertise in relevant fields, such as soil science, agriculture, environmental management, Living Lab and participatory approaches, socio-economic analysis, or related disciplines. Selected evaluators will be responsible for:

  • Reviewing and assessing proposals independently against the evaluation criteria defined in the OC1 documentation;
  • Providing structured evaluations and scores, supported by clear, concise, and well-justified comments, through Individual Evaluation Reports (IERs);
  • Applying the agreed scoring system consistently and in accordance with the evaluation guidelines;
  • Ensuring impartiality and confidentiality throughout the process, in line with the principles of fairness, transparency, and equal treatment of applicants;
  • Declaring any conflict of interest and refraining from evaluating proposals where such conflicts exist;
  • Participating in consensus discussions, including remote evaluation meetings, to agree on final scores and consolidated comments for each proposal;
  • Contributing to the ranking of proposals and supporting the identification of the highest-quality applications for funding.

Evaluators are expected to perform their tasks with a high level of professionalism, integrity, and respect for deadlines. Their input will directly support the selection of third-party projects that will contribute to expanding and strengthening the Nemesis Living Labs, as well as to the broader objectives of combating desertification and improving soil health.

Selection Criteria for Evaluators

External evaluators will be selected based on their expertise, professional experience, and ability to contribute to a high-quality and impartial evaluation process. The selection will aim to ensure a balanced pool of experts covering the scope of the Nemesis project and geographical diversity. Applicants are expected to meet the following criteria:

  • Relevant expertise and experience in one or more of the following areas, demonstrated through academic background, professional experience, or participation in research and innovation projects: soil science (e.g. soil health assessment, soil degradation, soil restoration); soil health monitoring and evaluation of innovative practices; agriculture and land management (including sustainable, regenerative, or climate-resilient practices); soil management and restoration practices; environmental management and desertification mitigation; soil literacy, community engagement, and Living Lab methodologies, including participatory and co-creation approaches (e.g. multi-actor approach, stakeholder engagement); and/or cross-disciplinary and systemic approaches to soil health innovation, including socio-economic analysis related to rural development or related fields;
  • Ideally, proven experience in project evaluation, research, innovation, or implementation activities, preferably within EU-funded programmes (e.g. Horizon 2020, Horizon Europe) or similar initiatives;
  • Ability to work in English in a professional and technical context, as all evaluation activities and documentation will be conducted in English;
  • Independence and absence of conflicts of interest, ensuring impartiality in the evaluation process;
  • Availability to participate in the evaluation process, including remote individual assessments and consensus meetings, during the period from August to mid-September 2026;
  • Commitment to deadlines and confidentiality requirements.

The final selection of evaluators will be made by the Nemesis Monitoring Committee, considering the need for complementary expertise, balanced representation, and alignment with the scope of OC1.

Application Procedure and Required Documents

Interested experts are invited to apply to serve as external evaluators for Nemesis OC1 by submitting the required documentation no later than 13 July 2026, 17:00 CEST. Applications must be submitted in accordance with the instructions provided in this call. Applicants are required to submit the following documents:

  • Completed application form, including personal and professional information, areas of expertise, availability, and declaration on confidentiality and conflict of interest.;
  • Curriculum Vitae (CV) highlighting relevant academic background, experience, and expertise related to the evaluation scope;
  • Short description of relevant experience (if not fully covered in the CV), including previous involvement in evaluation activities;

Applications must be submitted electronically via opencalls@nemesis-soil.eu. Incomplete applications or applications submitted after the deadline will not be considered. Applicants may be requested to provide additional information or clarifications during the selection process. The Nemesis Consortium reserves the right to verify the information provided in the application. All personal data provided by applicants will be processed in accordance with applicable data protection regulations and will be used solely for the purpose of evaluator selection and management within the Nemesis project.

Evaluation Process and Timeline

The evaluation of proposals submitted under OC1 will follow a structured and transparent process. The evaluation process will include the following main steps:

  • Preceding eligibility check: Verification that proposals comply with the administrative and eligibility requirements defined in the OC1 documentation;
  • Individual evaluation: Each eligible proposal will be assessed independently by assigned evaluators, who will review the application and provide scores and comments based on the defined evaluation criteria in the Individual Evaluation Report (IER);
  • Consensus phase: Evaluators will participate in remote consensus meetings (e.g., videoconferences) to discuss their individual assessments, resolve discrepancies, and agree on final scores and consolidated feedback for each proposal;
  • Ranking and selection: Proposals will be ranked by their final evaluation scores, enabling the identification of projects to be recommended for funding.
  • Each proposal will be evaluated according to predefined criteria, including relevance and fit, excellence in quality and feasibility, capacity and implementation potential, and expected contribution/impact. Evaluators will be required to apply the scoring system consistently and in accordance with the provided evaluation guidelines. The evaluation activities are expected to take place during the period:
  • Beginning of August to Mid-September 2026

Evaluators must ensure their availability throughout this period to complete individual assessments and participate in consensus discussions within the established deadlines. The evaluation process will be monitored by the Nemesis Monitoring Committee, which will ensure consistency, quality control, and compliance with the applicable rules and procedures.

Remuneration and Conditions

External evaluators will be remunerated for their work in accordance with the provisions of the Nemesis project and Horizon Europe. Evaluators are expected to assess 7 proposals per day. A fee of EUR 500 per day will be provided for this work. The total number of working days will depend on the number of proposals assigned to each evaluator. The evaluation tasks will include:

  • Individual remote assessment of proposals and completion of IERs;
  • Participation in consensus discussions (via videoconference) to agree on final scores and comments;
  • Contribution to the final ranking of proposals.

Selected evaluators will be engaged under a service agreement specifying the scope of work, timeline, and payment conditions. Payment will be made upon satisfactory completion of the assigned evaluation tasks, including submission of all required evaluation reports and participation in consensus meetings. Evaluators are expected to ensure their availability during the evaluation period and to comply with all deadlines and procedural requirements.

All evaluators will be required to sign declarations of confidentiality and absence of conflict of interest prior to the start of their assignment. All information related to the proposals and the evaluation process must be treated as strictly confidential.

Contact Information and Further Details

For further information and questions regarding the Call for External Evaluators, including application instructions and supporting documents, interested experts are encouraged to consult with the the Nemesis OC team via opencalls@nemesis-soil.eu. All updates, clarifications, or additional information related to this call will be published through the official Nemesis webpage (https://www.nemesis-soil.eu/open-calls). Applicants are encouraged to consult these sources regularly to stay informed.

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