The Horizon Europe 2026–2027 Work Programme opened avenues for deepening EU–Africa research partnerships, with frameworks such as LEAP-SE and Africa Initiative IV offering concrete mechanisms to formalise existing relationships, align priorities, and translate ongoing cooperation into future joint actions and proposals.

Against this backdrop, ESEIA and UMP, together with other African (DZ, EG, TN) and European partners (AT, DE, RO, UK), put forward a proposal under the LEAP-SE Cofund Call 2026. While the initiative was not selected to proceed, it embodied a strong and forward-looking vision rooted in the work carried out through EMERGE, and demonstrated the real potential of sustained international cooperation in tackling shared research and innovation challenges.

The submission spoke to a wider resolve across the partnership: to carry forward the collaborative foundations, mutual trust, and cooperation structures developed throughout EMERGE, long after the project comes to an end.