The Water Research Foundation (WRF) is accepting proposals for a US$200,000 Research Priority Program grant focused on measuring the return on investment of internships, apprenticeships, and workforce development programs in the water and wastewater utility sector. The project sits at the intersection of workforce economics and utility management and is open to researchers, academic institutions, and organizations with human-resources or organizational-performance expertise, not only water-sector specialists.
The Opportunity
Project Title Return on Investment for Internships, Apprenticeships, and Development Programs (Research Priority Program Project 5414)
Funder The Water Research Foundation (WRF)
Funding Available: US$200,000
Application deadline: 14 September 2026, 3:00 p.m. Mountain Time (US & Canada)
Focus
The grant seeks research that quantifies the ROI of internships, apprenticeships, and workforce development programs in the water and wastewater utility sector, with the goal of giving utilities evidence-based tools to evaluate whether these programs deliver measurable organizational value.
Key Research Objectives
- Quantify financial and organizational returns—recruitment costs, retention, time-to-fill, internal promotion, reduced reliance on external labour, and productivity impacts
- Assess programme effectiveness in critical and high-turnover roles
- Develop practical frameworks and tools utilities can use when deciding how much to invest in talent development programmes
Who Should Apply
- Researchers and academic institutions
- Water and wastewater utilities
- Workforce development specialists
- Organisations with expertise in human resources, talent development or organisational performance
Why It Matters
Utilities face ongoing challenges recruiting and retaining skilled staff. Stronger evidence on the ROI of internships, apprenticeships, and development programs can help justify—and optimize—these investments.
Application
Applicants should review the full Research Priority Program guidelines, RFP documents, and budget requirements on the Water Research Foundation portal before preparing a proposal.
Details & Application: wp.me/p23f03-nbk
