PHD SCHOLARSHIPS (RUL4CLI) University of Dar es Salaam
Research Project: The role of rural-urban linkages for enhanced climate resilience in rural Tanzania (RUL4CLI).
The role of rural-urban linkages for enhanced climate resilience in rural Tanzania (RUL4CLI) is a collaborative research project between the Department of Geosciences and Natural Resource Management (DGNRM) and the Department of Food and Resource Economics (IFRO), University of Copenhagen (Denmark) and Institute of Resource Assessment, University of Dar es Salaam (UDSM). The research project is funded by a grant from Danish International Development Agency (DANIDA).
The RUL4CLI research project focuses on three integrated objectives (see description under each PhD position) and will undertake a comparative analysis of climate change adaptation (CCA) strategies and policies in 2 agro-climatic regions in Tanzania. In each region, two rural settings will be studied: one village in the rural hinterland of a small town, with good access to urban services and markets, and one village in a more remote setting with less access to urban services.
The RUL4CLI project invites applications from suitably qualified Tanzanians for three (3) PhD positions. The PhD positions cover three different thematic research focus areas, as reflected in the Work Packages:
PhD position one (Work Package 2: Rural-Urban Inter-connections) Research Focus:
The role of the PhD candidate will be to explore the interconnections between RUL and climate resilience of rural communities with differentiated access to small towns. The study will provide an understanding of the diversity of household livelihood and CCA strategies in rural Tanzania. Moreover, the study will explore the influence of small urban centres on the opportunities and challenges for developing CCA initiatives at the local level.
Key qualifications:
- MSc/MA in development studies/economics/development geography/political science/natural resources management/climate change
- Experience from qualitative and quantitative data collection, preferably with experience of Sustainable Livelihood Framework studies in rural Tanzania
- Ability to work with an interdisciplinary and multi-cultural research team
- To be prepared to travel within and outside the country
- Proved analytical skills
- Proved English language proficiency – written and oral.
PhD position two (Work Package 3: Climate Change Adaptation Initiatives) Research Focus:
To identify barriers and opportunities for different socio-economic groups’ access to CCA initiatives, in particular youth and women. The role of the PhD candidate will be to identify and assess different CCA initiatives at the local level and potential barriers to their uptake by individuals and socio-economic groups in different environmental and socio-economic contexts. The candidate will, among other methods, be conducting a choice experiment to assess preferences for CCA initiatives. Moreover, the project will uncover narratives of potential place-based pathways for increasing the adaptive capacity to climate change in a rural-urban continuum.
Key qualifications:
- MSc/MA economics/development geography/political science/natural resources management/climate change
- Experience in qualitative and quantitative data collection
- Ability to work with an interdisciplinary and multi-cultural research team
To be prepared to travel within and outside the country
- Proved analytical skills, preferably experience with analysing quantitative data
- Proved English language proficiency – written and oral
PhD position three (Work Package 4: CCA Policy Analysis) Research Focus:
To support inclusive CCA policy formulation (national level) and implementation (district level). The role of the PhD candidate is to develop policy suggestions to support inclusive CCA strategy-making and effective implementation – with a focus on the role of rural-urban linkages at the local (district to the village) level of governance. This will be based on an analysis of current CCA policy practices and informed by results from WP 1 (livelihood strategies and diversity) and WP 2 (preferences for CCA initiatives at the individual/household level). Special attention will be given to three governance aspects related to inclusive processes: supporting youth and gendersensitive strategy-making and implementation, enhancing coordination between policy domains (eg. CCA and social inclusiveness) and levels of governance (national to the village).
Key qualifications:
- MSc/MA in development studies/economics/development geography/political science/natural resources management
- Experience from qualitative and quantitative data collection and preferably detailed knowledge of local and regional government structures in Tanzania
- Ability to work with an interdisciplinary and multi-cultural research team
To be prepared to travel within and outside the country
- Proved analytical skills
- Proved English language proficiency – written and oral
Appointment Conditions
The position is a full-time 3-year post, with a possible extension up to 4 years, and the candidate will be enrolled and based at UDSM in Dar es Salaam. Salary and other financial conditions will be according to UDSM Guidelines.
Please contact Prof. Pius Z. Yanda (email: pyanda@gmail.com) for any enquiry pertaining to the application and more information about the position.
Interested candidates should forward their application letters, copies of transcripts and CVs (2 pages maximum) and concept proposal (5 pages maximum) by email with the subject title ‘RUL4CLI PHD Application’ to Ms. Josephine Besha (e-mail address: beshajosephine@gmail.com) and copied to cccs@udsm.ac.tz. Qualified female applicants are equally encouraged to apply.
Applications must include:
- Cover letter explaining a clear motivation for contributing to the project
- Curriculum vitae – detailing experience in conducting qualitative/quantitative research (max 2 pages)
- Copy of relevant certificates
- An electronic copy of the applicant’s relevant publications (if any)
- PhD Proposal Concept Note based on the research focus of the PhD position applied (max 5 pages)
- Names and contact information of two (2) references
- If possible, an admission letter
The PhD Proposal concept note should be about 5 pages (max 2,000 words, excluding references) and outline a focus for the proposed PhD project. The following details must be included:
- Statement of the research problem
- Research questions
- Theoretical framework
- Methodological approach, including fieldwork considerations
- Time plan
Incomplete applications will not be considered.
Shortlisted applicants shall be required to write a more detailed protocol/project description and shall be invited to a face to face and/or Zoom interview on a date to be announced to them.
The assessment committee will consist of a panel of UDSM and RUL4CLI researchers.
Deadline for applications: April 30, 2022, at noon (East African Time)
Only shortlisted candidates will be notified by 15th May 2022.
Please note that candidates will have to apply for PhD admission at the University of Dar Es Salaam.
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