PhD call: Productivity and Sustainability of Ecological Organic Agriculture Systems in Kenya

Background

The Right Livelihood College (RLC) is a global transdisciplinary research and education initiative of universities and the "Alternative Nobel Prize", known as the Right Livelihood Award (RLA). Supported by the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD), the Center for Development (ZEF) hosts one of the currently seven  RLC Campuses at universities worldwide (www.rlc-bonn.de).

In collaboration with the Biovision Africa Trust and RLA Laureate Hans Herren, RLC Bonn and DAAD offer a 3-year PhD scholarship for candidates from Sub-Sahara Africa to carry out an empirical PhD research project related to the topic “Productivity and Sustainability of Ecological Organic Agriculture Systems in Kenya”.  Research background in 2011, the African Union (AU) coined the term “Ecological Organic Agriculture” (EOA) which integrates two previously distinct concepts, organic and ecologic, with the aim of bringing together the synergies from both concepts and their practices for the benefit of the African continent. Since then, an EOA Initiative has been developed aiming to mainstream the practices into national policies by 2025 in order to improve agricultural productivity, food security, access to markets and sustainable development in Africa. However, solid and reliable information on EOA productivity and sustainability is still often lacking, and EOA is criticized for low labor productivity, high production risks, and low market integration, among others.

The PhD research is aimed at addressing some of these concerns and knowledge  gaps by scientifically and empirically assessing the potential of EOA agriculture  systems for food and nutrition security as well as income generation for improved  livelihoods among rural smallholder families in Kenya. Applicants have to develop an individual PhD research proposal narrowing the research scope. The proposal has to be submitted together with the application.

The PhD scholarship call

Qualified applicants should be citizens of a Sub-Saharan Africa country and currently reside there. They should hold an excellent master’s or equivalent degree in agriculture, environmental sciences, ecology, food, geography or related disciplines, and have outstanding proficiency in empirical biophysical and socioeconomic field research methods. Profound knowledge on Ecological Organic Agriculture Systems in a rural Sub-Saharan African context as well as experience in interdisciplinary and international research is an asset. Fluency in English is mandatory. The age limit is 32 years.

The scholarship is funded by the DAAD for 3 years starting from August 1, 2014. It covers a Junior Researcher position at ZEF and respective costs for travel and research. In the first year, the candidate will participate in the ZEF Doctoral Studies Program in Bonn.

Your application should consist of:

·          Motivation letter (1 page)

•          A CV in EUROPASS format – see template under:
•          http://europass.cedefop.europa.eu/en/documents/curriculum-vitae
•          Two letters of recommendation from professors or supervisors
•          Certified academic degree documents (as PDF)
•          Short PhD research proposal narrowing the research scope (max. 5 pages)

All documents are to be submitted in English. Closing date for applications is April 31,

2014. Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.

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Please send your applications via e-mail to:

Dr. Till Stellmacher: stellmacher@rlc-bonn.de

RLC Campus Coordinator, RLC Campus Bonn/ Zentrum für Entwicklungsforschung

(ZEF), University of Bonn, Walter Flex Str. 3, 53113 Bonn, G