REFOREST PhD Scholarships 2020 for African Students

REFOREST now opens for applications to 20 PhD position scholarships to their new regional research school based at Sokoine University in Tanzania.

Application Deadline: 2nd July 2020

About the Award: Regional Research School in Forest Sciences (REFOREST) is an innovative, interdisciplinary and unique regional PhD degree programme for training of future generation forest scientists in Africa. The Sida funded programme is hosted at Sokoine University of Agriculture (SUA) and is conducted in partnership with universities in Eastern and Southern Africa and in collaboration with the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences (SLU).

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The PhD programme is organized in partnership with Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences – SLU (Sweden), Eduardo Mondlane University (Mozambique), National University of Rwanda (Rwanda), Wondo Genet College of Foresty and Natural Resources (Hawassa University -Ethiopia) and Makerere University (Uganda).

Research Themes: Students will undertake research in one of the following thematic areas:

1. 1. Commercial forestry and bio-economy – tree growing as business, tree improvement and silviculture, forest health and protection, forest products development, marketing, forest products value chains, sustainable forest management;
   2. Natural forests management – Ecological and socio-economic aspects, biodiversity conservation, bio-energy, climate change, REDD+, Payment for Ecosystem Services, forest land policy and ownership as well as forest-land-water relations; and
   3. Agroforestry, forest-agriculture interactions and synergies, and conflict management.

Cross-cutting areas for all the themes include gender, policy, livelihoods, forest governance, forest sector modeling, environmental and economic sustainability. Particular attention are placed on areas requiring more interdisciplinary research approaches, e.g. climate-forest issues, land use conflicts, market system analyses, poverty alleviation potentials of various forest/tree products and services, economic/social/ecological aspects of forestry, food and nutrition security.

Type: PhD

Eligibility: Eligible candidates are from Eastern and Southern Africa. In the year 2020-2024 citizens of Ethiopia, Mozambique, Rwanda Tanzania and Uganda will be prioritized for sponsorships, female candidates are highly encouraged to apply. Successful applicants will be admitted and registered at Sokoine University of Agriculture. The Programme comprises one year of course work and three years of research and thesis writing. Students are encouraged to carry out the PhD research in their home countries.

Eligible Countries: Countries in Eastern and Southern Africa

To be Taken at (Country): Sokoine University in Tanzania

Number of Awards: 20

Value of Award: Successful scholarship candidates will apply for PhD admission at Sokoine University of Agriculture (SUA)

Duration of Award:

• The sponsorship covers a maximum of four years, and will commence in October, 2020.
• The Programme comprises one year of course work and three years of research and thesis writing. 

How to Apply: Submit a letter indicating the theme of interest (Theme 1, 2 or 3 above), and attach the following: (i) research concept note of maximum 2,000 words (covering introduction, knowledge gap(s), research objectives, research methodology and expected outcomes) (ii)endorsed copies of certificates and academic transcripts (iii) your Curriculum Vitae and (iv) names of two academic referees. Send your application electronically to [email protected]. Deadline for application is 2nd July 2020 at 15.30 East Africa Time (EAT). For further clarification, contact Programme Coordinator at E-mail: [email protected]. Short-listed candidates will be notified by 1^st August, 2020, and where applicable they will be required to improve their concept note. Subsequently they will all be required to present themselves for an interview session conducted from 17^th to 21^st of August, 2020 at their respective partner universities.

• GOODLUCK

Visit Award Webpage for Details