Funded Scholarship Opportunity at SUA University 2026, The College of Forestry, Wildlife and Tourism at SUA,the Institute of Resource Assessmentat UDSMand the University of Copenhagen (UCPH), Denmark, hereby invite interested and qualified applicantsto submit applications for aPhD scholarship under the five–yearresearchcapacity developmentproject “Climate change, rural livelihoods, and nature protection in the Rufiji Delta” (∆Rufiji).
The projectis funded by the Ministry of Foreign Affairsof Denmarkand aims to develop research capacity at the participating institutions.In the context of the Rufiji Delta, this project will investigate environmental and social impacts of climate change, nature protection, and development projects in mangroves, and how local people respond to interlinked climatic, biophysical, socio–economic and political changes.
The four–year PhD position will emphasize and explore socio–political aspects of changes in the Rufiji Delta as described below. The PhD studywill include formal enrollment at SUA, so awardingthe scholarship is subject to successful formal enrollment.
The PhD fellow willreceive supervision from both SUA and UDSM andco–supervision from UCPH, and the position includesvisits to UCPH totaling6–9 months.
The PhD fellowshould be prepared to collect data in the field for a total of 6–8 months across three years andshouldwork closely together with other PhD students,postdocs and MSc students involved in the project.
Thepositionisavailable from 1stAugust 2026,or as soon as possible thereafter, andincludesa stipendreflecting the applicants’ employment situation during the PhD periodandabudget for fieldwork.
Brief descriptionsof the PhD projectThis PhD projectisanchored at SUAandwill examine how local people respond, individually and institutionally, to climate change, conservationand developmentprojects, and associated mechanismsof exclusion.
Main research questions are: whatare the perceivedeconomic and socialimpacts of, andresponses to, management and conservation initiatives, and what institutional arrangements might in practice promote socially just,climate–resilient local livelihoods and nature conservation?
Your qualificationsSuccessful applicantswill be expected to have:
An MSc degree within a relevant field, e.g.,forestry, geography, environmental studies, natural resources management, environmental economics, conservation studies,or similar, and a competitive grade point average(at least 3.8, bothat MSc and BSc levels).
Other professional and academic qualifications relevant to the PhD project and to the ∆Rufijiproject.
Interest in conducting fieldwork, including working remotely and under challenging field conditions.
Field work experiencefrom rural areas in Tanzaniaofrelevance to the PhD project applied for.
A curious and flexible mindset andgood interpersonal skills.
An interest in working within a teamandopenness to different cultures
Skills and abilities to work independently.
At least one peer–reviewed publication relevant to the PhD project.
Excellent communication and writing skills.
Fluency in Swahili and English.
Contact information:
Furtherinformation about the positions can be obtained from Prof. Ezekiel E. Mwakalukwa (ezedwa@sua.ac.tz)at SUA and
Mobile numbers for any urgentqueries:Prof. Ezekiel E. Mwakalukwa: +255 782232381
Dr. Catherine A. Masao: +255 758206780 or +255 784598280
How to apply
Deadlinefor applications: June1st, 2026, at 12 noon East Africa Time.
Please send your application by email with a single PDF file including alldocuments attached.
The email must be sent to the project PI Prof. Ezekiel E. Mwakalukwa(ezedwa@sua.ac.tz) and copied to the Director of postgraduate studies (drpgs@sua.ac.tz).
The PDF file attached to the application email should contain;Ashort CV includingpublication list (1–3 pages); a short (1–2 pages) concept noteclearly outlining and justifying research questionsin relation to the PhD project and describing relevant theories and indicating study approach and methods;scanned copies of certificatesand transcripts;names and contact details of two references.
Shortlisted applicants will be informed by June 18and invited for an interview that takes place at Sokoine University of Agriculture in Morogoroon the 29thof June, 2026.
You can find more information about the Rufiji project, including the project description, at https://ifro.ku.dk/english/research/projects/rufiji
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