Call for Applications: 3 PhD Scholarships on Climate Change and Rural Livelihoods in the Rufiji Delta (Tanzania)

The College of Forestry, Wildlife and Tourism at Sokoine University of Agriculture (SUA), the Institute of Resource Assessment at the University of Dar es Salaam (UDSM), and the University of Copenhagen (UCPH), Denmark, invite applications for three fully funded PhD scholarships under the five-year research capacity development project “Climate Change, Rural Livelihoods, and Nature Protection in the Rufiji Delta (∆Rufiji)”. The project is funded by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Denmark (DANIDA) and focuses on advancing research and academic capacity in Tanzania. Applications must be submitted by 1 March 2026, 12:00 noon East Africa Time.

About the ∆Rufiji Research Project

The ∆Rufiji project examines how climate change, conservation initiatives, and development interventions are reshaping mangrove ecosystems and rural livelihoods in the Rufiji Delta. The research combines environmental science, ecology, socio-economics, and political analysis to understand how local communities respond to interconnected climatic, biophysical, and institutional changes. The project is designed as a collaborative platform involving PhD fellows, postdoctoral researchers, and MSc students across partner institutions.

PhD Structure and Academic Environment

Each scholarship runs for four years and includes formal PhD enrollment at either SUA or UDSM, subject to meeting institutional admission requirements. All PhD fellows will receive joint supervision from SUA and UDSM, with co-supervision from the University of Copenhagen. The programme includes 6–9 months of research stays at UCPH and 6–8 months of fieldwork in the Rufiji Delta spread across three years. Fellows are expected to work closely within the wider ∆Rufiji research team.

The positions are available from 1 June 2026, or as soon as possible thereafter, and include stipends aligned with the fellow’s employment status, along with dedicated fieldwork budgets.

PhD Scholarship Themes

PhD Scholarship #1 (SUA)

This project focuses on the productive and regenerative capacity of mangrove forests under sustainable management. It examines how mangrove ecosystems respond to human interventions and climate change, with attention to growth patterns, regeneration, deforestation, and degradation in the Rufiji Delta.

PhD Scholarship #2 (UDSM)

This research explores the interaction between human livelihoods and mangrove ecosystems, analysing the economic costs and benefits experienced by households due to climatic and socio-political change. The study addresses questions of agency, risk, and resilience within changing mangrove landscapes.

PhD Scholarship #3 (SUA)

This project examines local responses to climate change, conservation, and development initiatives, including institutional dynamics and mechanisms of exclusion. The research seeks to identify socially just and climate-resilient approaches that support both livelihoods and nature conservation.

Required Academic Background and Skills

Applicants are expected to demonstrate:

• An MSc degree in a relevant discipline (forestry, geography, environmental studies, natural resources management, environmental economics, conservation studies, or related fields)

• A minimum GPA of 3.8 at both BSc and MSc levels

• Fieldwork experience in rural Tanzania relevant to the chosen scholarship

• Strong interest in extended field research under challenging conditions

• For scholarships #1 and #2: experience with quantitative data analysis, preferably using R

• At least one peer-reviewed publication relevant to the proposed research

• Fluency in Swahili and English

• Strong writing, communication, and independent research skills

• Ability to work effectively in multidisciplinary and multicultural teams

Application Process and Deadline

Applications must be submitted by email as a single PDF file and include:

• A short CV with publication list (1–3 pages)

• A 1–2 page concept note aligned with the selected scholarship (#1, #2, or #3), including research questions, theoretical framing, and proposed methods

• Scanned academic certificates and transcripts

• Contact details of two academic referees

Deadline: 1 March 2026, 12:00 noon (EAT)

Shortlisted applicants will be notified by 25 March 2026 and invited for interviews at Sokoine University of Agriculture, Morogoro, between 13–17 April 2026.

Official Information and Source

Full project details are available from the University of Copenhagen:

👉 Official project page:
https://ifro.ku.dk/english/research/projects/rufiji/

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