Call for Masters Applications (Females Only)
Social Transformation Research and Policy Advocacy Project Deadline for submission of application: 1st June 2021
We are inviting females to apply for Master of Philosophy studies under a five-year project, “Resilience Against Climate Change-Social Transformation Research and Policy Advocacy”. Funded by the European Commission, the project is a research collaboration between the International Water Management Institute, the University of Ghana-Centre for Migration Studies, the University for Development Studies, and the CSIR-Science and Technology Policy Research Institute. The project seeks to contribute to more inclusive and sustainable economic growth policy and programming approaches in the Upper West Region of Ghana by January 2025. Over the course of the project, we expect to support about 4 PhDs and 15 Masters. The first batch of scholarship recipients (4 PhDs and 10 Masters) have started their educational programs at the either University of Ghana- Centre for Migration Studies or Simon Diedong Dombo University of Business and Integrated Development Studies (SDD-UBIDS), formerly University for Development Studies, Wa.
There is funding to sponsor additional 5 female MPhil students in their educational programs, to conduct research on social transformation issues related to gender, youth and migration, climate resilience, and policymaking. Successful students will follow the stipulated training procedures of their host Universities, with joint supervision across project collaborating organizations. In addition, the students will participate in policy advocacy events (e.g. workshops, learning events, and policy dialogues) of the project to bridge research and policy through students’ direct involvement in the narratives, practices, and networks of development planning. Background information of the project
Northern Ghana suffers from high climate variability coupled with high depletion of the natural resource base which is related to rapid socio-economic and demographic changes. These changes present complex rural development challenges for farmers (particularly women and youth), communities, policy-makers, and development planners. Addressing the complex challenges requires a better understanding of transformative processes, strengthening institutional capacity, and effective natural resource governance.
The Resilience Against Climate Change-Social Transformation Research (REACH-STR) project has identified the need to integrate climate-smart practices in planning activities, strengthen extension services, community engagement, and support incorporating social transformation analysis into policy processes and development planning. Social transformation refers to persistent structural changes in the economic and social relations that surround individuals, households, and communities. There is a need to better understand the drivers and outcomes of the changes, and how the implication for development planning and policymaking.
Successful students will conduct research under any of these main project workstreams: climate-induced migration and youth-specific issues of transformation (two students); or gender research to establish evidence about key constraints to positive transformation, ways of enhancing equality and expanding economic opportunities for rural women and youth (three students).
Eligibility
Applicants will be required to meet the general admission requirements of both University of Ghana and Simon Diedong Dombo University of Business and Integrated Development Studies. Applicants must have applied to any of the two Universities for the 2021/2022 academic year. In addition to the general requirements, applicants should preferably have a background in social science research and methodological skills. However, suitable students with any relevant disciplinary background can be considered.
Applicants must:
hold a First Degree in social science/humanities-related discipline(s). Particularly (but not limited to), Geography, Development Planning Studies, Migration Studies, Agricultural Extension, Agricultural Economics, Climate Change, Rural Development Sociology, Sociology, Anthropology, Political Science.
be highly motivated to pursue postgraduate studies according to the approved study plan of the Universities.
Scholarship Package
Award of scholarship is subject to gaining admission to either of the Universities during the stipulated academic year.
The scholarship covers:
Full tuition fees
Full research costs towards the thesis
Monthly stipend to cover living expenses in Ghana Application Process
Student selection will be based upon an evaluation of:
1) A pre-proposal (maximum 6 pages) describing the applicant's proposed research idea and conceptualization on any of the three project workstreams of interest.
2) A brief motivation (maximum 2 pages) note explaining their interest in social transformation research, and how their pre-proposal aligns with the thematic focus (social transformation research and policy advocacy) of the project
3) An application letter, addressed to the Regional Researcher, REACH-STR Project, IWMI West-Africa Office, Ghana
4) Applicant’s Curriculum Vitae (CV)
5) Two references or recommendation letters one each from a supervisor and a senior scholar familiar with the applicant’s academic and professional trajectory. The references should be emailed directly by the referees to
[email protected] with the subject as: ‘ABBREVIATION OF DESIRED UNIVERSITY_APPLICANT NAME’, e.g. UG_Akua Sika
6) Evidence of 2021/2022 admission (or if not ready, proof of application submission)
For UDS: Faculties of Planning and Land Management, Integrated Development Studies, Natural Resources and Environment, and Agribusiness and Communication Sciences. (Tenable only in Faculties of Planning and Land Management, and Integrated Development Studies)
For UG: Tenable only at the Centre for Migration Studies and the Department of Geography and Resource Development
7) Copies of the certificate(s) and transcripts of previous studies at the university level
8) For applicants applying to the University of Ghana all required documents must be submitted to
[email protected] and copied to
[email protected] with the subject as: ‘ABBREVIATION OF UNIVERSITY_APPLICANT NAME’, e.g. UG_Akosua Mensah
9) For applicants applying to the Simon Diedong Dombo University of Business and Integrated Development Studies all required documents must be submitted to
[email protected] and copied to
[email protected] with the subject as: ‘ABBREVIATION OF UNIVERSITY_APPLICANT NAME’, e.g. SDD-UBIDS_Akosua Mensah
Mode of Selection
A panel made up of lecturers from the host Universities, researchers from IWMI and other experts will conduct the selection. Two-stage criteria will be adopted to evaluate the applications. In the first stage of selection, each application will be graded based on a common score sheet by panel members. The average scores will be used to shortlist applicants for the second stage of selection. In the second stage of selection, the shortlisted applicants will be interviewed by the panel. Each panel member will award marks based on a common score sheet. Applicants will finally be selected based on a combination of marks earned from the assessment of application documents and oral interviews. Enquires
For further information, kindly contact:
Dr. Charity Osei-Amponsah at [email protected] Deadline for application: 1st June 2021
