Advert for PhD fellowships at UCT

BMGF: Stimulating local innovation on sanitation for the urban poor in sub-Saharan Africa and South-East Asia

Advert for PhD fellowships at UCT

 

Introduction
UNESCO-IHE, The Netherlands, and the following partners: Makerere University in Uganda, KNUST in Ghana, AIT in Thailand, 2iE in Burkina Faso, ITB in Indonesia, UCT in South Africa, UFMG in Brazil, and Univalle in Colombia were recently awarded a US$8 million grant by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. The grant will be used to finance a 5-year capacity building and research project to stimulate local innovation in sanitation for poor urban residents in sub-Saharan Africa and South-East Asia.

The project has two principal objectives: (i) to undertake research in order to stimulate local innovation in sanitation for poor urban residential areas, and (ii) to strengthen the capacity of personnel in the sanitation sector in developing countries through education and training.
More information on the project may be obtained from: http://www.unesco-ihe.org/Pro-poor-Sanitation-Innovations

PhD Fellowships at UCT
The University of Cape Town (UCT) is calling for applicants who are interested in working towards a PhD full-time in the thematic area: Smart
sanitation provision for slums and informal settlements. Preliminary topics for study are:
1.      Smart sanitation provision for high-density slums and informal settlements in the context of planning for a water-sensitive city in Africa.
2.      The design, operation and maintenance of public ablution facilities in high-density slums and informal settlements in the cities of Africa.

The grant will cover: travel to UCT by the successful applicants at the beginning of the research and back home on successful completion; direct costs incurred in connection with the research; travel to selected conferences; academic fees; and tax-free scholarships sufficient for basic
living expenses. Although it is envisaged that the successful applicants will be largely resident at UCT, fieldwork may be carried out in any city in sub-Saharan Africa. In this regard, UCT will be working closely together with Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST),
Kumasi, Ghana, and Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda (Theme Leader). The expected commencement date for the project is early 2012 and successful applicants will be expected to complete their theses within 4 years. Applicants should preferably be young researchers from sub-Saharan Africa; however researchers from other developing regions may also apply.

Requirements
Candidates must have a Master’s degree in a discipline relevant to the research theme, e.g. sanitary engineering, civil engineering, environmental science, environmental engineering or anthropology (Topic 2 only)

Applicants must demonstrate a strong interest and significant experience in conducting and managing interdisciplinary sanitation-related research.

Applicants with a pronounced affinity for on-the-ground fieldwork will be preferred
The applicant must be proficient in both spoken and written academic English, with well developed communication and writing skills

How to apply?
Applications should be sent by email to Prof. Neil Armitage, Neil.Armitage@uct.ac.za by  15 December 2011. The email should be headed
“PhD application to BMGF project” and include as attachments:
(i)curriculum vitae,
(ii) scanned examination transcripts for all previous degrees,
(iii) the names and contact details of two referees, and
(iv) a letter of motivation in which the applicant outlines her/his reasons for wanting to be considered. A well-motivated specific research proposal will strengthen the application.
Short-listed candidates will be contacted in the first week of January 2012.
For further information on the PhD programme associated with the project refer to:
http://www.unesco-ihe.org/Pro-poor-Sanitation-Innovations/Twenty-PhD-Positions-Available