PhD in Land and Water System Innovations (NL)

PhD position available at UNESCO-IHE (SSI-2 Project)Upscaling small-scaleland and water system innovations in dryland agro-ecosystems forsustainability and livelihood improvements (SSI-2)http://www.unesco-ihe.org/Research/PhD-Research/Available-PhD-Positions/PhD-position-available-at-UNESCO-IHE-SSI-2-Project*Re-Advertisement* Recently, an interdisciplinary research project was approved by theUNESCO-IHE Partnership Research Fund (UPaRF).This project will form part of the broader successor programme of SSI, inwhich the following institutes collaborate: UNESCO-IHE Institute for WaterEducation (Delft, The Netherlands), University of Dar Es Salaam, Universityof KwaZulu Natal, Delft University of Technology, the International WaterManagement Institute, Sokoine University of Agriculture and the StockholmResilience Centre.Within the current project a PhD positions is available, linked to thethemes described below. If successful, the PhD degree will be awarded byDelft University of Technology, the Netherlands.*Project description*The project focuses on the semi-arid areas of sub-Saharan Africa, where 95%of the total agricultural land is used for rainfed agriculture, wateravailability is scarce and highly variable, and average yields often remainbelow 1 ton per ha. The resilience of the farming systems is low as well,due the large (and increasing) variability of the hydro-climatic conditionsand a limited capacity to adapt. As a result, crop failure is the norm.Water availability is a key entry point to improve crop productivity inthese regions (Falkenmark and Rockström, 2004).The research and outreach programme of *"Smallholder systems innovations inintegrated watershed management"* (SSI-1, 2004-2008) thus focused on theidentification and application of innovative agricultural water managementpractices that offer opportunities to increase both food security andsafeguard environmental integrity. The impact of these innovations on foodproduction and ecosystems has been studied at field and watershed scale atsites in the Thukela river basin in South Africa and the Pangani river basinin Tanzania.There is a growing awareness that a real transformation of the countrysidewill only be possible if innovative soil and water technologies and land andwater management practices are adopted, and locally adapted, at a largescale and in combination with increased fertilizer use (see e.g. Rijsberman,2004; Polak, 2005; Rockström et al., 2007). Only then will rural areas beable to transform from their current position of marginalization and povertyto a motor of socio-economic development (Prahalad, 2004).Since the conditions under which such a transformation may occur, as well asthe potential impacts at different scales, are still ill-understood, a newproject will focus on the socio-economic and bio-physical conditions andimpacts of upscaling these innovations. This new project (SSI-2, 2008-2012)will take note of some new drivers that influence the opportunities foragricultural innovation and rural socio-economic transformation: increasingfood prices, increased access to information in the rural countryside,climate change impacts, and the limited access of farmers to energy sourcesin the face of an increasing global demand for biofuels (e.g., de Wit andStankiewics, 2006; Uhlenbrook, 2007). The two PhD research projects formpart of the broader SSI-2 programme.*PhD Project 1: **Water processes at different spatial scales*This research theme addresses the hydrological implications for up-scalingland and water system innovations. The objective is to gain betterunderstanding of the interactions between processes linking local and largerscales.The analysis focuses on how the dominant hydrological processes may changeat different spatial scales. The research builds on the understanding of thehydrological processes gained during SSI-1, with a stronger emphasis ongroundwater-surface water interactions and potential implications of/forland management changes.It is hypothesised that surface-groundwater interactions are critical to theimpacts of water system innovations, and that it impacts vary with scale anddifferent physiographic characteristics.This hypothesis will be verified in the field and the results used forpredictive modelling to determine impacts of up-scaled use of WSIs on waterquantity and quality for downstream users under different scenarios. Thesurface-groundwater interactions (including wetlands) are also crucial forthe hydrological variability and water resources availability at differentscales and, consequently, for the provision of ecosystem services.*Research question: *What are the hydrological impacts of small scalefarming activities, incl. water system innovations, across different scales?Particular attention will be paid to different types of rainwaterharvesting, supplementary irrigation and full scale irrigation.*Methodology: *Understanding the hydrological impacts of small scalefarming activities across different scales, requires the understanding ofthe hydrological processes at these scales. This research will take up thesmall scale hydrological understanding (project 3.1) and investigate thelarge scale (500-5,000-45,000 km2) hydrological processes through the use ofremote sensing data combined with field observations (incl. hydro-chemicaland tracers studies). Of particular interest is the groundwater surfacewater interaction (incl. generation of wetlands) and the impact of this onthe downstream water availability (PBWO, 2006). A process-based distributedhydrological model will be developed to investigate different scenarios ofuptake and extent of the small scale farming activities.This study will be supervised by Prof. Dr. Stefan Uhlenbrook, Dr. JanWillem Foppen, Dr Shreedhar Maskey (UNESCO-IHE), Dr. T.A. Kimaro (UDSM).*The following applies to the position:* - All topics will be carried out in a so-called sandwich construction with different phases at UNESCO-IHE in the Netherlands and field research in Tanzania (with regular contacts with Tanzanian and Dutch supervisors). - PhD positions are funded with a fellowship for which NUFFIC regulations apply. - Starting date: April 1, 2009 for 4 years. - Qualifications: M.Sc. degree (average mark: 80% or above) in a discipline relevant to the topic, e.g. environmental engineering, socio-economics of the water sector, hydrology and water resources. - The applicants must demonstrate a strong interest and experience in conducting interdisciplinary research. - The applicant should be willing to co-operated with other researchers in the SSI-2 programme - The applicants should be willing to co-supervise MSc research projects. - The applicants must be fluent in English. - Preferred country of citizenship of the applicants is Tanzania. - Age: 40 years and below. - Work experience in relevant fields of studies is desirable.The project it is jointly led by Dr. T.A. Kimaro (kimaro@wrep.udsm.ac.tz)and Ms. M.L. Mul (m.mul@unesco-ihe.org) of UNESCO-IHE.Applications, including curriculum vitae, the names and contact details ofthree contactable referees, and a motivation letter, should be sent by emailto both Dr. T.A. Kimaro and Ms. M.L. Mul before *31 January 2009*. Pleasemention the subject heading "PhD application SSI-2 project 1".We intend to contact short-listed candidates on or before 15 February 2009.