International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI) PhD Graduate Fellowship 2019

The International Livestock Research Institute ILRI in collaboration with BMGF/DFID seeks to recruit a PhD Graduate Fellow to undertake research in Urban Food Markets in Africa. The fellowship will be situated within an ILRI led project and the successful candidate will be admitted at Wageningen University, The Netherlands.

International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI) PhD Graduate Fellowship

This project uses risk-based approaches and generates evidence on the burden of foodborne diseases (FBD) and management options that are feasible for improved supply chain management in poultry and vegetables value chains. It develops and tests novel, but simple and practical approaches to improving food safety, building on interventions to support consumer demand for safe food, trader ability to deliver it, and regulator capacity to support it (the so-called pull-push approach).

The research will address both push (capacity of regulators and value chain actors) and pull (consumer demand) mechanisms. It develops methods, tools and approaches that will enable stakeholders in Burkina Faso to identify and apply appropriate behaviour changes strategies, testing their responses and impacts in the value chains of poultry meat and vegetables.

Project title: Evaluation of change in knowledge, attitude and practices of food chain actors in vegetables & poultry systems in Burkina Faso

Promotors: Prof Dr. Emely de Vet (chair consumption & healthy lifestyles) and Prof. Dr. Ruerd Ruben (chair impact assessment in food systems, development economics group)

Local superviser: Centre d’Analyse des l’Environnement et de Recherches Agricoles (CAPES, Dr. Daniel Kaboré) and International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI, Dr. Delia Grace)

International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI) PhD Graduate Fellowship Eligibility

• National from a French-speaking country, preferably from Burkina Faso, or other Francophone African countries.
• Relevant MSc degree in social sciences (economics, extension, innovation, psychology) from an acknowledged university.
• Interest for food systems, agriculture and health; knowledge of poultry and vegetable sectors is an asset; demonstrable affinity with research on food safety.
• Knowledge and Experience with quantitative and qualitative research methods for data collection (surveys, experiments, modelling, observations, sampling) and data analysis (impact assessment; behavioural change).
• Proven ability to work in interdisciplinary teams and interest in working within an impact-oriented action research program.
• Strong oral and written communication skills in English, especially regarding academic writing and presentations.

Value of Award

ILRI will offer competitive stipend to cover living expenses in the project location/s, medical cover, air ticket and research costs. The successful candidate will be supervised jointly by an ILRI scientist, another project leads and university /academic supervisor. The fellowship will cover tuition costs at the fellow’s university of admission.

Responsibilities

• Assess different types of strategies and incentives that influence the implementation and effectiveness of FBD management at market-level in poultry and vegetables chains of Burkina Faso;
• Collect field data on different FBD practices at supply chain actor and consumer level, using representative samples of treatment and control groups;
• Perform impact analysis of socio-economic effects and health perceptions of different sets of FBD practices throughout poultry and vegetables sectors in Burkina Faso;
• Assess the behavioural change responses to consumer information (risk perceptions), value chain integration (trust, reliability) and public surveillance (standards) at different levels of the value chain;
• Analyse the potential impacts of different policies and incentives for large scale implementation of FBD practices

How to Apply for International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI) PhD Graduate Fellowship

Applications should be made to the Director, People and Organizational Development through ILRI’s recruitment portal http://ilri.simplicant.com/ on or before 15 April, 2019. The position title and reference number PhD WUR/ILRI AHH/GF/01/2019 should be clearly marked on the subject line of the cover letter.

For more information, visit the International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI) PhD Graduate Fellowship.

Application Deadline: 15th April 2019