Applications are invited from early career researchers from S.D. Dombo University of Business and Integrated Development Studies (SDD UBIDS) to participate in a training program under a project titled “Achieving Research and Knowledge Translation Capacity for Climate Change Resilience, Food Security and Sustainable Livelihoods in West Africa”. This training program is funded by the International Development Research Centre (IDRC) and the QES II Advanced Scholars West Africa Program. It will support scholarly projects that will inform progress on the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), with preference given to those focusing on or clearly integrating SDG 5 (gender equality) as a crosscutting or mainstream goal.  The QES II Advanced Scholars West Africa Program is jointly implemented by the following universities: Western University, University of Waterloo, Universitaire d’Abomey-Calavi, S.D. Dombo University of Business and Integrated Development Studies, University of Liberia, Ibadan University, and Cheikh Anta Diop University.

 

Eligibility and Selection Criteria

  • Be a citizen of Ghana and an Early Career Researcher (ECR) at the SDD UBIDS, Wa, Ghana. The QES II Advanced Scholars West Africa Program defines an ECR as an individual with a PhD, who has demonstrated strong evidence of work as an independent researcher, or an individual who is leading or has led his/her own research project for 4-6 years or an individual who is in a tenure-track position at SDD UBIDS.
  • Be ready to spend up to three months in Canada with Western University. The period of the fellowship shall be from July – September 2022 or April-June 2023.
  • Applicants should be working on a planned or on-going research in any of these broad thematic areas: Climate Change Resilience, Food Security and Sustainable Livelihoods in West Africa and inform progress on the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Specific research areas of interest include 1) climate change knowledge creation; 2) developing strategies for sustainable agriculture; 3) inclusive resource governance and community outreach strategies; 4) using public participatory geographic information systems (PPGIS) for sustainable resource management; 5) using Open Source Remote Sensing for environmental change monitoring among others. Preference will be given to research that focuses on or clearly integrates SDG 5 (gender equality) as a crosscutting or mainstream goal.
  • Be ready to return to SDD UBIDS, when the scholarship period ends. You will be required to submit a written declaration to this effect at the point of the scholarship award.
  • Be prepared to participate in leadership development and community engagement activities in Canada and to participate in the network of Queen Elizabeth Scholars.
  • Be able to develop and submit a at least one manuscript for peer-review and publication in a selected recognised academic journal within the scholarship period.
  • Academic achievements in the form of publications and conference papers will be considered during the selection process.
  • Females are particularly encouraged to apply.

Application Procedure

  1. Official letter of support from your Head of Department which must include confirmation of your current academic status and approval of your participation in the project
  2. Proof of citizenship (National ID Card or Passport)
  3. Summary of a convincing and well-planned research project (maximum 2 pages)
  4. Research Work plan
  5. A statement of motivation for wanting to participate in this project (1000 words maximum)
  6. A Curriculum Vitae