Faculty: AgriSciences, Stellenbosch University

Department or Division: Dean’s division – Food Systems

Short description of Department’s / Division’s activities:
The role of private companies and other non-state actors is of growing importance in food security and land use issues in southern Africa. These include major ‘up-stream’ and ‘down-stream’ actors in the food system, including those engaged in agricultural inputs, food processing, marketing, intraregional trading, a range of nongovernmental organisations and the food aid sectors. Their decisions ultimately strongly influence land use, and the concomitant impacts on soils, water, carbon sequestration and biodiversity. The role these ‘actors’ fulfil, and the way in which they operate, is mediated by their interactions with each other and with state actors across levels, and is embedded in institutional structures (e.g. SADC, national regulations, local policies). In essence, the governance arrangements among these actors determine how these interactions play out, but the situation is complex and these arrangements are presently poorly understood.

Job title: Post doctoral researcher,12-month post from 1 September 2016 to 31 August 2017.
R200,000 tax free over 12 months.

Duties:

1. The post-doc will aim to publish a minimum of 2 peer reviewed papers after the year of work- one of which will be based on the ‘vignettes’ written by the core team from the previous project and the other setting up a regional research agenda for food system governance across different value chains.
2. They will co-ordinate a workshop with the stakeholder community.
3. They will also aim to secure funds for a multi-university, multi-stakeholder, multi-country research programme in southern Africa that aims to:

a. assess food systems governance as a driver of land use change and implications for associated ecosystem services;
b. test and determine the effectiveness, adaptiveness and legitimacy of food system governance arrangements for improving food security and land use; and
c. use these insights to co-design more effective, more adaptive and more legitimate governance arrangements.

Job requirements: 

• A PhD degree in any field in Social Sciences, Humanities or AgriSciences or a related field to Food Systems Governance.
• An emerging track record of research and publications in accredited journals.
• A proven record of presentation of research results at local and international scientific congresses/conferences.
• An ability to undertake multi-disciplinary research.
• Postdoctoral fellows must be in possession of their PhDs for a maximum of 5years.

Recommendations:

• Knowledge of scientific methodologies and models.
• A proven record of strong communication skills (written and verbal).
• Good working knowledge of data recording and handling of data prior to statistical appraisal.
• A dedicated, responsible and diligent demeanour and a positive attitude.
• A good work ethic and a willingness to attempt new methods.
• Preference will be given to applicants who have experience in sustainable agriculture.

Enquiries: Dr Laura Pereira pereira.laura18@gmail.com /Mrs JR Harper jrs@sun.ac.za

Closing date: 30 September 2016

More info: https://www0.sun.ac.za/research/postdocs.html