Climate Change and Gender Equality in Rural Sub-Saharan Africa (DEXELLE_ECO23CDCC) at University of East Anglia on FindAPhD.com

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Prof Ben D'Exelle, Prof Iain Lake, Prof Rao Nitya No more applications being accepted Competition Funded PhD Project (European/UK Students Only)

Norwich United Kingdom Climate Science Development Studies Econometrics Gender Studies Geographical Information Systems Gis Microeconomics Public Policy

About the Project

Climate Change and Gender Equality in Rural Sub-Saharan Africa

Climate change increases the frequency of extreme weather events, which affects the livelihoods of millions of people across Sub-Saharan Africa. Much attention has been paid to adaptation and mitigation strategies in response to climate change and how they differ by gender. However, there is a lack of evidence on the impact of climate change on gender equality. This is critically important in the current decade as one of the main sustainable development goals (SDG) of the United Nations is to achieve gender equality in the world by 2030. In rural Sub-Saharan Africa, where gender inequality and poverty are more severe than in other parts of the world, climate change could seriously undermine this SDG.

Research Project

This project is an exciting opportunity to help develop policy instruments that can limit the negative impact of climate change on gender equality. A better understanding of the mechanisms through which weather shocks affect gender equality is critically needed. To achieve this, you will link existing Demographic Health Survey (DHS) data from 44 African countries with existing climate data. You will use the newly compiled dataset to investigate the effect of temperature and rainfall shocks on women’s livelihoods, with an emphasis on reproductive health (including fertility), children’s health, domestic violence, and divorce. You will use the results to develop a novel prototype for an early warning system that enables national governments to develop responsive policy instruments that can mitigate the negative impact of weather shocks on gender equality.

Training

You will receive training in the analysis of large datasets using statistical methods, and the use of climate data and GIS data. We will support you to develop your academic writing and presentation skills. You will present research findings at prestigious conferences. You will have the opportunity to influence policy by working closely with policymakers and organisations in the UK and Africa.

Student profiles

Enthusiastic with a good first degree or Masters in a quantitative discipline. You will have an interest and ability to handle large datasets and a keen interest in climate change, gender equality, and rural Sub-Saharan Africa.

This project has been shortlisted for funding by the Critical Decade for Climate Change programme. For more information about the programme and details of how to apply, please visit https://www.uea.ac.uk/climate/show-and-tell/leverhulme-doctoral-scholars-applicant-information.

For more information on the supervisor for this project, please visit the UEA website www.uea.ac.uk

The start date for this project is 1st October 2023.

Funding Notes

This project has been shortlisted for funding by the Critical Decade for Climate Change programme, which will award PhD studentship funding from the Leverhulme Trust and UEA’s Faculties of Social Sciences and Science.

Successful candidates will be awarded a PhD studentship that pays tuition fees, a stipend (£17,668 p.a. for 2022/23), and funding to support research costs. Studentship funding is only available to applicants eligible for ‘Home’ fees status, including UK nationals and most EU nationals with ‘settled’ and ‘pre-settled’ status.

Further details of the Critical Decade programme can be found at: https://www.uea.ac.uk/climate/show-and-tell

References

Westeneng, J. and B. D’Exelle (2017). "Reproductive health and bodily integrity in Tanzania", Studies in Family Planning 48(4), 323-341.

Westeneng, J. and B. D’Exelle (2015). "How economic empowerment reduces women’s reproductive health vulnerability: Evidence from Northern Tanzania", Journal of Development Studies 51(11): 1459-1474.

Rao, N., Singh, C., Solomon, D., et al. (2020). “Managing risk, changing aspirations and household dynamics: implications for wellbeing and adaptation in semi-arid Africa and India”. World Development 125.

Rao, N., Mishra, A., Prakash, A., Singh, C., Qaisrani, A., Poonacha, P., Vincent, K., and C. Bedelian (2019). “A qualitative comparative analysis of women’s agency and adaptive capacity in climate change hotspots in Asia and Africa”. Nature Climate Change.

Colon Gonzalez, F. D. J., Harris, I., Osborn, T. J., São Bernardo, C. S., Peres, C. A., Hunter, P. R. & Lake, I.R., (2018). “Limiting global-mean temperature increase to 1.5-2°C could reduce the incidence and spatial spread of dengue fever in Latin America”, Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 115(24), 6243-6248.

Where will I study?

University of East Anglia

We’re one of the UK’s leading research institutions, ranked 10th in the UK for the quality of our research outputs and with more than 1,500 research students.