Urban Land Grabbing: Linking Land Tenure, Poverty Alleviation and Sustainable Development in Mali

Supervisors: Benjamin Neimark, Lecturer in Human Geography; Simon Batterbury, Chair in Political Ecology; Camilla Toulmin, Professor of Practice, Lancaster University; International Institute for Environment and Development (IIED)

This is an exciting opportunity for a PhD student to engage in cutting edge research with a supervisory team who have many years of experience in critical development studies and a dynamic political ecology research group. The project provides a unique opportunity to engage in interdisciplinary training (social, spatial and environmental) to address key global sustainability challenges, including urban land-acquisitions, poverty alleviation and peri-urban sustainability. Mali faces far-reaching sustainable development, poverty, governance, and security challenges that are complex and deep-rooted. It is also experiencing growing migratory drift to cities, placing land pressures on peri-urban environments. The peri-urban zone is at the heart of growing concerns of ‘land grabbing’ and intense conflicts between actors who understand land administration procedures and have the means to access formal titles and those without similar knowledge, connections or power. Moreover, given rising land prices and proximity to markets, the peri-urban zone presents an opportunity for investors seeking high-value assets and new income streams. What are the drivers of peri-urban land grabbing, and what are the tensions that exist between established land-holders, investors, and newly-migrated peri-urban dwellers?

Further information: http://www.lancaster.ac.uk/sci-tech/downloads/phd_320.pdf

Academic Requirements: First-class or 2.1 (Hons) degree, or Masters degree (or equivalent) in an appropriate subject.

Deadline for applications: Midnight 28 February 2017

Provisional Interview Date: TBC – Late March 2017

Start Date: October 2017

For further information or informal discussion about the position, please contact Benjamin Neimark, [Email Address Removed]

Application process: Please upload a completed application form (download from
http://www.lancaster.ac.uk/media/lancaster-university/contentassets/documents/lec/pg/LEC_Funded_PhD_Application_Form.docx)
outlining your background and suitability for this project and a CV at LEC Postgraduate Research Applications,
http://www.lancaster.ac.uk/lec/graduate-school/phd/apply-online/.

You also require two references, please send the reference form (download from
http://www.lancaster.ac.uk/media/lancaster-university/contentassets/documents/lec/pg/LEC_Funded_PhD_Reference_Form.docx)
to your two referees and ask them to email it to Andy Harrod ([Email Address Removed]), Postgraduate Research (PGR) Coordinator,
Lancaster Environment Centre by the deadline.

Due to the limited time between the closing date and the interview date, it is essential that you ensure references are submitted by the closing date or as soon as possible.