CALL FOR APPLICATIONS: POST DOCTORAL RESEARCHERS - INDIGENOUS KNOWLEDGE SYSTEMS AND CLIMATE CHANGE IN THE SADC REGION

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Applications Now Open

Closing Date: The deadline for receipt of proposals is Friday, 31 March 2017

The Department of Science and Technology (DST)-National Research Foundation (NRF) Centre in Indigenous Knowledge Systems (CIKS) with its hub at the University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, South Africa, has since 2016 launched The Southern African Development Community (SADC) Indigenous Knowledge Systems (IKS) Scientific Community of Practice (CoP). The promotion of research and postgraduate training in IKS and Climate Change is one of the strategic research focus areas of the CoP. The objective is to build a critical mass of IKS human capital in the SADC region to enhance the contribution of IKS into the global pool of knowledge on climate change adaptation and mitigation for sustainable community livelihood and development.

It is on the basis of this initiative that the CIKS is issuing a call for postdoctoral researchers from research and academic institutions in the SADC region to contribute to the research development and postgraduate training (Masters and doctoral students) in the following IKS and climate change research areas:

(i) Local community understanding of interplay between climate and non-climate factors on their livelihood;

(ii) Local community sustenance and interface of bio-cultural innovations and modern scientific knowledge systems for climate change resilience;

(iii) Bio-cultural innovations in traditional agricultural systems as best practices and models for sustainability against climate change vulnerability

(iv) Linkages between gender, environment, and climate change in the SADC countries

(v) The impacts of contemporary agricultural science and extension services on IKS-based climate change resilience strategies

(vi) The role of African indigenous languages and visual arts in communicating indigenous climate change adaptation and mitigation strategies.

(vii) Local community knowledge on indicators of climate change in their specific cultural and ecological areas;

(viii) Local community perceptions on the impact of western science atmospheric weather forecasting on agricultural decision-making practices

(ix) The impact of climate change on indigenous economic systems

(x) Indigenous knowledge systems, climate change, animal and plant health

(xi) Community-based knowledge systems in the context of climate change and waste management

Tenure: 1-2 years, renewable

Value of Fellowship: US $ 20 000 per annum

Location: University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, South Africa

For more information, email to: Research Manager.