PhD Opportunity 

Bahir Dar University (BDU) invites applications for one PhD position under the project “Understanding scaling of soil moisture retention practices for climate-resilient food production in semi-arid Ethiopia and Kenya - SMARTSCALE”.

Project Overview

More than 2 million people in Kenya’s arid and semi-arid lands (ASAL) and over 15 million in Ethiopia face acute food insecurity, driven by impacts of climate change, conflict, and economic instability. The SMARTSCALE project will contribute to addressing this societal challenge by supporting the scaling of Soil Moisture Retention (SMR) practices to enhance the productivity and climate resilience of cereal-legume mixed farming systems in semi-arid regions of Kenya and Ethiopia. Despite decades of investment in soil and water conservation, widespread adoption of SMR practices remains limited. Key barriers include a) limited access to resources and contextual knowledge among local actors, especially vulnerable groups; b) a lack of system approaches that address trade-offs at field and landscape level; and c) insufficient stakeholder coordination and incentive alignment. 

SMARTSCALE will generate evidence on effective socio-technical bundles for scaling SMR practices by identifying the socioeconomic, agroecological and institutional factors that hinder or enable adoption. The project applies a transdisciplinary research approach, combining analysis of past scaling programs embedded in country-specific governance settings with the co-creation of tailored interventions engaging local stakeholders.

SMARTSCALE aims to achieve widescale SMR practices adoption through inclusive engagement, capacity building, and context-sensitive scaling strategies that prioritize participation of women, youth, and other vulnerable groups. Cooperation among consortium members from CGIAR, Wageningen University, Bahir Dar University, Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology, and the Ministries of Agriculture in Ethiopia and Kenya will ensure alignment with national policies, educational programs and CGIAR Science Programs, and long-term impact.

PhD Research Targets and Approach

As PhD student in Scaling Soil Moisture (SMR) Practices you will play a key role in the SMARTSCALE project, especially in supporting and analyzing cases studies of SMR scaling processes in Southern Ethiopia. Within this context you will contribute to addressing the following research questions. 

1. Who adopts SMR practices and to what extent (extensive vs. intensive margins)? 
2. What Socio-economic and contextual variables determine sustained adoption, adaptation, or dis-adoption?, and 
3. Can participatory context-sensitive interventions enhance SMR practices adoption within the institutional modalities of Ethiopia? 

To do so, the project combines retrospective analysis of SMR Practices adaptation with a forward-looking actions research approach. The later consists in the piloting of a living lab approach to co-create and implement a scaling strategy that addresses local adoption and scaling barriers embedded in Ethiopia’s supply-push governance model.  

The candidate will also work closely with the transdisciplinary and multidisciplinary research team of the project, MSc students, a postdoctoral researcher from Wageningen University and Research, the Alliance of Bioversity International and CIAT, in collaboration with JKUAT, and the Ministry of Agriculture in Ethiopia. 

PhD Candidate Requirements

• Be an Ethiopian National.
• An enthusiastic and proactive researcher who is driven by curiosity.
• A PhD candidate who has passed the Ethiopian National Graduate Admission Test (NGAT) and is enrolled at Bahir Dar University, having successfully completed all required coursework by the date of the announcement, provided that this completion occurs not earlier than two years after registration. Bahir Dar University staffs and females will be given priority. 
• Holds a Bachelor’s degree in Natural Resources Management, Geography, and related fields. An additional Bachelor’s degree in Agricultural Economics, Economics, Agricultural Extension, and Rural Sociology, and related fields is considered an advantage.
• Holds an MSc degree in Natural Resources Management, Soil and Water Conservation, Soil Conservation and Watershed Management, Soil Science, Land Resources Management, Geography, or related disciplines. An additional MSc degree in Agricultural Economics, Economics, Agricultural Extension, and Rural Sociology, Geographic Information Systems (GIS), or Remote Sensing (RS) will be considered an advantage.
• Experience in advanced quantitative and qualitative analytical skills and methods.
• Publications that align with the PhD topic can be considered as an advantage. 
• Have adequate research and work experience on soil and water conservation /soil moisture retention practices and integrated watershed management approach. 
• Strong communication skills and an excellent command of English. 
• Have a strong motivation for conducting fieldwork in rural areas.

 Project Offers

• Access to research facilities.
• Supervision and mentorship from an international, multidisciplinary research team.
• Competitive monthly stipend
• Coverage of approved research-related costs.

Required Documents for Application

Applicants should submit one PDF file containing:

• A cover letter (maximum 2 pages A4), emphasizing your specific interest, qualifications, and motivations to apply for this position.
• Curriculum Vitae (maximum 3 pages A4), including a list of publications. 
• Certified copies of BSc and MSc certificates and transcripts
• A course transcript with grades from the candidate’s enrolled university (PhD courses).
• Two academic reference letters

Application Deadline

• All applications must be submitted within 10 working days from the date of announcement (1 April, 2026).
• Shortlisted candidates will be invited for an interview beginning of May 2026
• The selected candidate will be required to develop a full research proposal and start research works for a PhD at Bahir Dar University.

For more information about the PhD Opportunity or SMARTSCALE Project, you may contact Dr. Mulatie Mekonnen (mulatiemekonneng@gmail.com) and Cellphone ((+251 09 18 70 47 61).  Applications should be sent to Dr. Mulatie Mekonnen (mulatiemekonneng@gmail.com).