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PhD scholar on REDD+ drivers, reference levels and incentives at CIFOR

The Center for International Forestry Research (CIFOR) is looking for PhD scholar on REDD+ drivers, reference levels and incentives. 


Overview

The Center for International Forestry Research (CIFOR), Bogor, Indonesia and the Faculty of Economics and Business, Norwegian University of Life Sciences (NMBU) are jointly offering a PhD scholarship on climate and forests (REDD+), focusing on the underlying causes (drivers), reference emission levels and incentive mechanisms.

CIFOR advances human well-being, environmental conservation and equity by conducting research to inform policies and practices that affect forests in developing countries. CIFOR is one of 15 centers within the CGIAR Consortium. CIFOR headquarters are in Bogor, Indonesia, with offices in Asia, Africa and South America (http://www.cifor.org)

NMBU is recognized as a leading international center of knowledge, focused on higher education and research within environment and biosciences. A broad range of study programs are offered at bachelor’s, master’s and PhD level to a total of about 5000 students. The Faculty of Economics and Business has 55 staff members and 700 students, of whom 30 are PhD students. The research spans across a wide range of topics, including environmental/resource/energy/climate economics and development economics (https://www.nmbu.no/hh).

Duties and responsibilities

Summary of responsibilities

The PhD scholar will be part of Global Comparative Study on REDD+ (GCS), led by CIFOR, in particular module 3 on monitoring, reporting and verification (MRV) systems and reference levels. A central part of the thesis will be an economic analysis of underlying causes or drivers of deforestation and forest degradation, based on socioeconomic, biophysical and land-cover/use data. The data are also to be used to estimate reference (emission) levels, i.e. make predictions about future forest emissions. The work may also include how to design and implement REDD+ incentive systems at different scales (national, regional and local). The PhD scholar is expected to work on a subtopic within this overall question and in one or more of the main countries of GCS (Indonesia, Vietnam, Myanmar, Tanzania, Cameroon, Brazil, Peru and Guyana). A full research proposal is to be developed during the first 6 months of the scholarship.

Education, knowledge and experience

Requirements
• Master’s degree in economics or a related field.
• Skills and experience in statistical analysis and in remote sensing are a strong asset.
• The assessment criteria will also include analytical abilities and grades, team-working skills, relevant experience, motivation and other factors that will increase the probability of successful completion of the PhD study.
• Fluency in English is a requirement and knowledge of the language of one of the potential fieldwork countries would be an asset.

Terms and Conditions

  • The scholarship is provided by NMBU. It provides a stipend of NOK 10,395 per month.
    • Additional funds for travel and fieldwork are available.
    • The scholarship grantee will be covered by the Norwegian Public Health and Social Security system while in Norway.
    • The duty station will be in Norway.
    • The PhD research will be conducted mainly in NMBU (Norway), with shorter stays at CIFOR HQ (Bogor, Indonesia), Wageningen University (the Netherlands) and in relevant fieldwork countries, according to a mutually agreed work plan. The candidates are also expected to spend some time at CIFOR’s headquarters in Bogor, Indonesia, and to engage in fieldwork and participate in international exchange and meetings in REDD+ countries, according to a mutually agreed work plan.
    • The PhD degree at NMBU requires course work of 45 ECTS and the successful defense of the PhD thesis.
    • The work is expected to start in August 2017.
    • We particularly encourage female researchers and researchers from developing countries to apply.

Please send your research proposal, letter of interest and CV (including contact information of three referees) to:

Human Resources Department, CIFOR
cifor-hr-jobs@cgiar.org

Please indicate the position and its reference number (Ref 1641) in the email subject line.

Application:

The application deadline is 01 Mar-2017
Apply here: 
PhD scholar on REDD+ drivers, reference levels and incentives

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