Closing date: 24 Oct 2023

Effective and efficient extension service delivery is essential to promote new or improved agricultural inputs and or technologies. The conventional agricultural extension service providers contributed immensely to promote technologies nevertheless, there is a great limitation in terms of wide reach and lack of capacity. Limited access to accurate and relevant agricultural information has been identified as one of the significant hindrances for agricultural development, mainly for the smallholder farmers.  One of the approaches to fill this gap is the use of mass communication tools such as radio and modern Information and communication technologies (ICTs). Community radios, with vast geographical coverage and diverse broadcasting languages and local dialects can be instrumental to reach vast number of audiences within the same time. Community radios in combination with mobile phones and other ICTs can provide location specific messages in an interactive manner featuring multi stakeholders including researchers, extension service providers, service providers, and farmers.  

Livestock production is a significant economic activity, but its profitability is marginal because 60 -70% of total cost of production is due to major protein sources (fish and soya bean meals) in feeds, which is a grave concern. The economic viability of insect protein as a promising alternative protein source has been well established, and it is gaining traction worldwide.  The merit of this technology is well documented and scaling of these technologies are ongoing with best practices to ensure profitability and adherence to the standards. Despite the economic importance of insect-based feeds, the use of community radios and modern ICTs to amplify and improve adoption has received limited attention throughout the continent. Therefore, assessing how these tools could be applied in the information service delivery of their effectiveness in influencing attitudes, empowering the communities with knowledge and decision making in taking up the technologies is crucial. Furthermore, how they can be used as a source of information (distance education) for farmer field school structures or community of practitioners would be an important milestone in the sector that needs to be investigated.

The International Centre of Insect Physiology and Ecology (icipe), Kenya invites applications from suitable qualified candidates for a PhD scholarship in the African Regional Postgraduate Programme in Insect Sciences (ARPPIS).

icipe (www.icipe.org) is an African institute and a regional and global leader in research for development in insects and arthropods and their impacts, positive and negative, on food production, human and animal health, environmental sustainability, and livelihoods. icipe works across the continent with a network of partners, including universities, NGOs, and the private sector. It has a staff of >500 based in Kenya, Ethiopia, Uganda, and Benin. The Centre’s research is structured around four research health themes (Human, Animal, Plant and Environmental Health) and employs a diverse range of science disciplines to achieve impact.

A PhD student position is available in the promotion of insect-based feed production using community radios and modern ICTs in Kenya and Uganda.

Eligibility criteria

1. A citizen of a country in sub-Saharan Africa.
2. Bachelor’s degree in agriculture or agricultural extension.
3. Master’s degree in science communication, ICTs or experience in the relevant area
4. Master’s degree must have been completed less than five years ago at the time of application.
5. Completed application form, PhD project concept note and accompanying supporting documents.
6. Good working knowledge of written and spoken English.
7. Clearly shows motivation and strong commitment.
8. Qualified female candidates and candidates from less privileged regions or groups as well as candidates with disabilities are especially encouraged to apply.

Application form

Click here to download the application form. Once filled out, click on the 'APPLY' link to submit it along with the other required documents.

Timeline

Timeline Closing date for applications 15th October 2023. Successful candidates will be notified by November 2023. The PhD positions will be a 3-year doctoral training by research.

Questions

If you have any questions regarding the ARPPIS PhD Programme or your application to icipe, kindly contact Ms. Vivian Atieno, Capacity Building Officer, icipe. Email vatieno@icipe.org