The Department of Geography at the University of Bonn is offering two funded PhD positions starting April 2026, focusing on the political ecologies of rural-urban water transfers in Kenya and Tanzania. These positions are part of the Collaborative Research Centre 'Future Rural Africa – Future-Making and Social-Ecological Transformation,' specifically within the sub-project 'Green futures – the transformation of waterscapes in East Africa.' The research will be supervised by Prof. Jessica Budds and Prof. Detlef Müller-Mahn (Development Geography, University of Bonn) and Dr. Eric Kioko (Social Anthropology, Kenyatta University, Nairobi). The project investigates the transformation of waterscapes in East Africa, with a particular emphasis on the social-ecological and political dimensions of water transfers between rural and urban areas. The research is interdisciplinary, combining geography, environmental science, and anthropology, and aims to contribute to understanding the future of rural Africa in the context of social-ecological transformation. Qualified candidates, especially those from East Africa, are encouraged to apply. Applicants should have a strong academic background in geography, environmental studies, anthropology, or related fields. The positions are fully funded, with details on stipends and tuition coverage available on the project website. The application deadline is 18 January 2026. For more information and to apply, visit the project website or the provided application link.

The University of Bonn is inviting applications for a PhD position within the Collaborative Research Center CRC-TRR 228 "Future Rural Africa". The position is part of project C03 "Green Futures", focusing on the transformation of waterscapes and hydrosocial spaces in East Africa. The research will address hydrological infrastructure and its social-ecological impacts, with a strong emphasis on fieldwork in East Africa. Candidates fluent in Swahili are especially encouraged to apply. The project is jointly led by Prof. Jessica Budds (Development Geography, University of Essex), Prof. Detlef Müller-Mahn (Development Geography, University of Bonn), and Dr. Eric Kioko (Social Anthropology, Kenyatta University, Nairobi). The research group offers a dynamic and international environment, with extensive training, supervision, and support. The position is 70% funded according to TV-L pay grade 13, with a contract duration of 3.75 years. Applicants should have a master's degree or equivalent in a relevant field, with a strong background in social science approaches to environment and development, such as Political Ecology. Experience with empirical field research, strong writing and presentation skills, and practical experience in the Global South are highly valued. The successful candidate will formulate and pursue an innovative research aim, conduct literature reviews, plan and execute fieldwork in Africa, analyze data, and present findings in academic publications. For more information and to apply, visit the project website at www.futureruralafrica.de and review the additional calls at https://lnkd.in/eFm7EgNR. The application deadline is April 2026. This is an excellent opportunity for motivated candidates interested in development geography, hydrosocial spaces, and social-ecological transformation in rural Africa.