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.