Applications are invited for research internships that may lead to opportunities for postgraduate study

The successful candidates will be employed as interns at a research and social dialogue project being implemented by PLAAS and the Institute for Social Development (ISD) at the University of the Western Cape, in partnership with the Southern Africa Food Lab. This project will investigate models for private sector partnerships with smallholder farmers in South Africa. 

In the first year, interns will be required to work in a team to develop a detailed scan of the scope and nature of private sector partnerships for smallholder farming in South Africa.  This report will include a detailed typology of forms of partnerships and proposals for criteria to evaluate success and viability. PLAAS and the Southern Africa Food Lab will provide supervision.

At the end of the first year, interns who have successfully completed the study will have the opportunity to receive MPhil or PhD scholarships for further in-depth investigation, under supervision of the project partners, of promising models and case studies. The size and number of scholarships is subject to performance and availability of funds.

Requirements

• An interest in and commitment to land and agrarian reform in South Africa, and to exploring policy options to promote this.
• Honours degree or Masters Degree in an appropriate discipline (e.g. social science, history, anthropology, geography, economics). 
• Ability to write clearly in English.
• A valid, unendorsed drivers’ licence.
• Must be prepared to travel to and spend substantial periods of time conducting fieldwork in a selected site (or sites) within South Africa.
• Fluency in one or more African languages will be a strong advantage.
• Some experience of field research (especially interviewing) would be advantageous, but is not essential.

  Applicants are invited to submit a detailed CV with telephone numbers and contact details for three referees, by 17h00 on 16 January 2012.

Contact Person

For further information on the project, contact Ursula Arends, Institute for Poverty, Land and Agrarian Studies, (PLAAS) after 9 January 2012.