3 Three PhD Scholarships in Dairy

Food System Dynamics in Ethiopia

at Wageningen University in
Netherlands [For Citizens of
Ethiopia]
ByAgristok
DEC 18, 2023
3 PhD scholarships in Dairy food system dynamics in Ethiopia at Wageningen University and
Research, Netherlands; Application deadline: January 31, 2024

Do you envision a world where food systems and livestock farming are more sustainable and
align with the general public’s best interests? Are you passionate about combining your expertise
in animal and social sciences with the challenges faced by today’s food systems? Have you ever
pondered on how to leverage technological advancements to make tangible changes in the
sustainability of dairy? If yes, then we have three perfect research opportunities for you!

Wageningen University & Research (WUR), in collaboration with Ethiopian research partners,
has developed the PhD program “Dairy food system dynamics in Ethiopia”, which is part of
the “Building Rural Income through Inclusive Dairy Business Growth in Ethiopia”
(BRIDGE+) program. The BRIDGE+ program is implemented by SNV/Netherlands
Development Organisation, Wageningen University & Research, and Agriterra. It has a national
scope, with up to 20 milksheds in 10 Regions in Ethiopia, impacting 350,000 farmers and 4
million consumers (including 1 million school children).

BRIDGE+ aims to support ‘take off’ of the Ethiopian dairy value chain, supporting technical,
organisational, and institutional innovations to create systemic transformation. The vision of
BRIDGE+ is to have “a dairy value chain that creates inclusive and sustainable benefits for all its
participants, including wider society, with particular focus on smallholder farmers within the
mixed farming system”.

Three PhD scholarships

We are looking for enthusiastic and ambitious PhD candidates who would like to join us in one
of the following three positions in the program “Dairy food system dynamics in Ethiopia”. Each
of the three PhD positions is an interdisciplinary project, with a combination of two WUR chair
groups:
PhD 1. Transitions in dairy farming in Ethiopia

Animal Production Systems and Knowledge, Technology & Innovation chair groups

Farming systems producing milk (and other products) show transitions in terms of intensity of
utilization of production factor (e.g., land, labour), market orientation, and social organization.
An example is the transition from mixed crop-livestock farming to specialized dairy farming in
Ethiopia. Policy and development interventions are assuming that such transitions will take
place, but little is known about the technical, environmental, socio-economic, and institutional
conditions that can help or hinder such transitions.

This study will explore and compare recent and ongoing transitions in milk-producing farming
systems in different locations (agroecological, socio-economic) of Ethiopia, to identify the
thresholds/tipping points at which key transitions occur or accelerate (such as farm size, market
integration level, or conducive policies), drivers and inhibitors of transition, and the potential to
tailor interventions to such tipping points. Studies may include adoption of key innovations, such
as the adoption of planted forage cultivation and conservation through silage making, the
adoption of milking equipment, and investments in barns.

PhD 2. Sustainable future of the dairy sector in Ethiopia

Animal Production Systems and Business Management & Organisation chair groups

The dairy sector in Ethiopia is of national importance in view of contribution to agricultural

GDP, household food and nutrition security, and employment opportunities. The sector has great
potential for growth in the future given the high dairy cattle population, growing demand for
dairy products, and diverse natural resource base due to topographic and climatic conditions
favourable to dairying.

To enhance the future of the dairy sector in Ethiopia, it is necessary to assess the trends and
prospects for growth of the sector in the next three decades in the context of climate change,
market dynamics, sector transformation, and policy and institutional dynamics in the country
(such as smallholder integration into dairy value chains).

This PhD study will assess the possible futures of the dairy sector and its impact on
environmental footprints, food and nutrition security, and value chain development, through
scenario modelling and polycentric governance analysis for different dairy production systems.

The scenario’s include sustainability assessment of dairy business activities at different scales.
The scenario’s will facilitate better planning, at different levels of governance, for dairy food
systems that are sustainable, climate-smart and market-proof.
PhD 3. Drivers and dynamics in the dairy value chain

Animal Production Systems and Marketing and Consumer Behaviour chair groups

Market dynamics result in significant changes in the Ethiopian dairy value chain. There is an
increasing demand for milk and diverse dairy products from a growing middle class of
consumers.

This has led to a transition from short chains between (peri-)urban farmers directly marketing to
urban consumers, to a larger number of rural producers marketing milk through intermediaries
(cooperatives, traders) to a more formal supply chain. It is of prime importance to understand the
drivers behind the ongoing dynamics and the trade-offs in marketing of milk and dairy products
through formal and informal channels, considering the vast sociocultural diversity in Ethiopia.

How do these dynamics affect producers, other actors in the supply chain, and consumers, in
terms of income, sharing of profit margins among the supply chain actors, food safety, nutrition,
inclusion of gender and youth, etc., at present and in the future? What are the trigger points for
transitions in the dairy value chain?

The positions contain a personal development plan to make sure that you reach your personal
goals during the trajectory of the four-year project. The successful applicant will make an
essential contribution to the development of a more sustainable dairy production and marketing
system. 3

For all three PhD positions, the following applies: As a PhD candidate in this program, you
will:

1. prepare and develop an individual research project that should lead to obtaining the PhD
diploma, based on the overall program’s aims and goals;
2. closely collaborate with the other two PhD candidates in the “Dairy food system
dynamics in Ethiopia’ program;
3. collaborate within the BRIDGE+ dairy sector development program in Ethiopia, linking
science and practice;
4. closely interact with dairy sector stakeholders (in workshops, interviews, sector meetings,
field visits, etc.).

The ideal candidate for each scholarship should have the following qualifications:

a. MSc. degree (or planned defence date) in animal science, innovation studies, marketing
& consumer behaviour, or business studies; non-Dutch MSc degrees need to be certified
before acceptance; a qualifying exam may be part of admission;
1. Citizen or permanent resident of Ethiopia;
2. Affinity with livestock farming, food systems and natural sciences; preferably
with experience in the livestock sector;
3. Affinity with societally relevant science on topics such as sustainability, animal
welfare, food and nutrition security, and sustainable agribusiness;
 4. An excellent English language proficiency (an internationally recognized
Certificate of Proficiency in the English Language is required, indicating C1
level);
5. Strong drive to finish your PhD in four years and be available 100% of your time;
6. Strong interest in transdisciplinary collaboration and action-oriented research;
relevant knowledge on qualitative, quantitative and participatory research
methods and data analysis approaches;
7. Excellent analytical skills and conceptual understanding;
8. Strong communicative, collaboration, networking, and writing skills.

For these scholarship positions:

 We encourage female candidates to apply, as at least one of the scholarships will be

offered to a female candidate;
 Previous publications related to the themes of BRIDGE+ will be an added advantage;
 Priority will be given to candidates under 35 years of age;
 Priority will be given to applicants from universities and research institutes with a
partnership agreement with the BRIDGE+ program, including universities of Arsi, Bahir
Dar, Debre Berhan, Selale, Haramaya, Hawassa, and Mekelle. However, others are
welcome to apply.

The scholarships consist of:

 A stipend of €1750/month for the time spend in Wageningen;

o Health insurance, three return tickets, education allowance, and research costs;
o You will spend your time 50-50 between Wageningen and Ethiopia (doing field
work);
o You will be supervised by a team consisting of a scholar from an Ethiopian
University and scholars from the Animal Sciences and Social Sciences
departments of WUR. Both affiliated science groups consist of enthusiastic,
passionate, dedicated teams, addressing state-of-the-art research topics in the
fields of livestock farming systems, marketing, sustainable business models,
knowledge and innovation, and food systems.

Do you want more information? Please direct all queries by email to Zelalem
Atnaf, zatnaf@snv.org or Dr Jan van der Lee, jan.vanderlee@wur.nl.

Do you want to apply?

Submit your application by email to wlrinternational.team@wur.nl no later than January

31, 2024. The following documents should be included in the application:

• A motivation letter (max 1000 words), clearly indicating the position you apply for and
covering your academic and professional background; any experience relevant to this program
and position; why you want to undertake a PhD; what you hope to gain from it; and your plans
after completing it.
• Current curriculum vitae with recent photo.

• Name and contacts of three referees. Referees should be senior academic and/or professional
persons who are currently or have recently been supervising you.

• Proof you will be able to sustain yourself during the training, e.g., through a commitment letter
from your current employer guaranteeing study leave and salary support.

• An internationally recognized Certificate of Proficiency in the English Language, indicating at

least C1 level).

Incomplete or late applications will not be considered. Only shortlisted candidates will be
contacted. The first job interviews will take place in mid February 2024. Scholarships are subject
to final approval of budget by donor.

Our team of advisors on Dutch immigration procedures will help selected candidates with the
visa application procedures for yourself and, if applicable, your family. Feeling welcome also
has everything to do with being well-informed. Wageningen University & Research’s
International Community page contains practical information about what we can do to support
international employees and students coming to Wageningen.

Wageningen University & Research Wageningen University & Research is the university and
research centre for life sciences. The themes we deal with are relevant to everyone around the
world and Wageningen, therefore, has a large international community and a lot to offer to
international students.

The mission of Wageningen University & Research is “To explore the potential of nature to
improve the quality of life”. Under the banner Wageningen University & Research, Wageningen
University and the specialised research institutes of the Wageningen Research Foundation have
joined forces in contributing to finding solutions to important questions in the domain of healthy
food and living environment.

With its roughly 30 branches, 7,600 employees, 13,100 students, and over 150.000 participants
in WUR’s Lifelong Learning, Wageningen University & Research is one of the leading
organisations in its domain. The unique Wageningen approach lies in its integrated approach to
issues and the collaboration between different disciplines. An integrated approach to problems
and the cooperation between various disciplines are at the heart of Wageningen’s unique
approach.

You are going to work at the greenest and most innovative campus in the Netherlands, and at a
university that has been chosen as “Best University” in the Netherlands for the 18th consecutive
time. Wageningen University has excellent training opportunities in a learning environment with
plenty of options for personal initiative. We are offering a unique international environment with
a pleasant and open working atmosphere.