REFOREST Programme a Regional Research School in Forest Sciences (REFOREST) is a new, innovative, interdisciplinary and unique regional PhD degree programme for training future generation forest scientists in Africa. The programme is hosted at Sokoine University of Agriculture (SUA) and is anchored in partnerships where five universities in the region including Makerere University in collaboration with the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences (SLU) supporting PhD training in forest sciences.
The programme is organised as a research school and applies a “regional sandwich model”, in which all coursework and thesis write-up are undertaken at Sokoine University of Agriculture (SUA) whereas field data collection is conducted in the candidates’ home countries. This approach aims to strengthen the quality and raise the number of competent research scientists more rapidly while also enabling a regional perspective and linking scientists to international learning and collaboration.
One of the research projects at Makerere University is titled the “Influence of Agroforestry Systems and Canopy Shade Microclimate on Cocoa Productivity in Uganda” The objective of this research project is to identify the most appropriate Cocoa agroforestry system farmers can integrate for improved cocoa yield, quality and environmental protection. The priority research sites are in the Districts of Mayuge, Mukono and Kagadi. This project had been proposed and started by a Ugandan female PhD candidate registered at Sokoine University of Agriculture, but she passed-on on 19th September 2022. We are now inviting interested applicants for two (2) Masters of Science scholarships strictly for female candidates for studies tenable in the Department of Forestry, Biodiversity and Tourism at Makerere University, Kampala to complete the research project.
Research clusters
The two successful MSc. students will conduct their research on the following:
- Influence of different Cocoa agroforestry systems and open cultivation microclimate onthe incidence and severity of cocoa pod borer and black pod rot on cocoa trees.
- Influence of the different Cocoa agroforestry systems and open cultivation on cocoa yieldand quality (bean size).
- Farmers’ perception on the use of Cocoa agroforestry systems and open cultivation forcocoa production.Eligibility
The applicant must be a Ugandan female enrolled at Makerere University.
Admitted to either MSc Forestry or Agroforestry degree programme at Makerere University at the time of taking up the scholarship.
Should be in the 2nd Year of her study programme.
Should hold a bachelor’s degree in a relevant field to the research project.
The proposed research should align with the research project aim.Application requirements
Interested and eligible applicants should submit the following documents:
- a) A one-page application letter
- b) A copy of the admission letter.
- c) An indication of the programme in which you are enrolled.
- d) Provisional transcript for completed First Year of coursework.
- e) A two-page indication of your proposed research and how it aligns with the project aim
- f) One recommendation letter
- g) CV of the applicant
- h) Copies of education certificates
Applications should be submitted to Edward Nector Mwavu (edward.mwavu@gmail.com) and copied to Prof. Erik Karltun (Erik.Karltun@slu.se), Dr. Charles Kilawe (ckilawe@sua.ac.za) and REFOREST Programme Coordinator (reforestafrica@sua.ac.tz) by Tuesday 10th January 2023.