The RLC Campus at ZEF, University of Bonn, Germany, offers scholarships for PhD students from developing and transition countries to participate in the international workshop on “Sustainable agriculture and economic growth: smallholder farmers between markets, policies and environmental change”, June 4-9, 2016, in Bonn.

Background

The Right Livelihood College (RLC) is a global education and research initiative of universi- ties and the Right Livelihood Award, also known as the "Alternative Nobel Prize" (www.rightlivelihood.org).
The RLC Campus in Bonn is hosted by the Center for Development Research (ZEF), Uni- versity of Bonn, and supported by the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD). It pro- vides transdisciplinary education and research in fields of environmental sustainability, pov- erty alleviation, and social justice in the Global South (www.rlc-bonn.de).

The Workshop

The workshop will take place from June 4-9, 2016, at ZEF in Bonn. Distinguished scientists, practitioners and PhD students from all over the world will be participating together with Lau- reates of the “Alternative Nobel Prize”. Workshop language is English.

Smallholder farmer-based agriculture plays a significant role in most countries of the Global South. Beyond producing food and non-food biomass and generating incomes, the sector sustains important ecological functions and services. However, the prevalent paradigm of fast economic growth in many countries has led to massive repercussions on both, small- holder farmers’ livelihoods and ecological sustainability. Hence concerns have to be ad- dressed on the current and future role of smallholder-based agriculture and its potential for sustainability as an active driver for change in the Global South.

Upon this backdrop, the workshop will thematically focus on local level empirical research and practical development work in rural areas of developing and transition countries. The workshop inputs will be presented, discussed and analysed in a cohesive transdisciplinary way by building on each participants’ expertise and experience.

The workshop will target the following objectives:

• -  to strengthen knowledge and understanding of concepts of sustainable agriculture and

  related methodological approaches,

• -  to critically assess different pathways of sustainable agriculture and its actual and po-

  tential contributions to smallholder farmers’ livelihoods and environmental conservation

  in rural developing contexts,

• -  to showcase projects considered successful and to discuss empirical research findings

  concerned,

• -  to promote transmission of expertise and experience as well as networking between

  “Alternative Nobel Prize” winners, scientists, practitioners, and PhD students working on sustainable agriculture with a smallholder farmer focus.

  The DAAD workshop scholarships will cover all costs for international and national travel, hotel accommodation, catering, and working materials. The workshop will be embedded in a variety of social and cultural side-events.

  Who can apply?

  PhD students from developing and transition countries who conduct empirical local level research related to sustainable agriculture and smallholder farming within social, economic and natural sciences. Preferred are PhD students in the middle or end of their studies. Flu- ent English is mandatory. Applications from women are particularly welcome.

  How to apply?

  Your application should consist of:
   thefilled-outapplicationform.Downloadtheformhere:www.rlc-bonn.de  a300wordabstract(inEnglish)ofyourPhDproject

  The deadline is April 4, 2016. You will be informed about the decision of the selection com- mittee until April 12.

  Please send your applications via e-mail to:

  Dr. Till Stellmacher: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.