Full-time PhD on Women's Work and Formalisation in Fisheries (Male / Female)

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Start Date

01.01.2027

Employment Relationship

This position is fixed-term until 31.12.2030.

Institution / Workplace

Centre for Development and Environment (CDE)

About Us

The Centre for Development and Environment (CDE) is an interdisciplinary research center at the University of Bern. Our mission is to generate and disseminate knowledge for sustainable development in collaboration with partners from both the global North and South.

As a successful candidate, you will engage with the research project Social and Ecological Responsibility through Regulatory Governance: Navigating Formalisation in West African Fisheries (SIRENA), funded by the Swiss National Science Foundation (SNSF). This project explores how formalisation processes driven by regulatory interventions, such as the EU IUU fishing regulation and the ILO Work in Fishing Convention, interact with informal institutions to shape fishing livelihoods, labor conditions, and fish stock recovery in coastal West Africa. The research emphasizes the experiences of both male and female fish workers in Ghana, Senegal, and The Gambia, examining how global efforts to enhance accountability in seafood value chains impact local labor dynamics, resource access, and fish stocks. Empirical data will be collected across 14 field sites, capturing diverse degrees of formal and informal organization and their interactions.

Your PhD will specifically investigate women's livelihood transformations in the context of these formalisation efforts. Women are vital contributors to food security, social cohesion, and regional economies, yet their roles in the post-harvesting segments of the fish value chain, including fishmongering, processing, and regional trading, are often underrepresented in research. This project aims to fill this gap by analyzing how regulatory governance interventions affect women's work, agency, and access to fish in West African coastal communities, thereby enriching SIRENA's empirical goals and informing broader discussions on equitable fisheries governance.

Under the guidance of Principal Investigator Asst. Prof. Vanessa Jaiteh, and in collaboration with an Advanced Postdoc (joining from Year 2) and local partners in Senegal, Ghana, and The Gambia, you will conduct your empirical research primarily at fish landing and processing sites throughout these countries, while being affiliated with the Sustainability Governance Impact Area of CDE at the University of Bern.

Duties

• Conduct doctoral research in Geography and Sustainable Development.
• Carry out qualitative, multi-sited field research in Ghana, Senegal, and The Gambia, focusing on women's roles in post-harvesting segments of fish value chains and the gendered effects of fisheries formalisation.
• Collaborate closely with the Principal Investigator, Postdoc, and local partners; contribute to SIRENA's joint publications, fieldwork coordination, research workshops, and outreach activities.
• Present research findings to participants and organizations involved in the research, as well as at scientific conferences.
• Publish results in international peer-reviewed journals.

Requirements

• Master's degree in Human Geography, Anthropology, Development Studies, Sustainability Transformations, or a related discipline. Candidates with backgrounds in Marine or Fisheries Science are encouraged to apply, provided they demonstrate competence in qualitative research methods and a strong interest in social science questions.
• Proficient in qualitative and ethnographic methods, with experience in participant observation, semi-structured interviews, participatory and/or transdisciplinary approaches being advantageous.
• Excellent written and spoken English is essential; fluency in French is required, while knowledge of Wolof and other languages spoken in coastal regions is an asset.
• Prior fieldwork experience is highly desirable; familiarity with coastal or marine environments is a plus, as is research or lived experience in the coastal regions of Ghana, Senegal, or The Gambia.
• Comfortable conducting extensive fieldwork (approximately six months) in resource-limited, physically demanding settings, including familiarity with cultural immersion.
• Demonstrates self-driven, solution-oriented behavior, and possesses strong organizational skills and active listening abilities.
• Ability to work collaboratively within an international team and build relationships in diverse settings.

Your Benefits

• A collaborative and dynamic work environment with an ambitious team.
• Opportunities for interdisciplinary collaboration.
• Individualized career support.
• Meaningful work with fair compensation.

Working at the University of Bern

The University of Bern not only provides exciting opportunities but also promotes development, diversity, and equal opportunities for all its members. Discover what makes us a distinctive employer and how you can thrive with us.

Application and Contact

Location: CDE, University of Bern, Mittelstrasse 43, 3012 Bern; with extended fieldwork in Senegal, The Gambia, and Ghana, including data collection in fish landing and processing sites and fishing communities.

Start of Employment: 1 January 2027

Duration: 4 years

Apply online using the form below.

Only applications matching the job profile will be considered.

We Look Forward to Your Application!

For further information, please contact Dr. Vanessa Jaiteh at vanessa.jaiteh@unibe.ch.

The CDE values diversity and is committed to ensuring equal opportunities; applications are welcome from all qualified candidates who meet the stated requirements.