Deadline: 18 December 2024
The WWF’s Russell E. Train Education for Nature Program (EFN) invites applications from aspiring and experienced researchers, practitioners, and leaders to pursue graduate-level studies (master’s and PhD) geared towards research that cultivates a better understanding of the place-based nature of food systems and transformation.
There is substantial evidence at the global scale of the urgent need for food system transformation, but less attention has been paid to how transformations toward more healthy and sustainable food systems might play out at the national level.
The aim of the Food Systems Fellowship is to support outstanding master’s or doctoral students to develop evidence-based, innovative, and interdisciplinary research on food systems at the national level to catalyze the process of generating an improved understanding of the country-specific nature of food systems and transformation. Fellows will also have an opportunity to join the expansive global community of EFN alumni to enable knowledge exchange and collective success.
Focus Areas
- The fellowship aims to bridge academic excellence and conserva7on prac7ce and policy to provide hands-on experiences and learning opportuni7es in the food systems and transforma7on journey. The proposed research topics may cover a wide range of the following themes, but examples are not limited to this list:
- Human dimensions in food systems and transformation: equitable social and economic benefits to stakeholders, traditional and indigenous knowledge and culture in food systems, gender dimensions, equity, and inclusion in food systems, and community-based transformational leadership linked to food systems.
- Climate change: climate-resilient food systems, adaptation and mitigation strategies, and diversification of food systems including agro ecological practices as nature-positive production.
- Governance and policy pathways: public policy and governance in food systems, national food safety and security, and nutrition security, food systems in achieving Nationally Determined Contributions, National Adaptation Plans, and global biodiversity goals.
- Technology and Innovation: role of technology and innovation to tackle food systems challenges, capacity, and data in transforming food systems.
- Entrepreneurship, finance solutions and mechanisms: access to nutrition and affordable food, markets and investments, incentives, value chain development, sustainable markets, and sustainable practices to enhance desired socio-economic outcomes.
Eligibility Criteria
- Applicants must meet all of the following criteria to be eligible:
- You must be a citizen and legal permanent resident of an eligible country.
- You must preferably have at least two years of conservation-related work or research experience.
- You must have a demonstrated commitment to working in conservation in an eligible country.
- You must be enrolled in, admiCed to, or have applied to a master’s or PhD program anywhere in the world.
- You must plan to begin your studies no later than January 2026.
- You must contact EFN if you are a WWF employee, consultant, or previous EFN grant recipient to determine eligibility.
- You must submit all required documents by the application deadline.
For more information, visit WWF.
