2 PhD candidates on Investment-Induced Displacement and Resettlement in Mozambique (1.0 FTE)

The Department of Human Geography and Spatial Planning has developed the challenging Research Programme "Urban Futures: Transitions Towards Economic and Social Sustainability for Cities". In this Programme faculty members from different subdisciplines of Human Geography and Spatial Planning work closely together on topics like governance of urban transitions, smart urban governance, urban infrastructures, healthy urban living, urban inequalities and diversities, transnational mobilities, economic resilience and networks and flows in and between urban regions. The Department is responsible for the Undergraduate Programme in Human Geography and Spatial Planning and for a number of Graduate Programmes like Spatial Planning, Human Geography (Urban and Economic Geography), International Development Studies and Geographical Information Management and Applications (GIMA).

For our NWO ASPASIA project "Inside the investment frontier" in the sub discipline of International Development Studies, we are looking for two PhD-candidates.

The project background

Global investments in large-scale infrastructural development have proliferated in recent years in Africa. Proponents argue that the investments are vital for further economic and social development in peripheral regions. Critical scholars and activists contend that such development model fails to generate opportunities for local populations because infrastructure and associated land acquisitions tend to displace and resettle them with little adequate follow-up. Mozambique currently represents a frontier of global investments that have led to over fifty displacement and resettlement projects. The expansion of the investment frontier is likely to lead to more of such projects.

Meanwhile, the country has established relatively progressive policies that oblige investors to conduct community consultations and obtain consent for those who would be resettled. Yet, grievances and redress systems remain weak, and processes of reconstructing livelihoods and adequate infrastructure in resettled communities are often controversial. Previous studies have largely focused on getting the procedures right, such as determining the fairer compensation. However, little is understood about new community-building and place-making that emerge out of resettlement experiences and new infrastructure development. As resettlement projects are becoming a part of larger regional and territorial development, including urbanization, it is urgent for us to understand what kind of places are made in and around resettled communities and explore the future transitions of these places.

In the two PhD projects in this project, ethnographic and visual studies will be conducted to explore the nature and extent of various resettlement experiences in central and northern part of Mozambique. Further, based on the insights derived from these field-based studies, a series of policy recommendations will be elaborated.

PhD project 1 will demand the following activities:

conducting a literature study mainly in, but not limited to, the field of 'urban infrastructure development-induced displacement and resettlement'; networking actively with local organizations involved in resettlement cases along the Nacala Corridor in central Mozambique, in particular the city of Nampula and surrounding municipalities affected by new infrastructure projects: international and national researchers, development practitioners and activists; mastering Portuguese language, for those who are not yet mastered (but everything is well qualified) mastering Portuguese can be a part of the activity; conducting ethnographic field research using visualization techniques such as photographs, video, participatory geographical information system (GIS) or the combination of these different techniques; writing and publishing the results in scientific and professional journals; presenting the findings at international conferences; teaching relevant courses in the Department of Human Geography and Spatial Planning (10% of the appointment of the first 3 years will be allocated to teaching).

 PhD project 2 will demand the following activities:

conducting a literature study mainly in, but not limited to, the field of 'mining/natural resource extraction-induced displacement and resettlement'; networking actively with local organizations involved in resettlement cases in the northern part of Mozambique in the province of Cabo Delgado: international and national researchers, development practitioners and activists; mastering Portuguese language, for those who are not yet mastered (but everything is well qualified) mastering Portuguese can be a part of the activity; conducting ethnographic field research using visualization techniques such as photographs, video, participatory geographical information system (GIS) or the combination of these different techniques; writing and publishing the results in scientific and professional journals; presenting the findings at international conferences; teaching relevant courses in the Department of Human Geography and Spatial Planning (10% of the appointment of the first 3 years will be allocated to teaching).