PhD Position Unravelling Decision-Making Dynamics for Water Security in Sub-Saharan Africa

Passionate about understanding how communities make decisions to address their water needs? Join us in unravelling the dynamics of water governance in Sub-Saharan Africa’s fast-changing peri-urban regions. We’re seeking a skilled and curious PhD researcher to explore decision-making for community-driven water security using innovative mixed-methods approaches.

Job description 

Water security is increasingly recognized as a critical challenge for rapidly urbanizing regions in Sub-Saharan Africa. The intersection of urban growth with socio-economic and environmental developments poses significant water security challenges affecting human health, livelihoods and ecosystem integrity. Access to reliable and adequate quality water, along with protection against climate-related threats like flooding and drought, is essential for climate and water security. As Africa’s urban population is projected to grow by approximately 0.9 billion people by 2050, the demand for water resources in peri-urban areas is expected to escalate dramatically while land use transformation, urbanization dynamics, socio-economic inequalities, and climate change impacts are set to increase climate risks especially for the most vulnerable members of the population.

This 4-year PhD appointment seeks to advance interdisciplinary research at the intersection of decision, behavioural, and policy science with a focus on contextualized decision-making behaviour and its description using mixed-methods modelling techniques. As the doctoral candidate, you will take on the following core research responsibilities:

1. Explore the complexities of water security dynamics, with a focus on community-driven multi-actor decision-making processes in Sub-Saharan peri-urban settings.
2. Employ a mixed-methods approach, combining qualitative and quantitative analytical methods to examine decision-making behaviour of local actors, validate findings, and contribute to a more systemic understanding for the development of effective policies in selected case studies.
3. Incorporate theoretical and empirical insights from earlier research on water governance, human values and behaviour, and community-based resource management in peri-urban areas.

The aim is to unravel the complex interactions between decision-making behaviours and various contextual factors, seeking to identify the mechanisms and capacities that influence local water governance and that enhance or impede effective management strategies. Results from this research will be disseminated through publications in peer-reviewed academic journals, presentations at relevant conferences and collaboration with local partners.

You will take part in courses offered by the Graduate School and contribute to educational, organizational, and impact-oriented activities as part of your professional development. During the first months you will develop and agree a research and development plan with support of your PhD supervisors. The position is embedded into the research group of your main supervisor Lisa Scholten at the Policy Analysis section, Multi-Actor Systems department at the Faculty of Technology, Policy and Management. As part of TU Delft Climate Safety & Security centre (CaSS) Flagship on Water Security, you will also be embedded into the CaSS community at TU Delft Campus The Hague. Your co-supervisors are Dr. Edo Abraham and Dr. Neelke Doorn.

Job requirements 

You are broad-minded, conscientious, and enthusiastic about contributing to innovative research on water security and decision-making. Moreover, you match the following profile:

• MSc degree in a relevant field°, obtained before the start of the position;
• demonstrated background, interest, or experience relevant to this PhD topic;
• strong analytic, integrative, and reflective skills, including systems thinking;
• ability to conduct rigorous analytical work, integrating descriptive and qualitative approaches with conceptual or quantitative modelling;
• proficient in English in both written and oral communication°°;
• willingness to travel and conduct field work in Sub-Saharan Africa.  

The following qualifications are beneficial but not strictly required:

• Prior work on human decision-making related to sustainability, climate security, and urbanization
• Experience with interdisciplinary, mixed-methods analysis and modelling
• International experience, preferably in Sub-Saharan Africa
• Skills in a major regional language to facilitate fieldwork in Sub-Saharan Africa

° MSc programmes in behavioural science, decision science, policy and urban studies, social geography, complex systems science, and related fields are deemed particularly suitable. We also encourage candidates with a background in engineering or environmental science to apply, particularly those who embrace descriptive, interpretive, holistic analytical perspectives.

°°Doing a PhD at TU Delft requires English proficiency to ensure that the candidate can communicate and interact well in daily scholarly exchanges, participate in English-taught Doctoral Education courses, and write scientific articles and a final thesis. For more details, please check the Graduate Schools Admission Requirements.

TU Delft

Delft University of Technology is built on strong foundations. As creators of the world-famous Dutch waterworks and pioneers in biotech, TU Delft is a top international university combining science, engineering and design. It delivers world class results in education, research and innovation to address challenges in the areas of energy, climate, mobility, health and digital society. For generations, our engineers have proven to be entrepreneurial problem-solvers, both in business and in a social context.

At TU Delft we embrace diversity as one of our core values and we actively engage to be a university where you feel at home and can flourish. We value different perspectives and qualities. We believe this makes our work more innovative, the TU Delft community more vibrant and the world more just. Together, we imagine, invent and create solutions using technology to have a positive impact on a global scale. That is why we invite you to apply. Your application will receive fair consideration.

Challenge. Change. Impact!

Faculty Technology, Policy and Management

The Faculty of TPM provides an important contribution to solving complex technical-social issues, such as energy transition, mobility, digitalisation, water management and (cyber) security. TPM does this with its excellent education and research at the intersection of technology, society and policy. We combine insights from both engineering and social sciences as well as the humanities. TPM develops robust models and designs, is internationally oriented and has an extensive network of knowledge institutions, companies, social organisations and governments.

Click here to go to the website of the Faculty of Technology, Policy and Management.

Conditions of employment 

Doctoral candidates will be offered a 4-year period of employment in principle, but in the form of 2 employment contracts. An initial 1,5 year contract with an official go/no go progress assessment within 15 months. Followed by an additional contract for the remaining 2,5 years assuming everything goes well and performance requirements are met. 

Salary and benefits are in accordance with the Collective Labour Agreement for Dutch Universities, increasing from € 2872 per month in the first year to € 3670 in the fourth year. As a PhD candidate you will be enrolled in the TU Delft Graduate School. The TU Delft Graduate School provides an inspiring research environment with an excellent team of supervisors, academic staff and a mentor. The Doctoral Education Programme is aimed at developing your transferable, discipline-related and research skills. 

The TU Delft offers a customisable compensation package, discounts on health insurance, and a monthly work costs contribution. Flexible work schedules can be arranged.  

Will you need to relocate to the Netherlands for this job? TU Delft is committed to make your move as smooth as possible! The HR unit, Coming to Delft Service, offers information on their website to help you prepare your relocation. In addition, Coming to Delft Service organises events to help you settle in the Netherlands, and expand your (social) network in Delft. A Dual Career Programme is available, to support your accompanying partner with their job search in the Netherlands.  

Additional information

For any questions about this vacancy or about applying via the online application system and selection procedure, please contact Martine van de Vorst, HR Advisor, email: recruitment-tbm@tudelft.nl.

Application procedure

Apply by 13 July 2025 (23:59 CET) and upload the following materials via the online application system:

• Short motivation letter (max. 1 page, 11 pt)
• Concise resumé/CV (max. 2 pages, 11 pt)
• Relevant diplomas and transcript of records (simple copies or screenshots are sufficient; certified copies can be supplied at a later stage)

Only complete online applications to this specific position will be considered. We will not process applications sent by e-mail or post, nor blanket applications for any PhD position.

We envisage to inform applicants by 18 July 2025 on whether they are invited to an interview. Currently we foresee two rounds of interviews with the candidates, held online or in person. The first round of interviews will take place between 21-25 July 2025 and the second round of interviews between 25-29 August 2025. This may be adjusted depending on the number and location of suitable applicants. A work sample may be requested, and a pre-employment screening may also be part of the selection procedure.

Doing a PhD at TU Delft requires English proficiency at a certain level to ensure that the candidate is able to communicate and interact well, participate in English-taught Doctoral Education courses, and write scientific articles and a final thesis. For more details please check the Graduate Schools Admission Requirements. 

Please note:

• You can apply online. We will not process applications sent by email and/or post. 
• A pre-employment screening can be part of the selection procedure.
• For the final candidates, a knowledge security check will be part of the application procedure. For more information on this check, please consult Chapter 8 of the National Knowledge Security Guidelines. We carry out this check on the basis of legitimate interest.
• Please do not contact us for unsolicited services.