PhD Position Water Security & Climate Adaptation in Sub-Saharan Africa

Help shape climate resilience in African cities by exploring water security and adaptation in peri-urban areas.

Job description

By 2050, urban populations are expected to increase by 2.5 billion people, with nearly 90% of this growth in developing regions of Asia and Africa, including a significant rise of 0.9 billion in Africa alone. Rapidly growing peri-urban areas in Sub-Saharan Africa are particularly vulnerable to climate-related water security challenges, such as limited resource access, unplanned urban growth, and inadequate and unequal infrastructure access. They serve as critical zones for agricultural production and are essential for food security, yet they struggle with water scarcity exacerbated by climate change. Urban sprawl threatens agriculture by converting arable land into commercial developments, jeopardising local food production and livelihoods.

The PhD project seeks to address critical knowledge gaps in climate risk related to the security of water access and its nexuses (Water-Food-Energy) in selected rapidly growing small and mid-sized African cities - through innovative integration of data-driven modelling and community-engaged research. Using a transdisciplinary approach, the project will:

1. Characterize peri-urban expansion patterns and water needs across different development scenarios

2. Assess existing water infrastructure access gaps and future climate-driven risks

3. Develop an inventory of existing adaptation strategies and evaluate their effectiveness

4. Engage with local communities and policymakers to co-design sustainable adaptation strategies

The project's findings aim to inform national adaptation plans, improve policy coherence across urban water-energy-food sectors, and contribute to global knowledge on peri-urban climate security, ultimately strengthening the resilience of African cities in the face of climate change.

This PhD position is part of the newly established interdisciplinary Climate Safety & Security centre (CaSS) at TU Delft | Campus The Hague. This centre runs an ambitious and comprehensive programme that considers climate change and stability in an integrated manner, with focus on human security, security of supply of fundamental needs (water, food) and essential resources (energy, critical materials). The PhD-candidate will contribute to the Water Security flagship within CaSS. The PhD candidate will work 1 day/week at Campus The Hague and will have the opportunity to collaborate with researchers from across TU Delft, as well as policy makers from (national) governments and (inter)national organisations in The Hague and beyond. For more information on CaSS see: www.tudelft.nl/en/campusthehague/research/cass.

This project involves collaboration between the Water Management department (CEG), urban planning experts, and social sciences experts outside TUD. TU Delft (Water Security Flagship) will coordinate research activities with selected partner institutions in Africa. The envisioned promoters and supervisors include Dr. Edo Abraham (CEG, TU Delft, Supervisor and Promoter), Dr Juliana Goncalves (Spatial Planning and Strategy, Department of Urbanism, ABE, TU Delft, Supervisor and Co-Promoter) and Prof. Shuaib Lwasa (Promoter) from the International Institute of Social Studies at Erasmus University, bringing expertise in climate impact modelling, urban transitions, and WEF nexus modelling to inform risks related to water and assess peri-urban adaptation options.

Job requirements.

We are looking for a motivated and curious PhD candidate who meets the following criteria:

• A Master’s degree in Water Resources Management, Environmental Engineering, Urban Planning, or a related field
• Affinity with climate adaptation, water access, and urban development
• Strong analytical and modelling skills, preferably with experience in data-driven approaches
• Experience with GIS and spatial analysis
• Excellent scientific writing and communication skills
• Interest in interdisciplinary work bridging technical and social sciences
• Experience with stakeholder engagement or participatory methods is a plus
• Willingness to work 1 day/week at the CaSS Centre, TU Delft Campus The Hague
• You do not need to meet every single criterion—enthusiastic candidates with a willingness to learn are encouraged to apply.

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 Civil Engineering and Geosciences

The Faculty of Civil Engineering & Geosciences (CEG) is committed to outstanding international research and education in the field of civil engineering, applied earth sciences, traffic and transport, water technology, and delta technology. Our research feeds into our educational programmes and covers societal challenges such as climate change, energy transition, resource availability, urbanisation and clean water. Our research projects are conducted in close cooperation with a wide range of research institutions. CEG is convinced of the importance of open science and supports its scientists in integrating open science in their research practice. The Faculty of CEG comprises 28 research groups in the following seven departments: Materials Mechanics Management & Design, Engineering Structures, Geoscience and Engineering, Geoscience and Remote Sensing, Transport & Planning, Hydraulic Engineering and Water Management.

Click here to go to the website of the Faculty of Civil Engineering & Geosciences.

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

If you would like more information about this vacancy or the selection procedure, please contact Edo Abraham, via e.abraham@tudelft.nl.

Application procedure

Interested candidates are invited to submit their application, including a CV, a motivation letter outlining their research interests and suitability for the project, academic transcripts, link to download the MSc thesis (draft) or some other publication or report by the candidate, and contact information for at least two references.

Are you interested in this vacancy? Please apply no later than 6 May 2025 via the application button and upload the following documents:

• CV
• Motivational letter

You can address your application to Edo Abraham.

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.