Centre For Agriculture and Food Policy

                                              Center for Agriculture and Food Policy

                                              Master’s Thesis Completion Programme

Overview

To strengthen capacities as well as better utilize research, CAFP has established a scholarship program to support master’s level thesis research aligned to the CAFP strategic thematic area, Poverty, Health, Food and Nutrition Security; Agricultural Transformation, Institutions, Markets and Trade Development; and Technology, Climate-Resilient Agriculture and Food Systems.  In addition to offering students resources and collaboration opportunities to build their research capabilities, the scholarship program aims to enhance the relevance of agricultural and food policy research to improving the effectiveness of agricultural and rural development strategies in Zimbabwe.  

The idea behind the program is to make researchers more accountable to stakeholders in the sector.  By informing students of issues that policymakers and donors are interested in and would like research on, CAFP hopes to enhance the research that comes out of the various Master’s level programs at universities around the country so that stakeholders in the agricultural sector can actually use the information students are producing to implement agricultural and rural development strategies.  

The objectives of the program are summarized as follows:

  • To enhance the research that comes out of the various Master’s level programs at universities around the country so that stakeholders can actually use the information students are producing to implement agricultural and rural development strategies; 
  • To provide students with resources and collaboration opportunities to build their research capabilities;
  •  To inform students of issues that policymakers and donors are interested in and would like research on. 

 

Key elements of the scholarship program.

 The scholarship program will be open to students from all universities in Zimbabwe.  A call for concept notes will be published in the local newspapers and media from which the best ideas from 20 students will be selected by an independent review committee composed of CAFP staff, representatives from the academic/research institution as well as private and public sector.  Students with selected concept notes will then be invited to write a full proposal in collaboration with their advisors/supervisors.  CAFP will then invite the students and their advisors to a two day student proposal presentation and capacity building workshop.   

After the workshop, nine (9) best proposals will be chosen to receive thesis completion funding, 3 under each thematic area.  The students who complete their theses within the stipulated time will be invited to participate in results dissemination workshop with agricultural stakeholders as well as receive publication support to work towards getting their theses published in peer reviewed journals.  In addition, data analysis and writing training will be provided to the group of scholarship recipients as they move forward with their theses. 

How to Apply

Interested applicants should check our Jobs/Vacancies page for available openings   

CAFP is an equal opportunity employer.  We will not discriminate against anyone on the basis of gender; age; ethnic, national or social origin; religion or belief; sexual orientation; disability; political opinion; social or economic condition or health. 

For more information or questions, please contact us at: info@cafp.org.zw