2012-2013, Master’s Research Program in Climate Change and Human Security

West Africa is identified as one of the most vulnerable regions to the impacts of  climate change. The existing adaptation and mitigation capacities are not sufficient and large fractions of the populations are at risk
of losing their livelihood or even their lives. Many phenomena associated with climate change are poorly captured by research models so that future scenarios on the effects of climate change on land use and its related human dimensions are very unreliable and inconsistent between models. 

Climate change and human security is a new concept of integrated and interdisciplinary education,combining domains such as meteorology, geosciences, social, health and economic as well as institutions such as law and policies. There is a strong need to assist universities in addressing thisapproach, to strengthen their capabilities to train students in integrated  management of areas, resources, and societies affected by climate change, in order to reduce peoples’ vulnerability and increase their coping capacity.

Climate change has become one of the fundamental concerns of the 21st century. Ultimately, climate change is all about humans acting in socio-ecological settings in which biophysical, socio-cultural,economic, institutional, political, and legal mechanisms operate. It is in this complex system that disasters emerge  and  that society has to cope with.  Human security within the context of climate change remains relatively under explored, whereas the biophysical dimensions of climate change, both on a worldwide and regional scale, are more rapidly addressed by natural scientists.  Thus, there is an urgent need to deal with climate change through both adaptation and mitigation.

This international Master of Science program of the University of Lome, implemented with its partner universities, aims at offering  top-ranking  students  an integrated learning environment in which they acquire skills that qualify them as climate disaster and risk management specialists. Graduates can expect to serve as (international) civil servants, with the expertise and tools to address human insecurity. Some of these students with the ability to do so will be encouraged to continue with a Ph.D. program in order to help educate the next generation of African experts.

Through this present call, the University of Lomé is launching its four-semesters or two yeartraining Master’s Program on Climate Change and  Human Security for the  academic year 2012-2013. The program provides full scholarship to successful  candidates from WASCAL member countries. Potential candidates are invited to submit an application for selection.Cooperating  partner universities include: Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (Ghana); United Nations University  - Institute for Environment and Human Security (Germany); University of Würzburg (Germany); Center for Development Research, University of Bonn (Germany); University of Minna (Nigeria); University of Abomey-Calavi (Benin); University of Cocody (Cote d’Ivoire); University of Cheikh Anta Diop (Senegal);University of Ouagadougou (Burkina Faso); University of Abdou Moumouni (Niger); Federal

University of Technology, Yola (Nigeria).General objective:The program (acronym MRP-CCHS) will help create human capacity to cope with the threats posed by climate change and reduce the impact of environmental hazards.

Specific objectives:

The Master Research Program “Climate Change and Human Security” will educate 10 international students annually that will understand the threat and risks associated with climate change, get familiar with  the  design of early warning systems and know ways and means to improve the resilience and  coping capacity of affected populations. They will be exposed to interdisciplinary and transdisciplinary approaches to assessing threats and to work in multidisciplinary teams with affected groups in harnessing their inherent resilience to hazards. Upon completion of their study, the students are expected to be able:

 to analyze with scientific tools and methods the threats and risks to society or 

communities to the impact of climate change; 

 to synthesize knowledge regarding integrated management strategies to climate 

change, effects specifically to improve human security;

 to prepare background document and policy notes that offer options to deal with 

climate change;

 to assist communities in dealing with climate change by adaptation and mitigation.

ELIGIBILITY 

The Master Research Program-Climate Change and Human Security (MRP-CCHS) is opened for students and professionals having a Bachelor’s degree (B.A. or B.Sc.) with (Mention Assez-bien or Second class Upper or equivalent, in relevant disciplines  (Geography, Sociology, Environment, Economics, Law, Agriculture and other disciplines). 

Requirements of candidates to the program:

i- Be citizen of one of the ten countries member of WASCAL,

ii- Submit a letter of motivation,

iii- Provide all transcripts and copy of diploma,

iv- Provide letter of recommendation from three references,

v- Provide a Curriculum vitae

Francophone candidates must have an intermediate level of English (see Language section below).Once a student is given admission by the Advisory Board of the Master’s program, registration for courses shall be done at the University of Lome, according to its admission rules. All rules will be posted at all universities through WASCAL contact.

The application form will be available on the member universities websites and at the MRPCCHS secretariat (Faculty of Arts and Humanities. Deadline to apply is April 30, 2012.

MAXIMUM INTAKE

The program will admit a maximum of 10 students. There shall be equitable distribution of students across the WASCAL countries (one student per country).  Additionnal  selected students may be accepted.  They have to provide evidence of sponsorship and have to indicate that they can complete the program within a period of 2 years.

LANGUAGE 

The  Master Research Program is an English-speaking graduate program. Therefore, the 

following are the language requirements:

 Basic Certificate in English Language.

 Functional Certificate in English Language.

For non-English speaking students, a computer-based TOEFL score of 213 (or the equivalent) is required for entry into graduate research programs. Applicants with limited English skills areencouraged to use the time between application and interview, to attend English training classes which will be at their own expense.Please note that a 3 months English proficiency course will be provided to the selected francophone students at the University of Cape Coast, in Ghana, to help meet entry 

requirements

SCHOLARSHIP AND RESEARCH SUPPORT

The scholarship and research support will normally be provided following the criteria below:

 Students after admission will be required to maintain a graduate level Grade Point 

Average (GPA) of B or a minimum of B from the course.

 During the course curriculum phase, students will be required to  develop a detailed 

research program, including budget, that will have to be accepted by his/her 

committee, consisting of at least four graduate faculty members, and endorsed by the 

Graduate Council.

 During the project/research stage, students are expected  to present their progress reports regularly and be evaluated accordingly.All scholarship-holding Master fellows will receive a stipend of €350 per month to cover accommodation and other expenses for their study period.Field work expenses travel costs and other expenses related to thesis research will be funded. The disbursement of research funds will be connected to the successful delivery of research work deliverables to be agreed upon between the project coordinator, the supervisor and the Master fellow at the onset of the research work. 4

PROGRAM 

The West African Climate Change and Human Security Master’s Program consists of four (4) 

semesters of taught courses in the following: 

 Atmospheric Sciences and Research Methodology

 Earth And Ocean Sciences and Research Methodology

 Societal Dimensions and Research Methodology

 Applied statistics

 Introduction to Climate Change

 Geospatial Technologies; Survey and Assessment

 Climate Change Impact and adaptation

 Enviromental Changes: Landscape Under Constraints

 Vulnerability and Risk Assessment

 Disasters and Human Contingencies

 Risks and Vulnerability in Economics 

 Social Intership

 Disaster Management and Public Health

 Natural Resources Management, Conflicts and Cooperation

 Climate Change and Food Security

 Advanced Research Methodologies

 External Applications to Human Security: Seminars

 Preparation on Master  Thesis 

EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES 

Participants graduating from this multidisciplinary and multinational program will gain skills  as scientific officers, managers of human resources or academics who will be expected to find  employment in  agencies and  research institutions, overseas aid programmes, international  NGOs, environmental protection agencies, departments of land use,  agriculture, water  resources, communities and universities.

APPLICATION PROCEDURE AND CONTACT

Candidates  should  apply to the MRP-CCHS by submitting all information requested (application letter, academic transcripts, graduation certificate, curriculum vitae, names,  phone numbers and email addresses of 3 referees) via e-mail to the Director of MRP-CCHS,  Prof. Adoté Blim Blivi: mrpcchs@univ-lome.tg / mrpcchs@yahoo.fr or Secretariat 00228 22  21 68 17

The application form may be obtained at the WASCAL website www.wascal.org

Deadline: May 15, 2012.5

PUBLICATION OF THE SELECTION OUTCOME

University of Lomé in collaboration with the MRP CCHS Advisory Board will short list  candidates and select one candidate from each country. There may be the need for a selection  interview via telephone, skype or messenger. The date of the interview will be communicated  after short listing. The selection interview is mandatory to support the final selection of  candidates. Successful candidates will then submit hardcopy of the application package.

The list of successful candidates will be published by June 1, 2012.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

For details regarding the program please refer to the  WASCAL website at www.wascal.org