Development Studies - Research

The Natural Resources Institute (NRI) is a specialised multidisciplinary organisation within the University of Greenwich providing research and consultancy in support of sustainable development, economic growth and poverty reduction, principally, but not solely, in the natural resources sector. NRI has a rapidly growing programme of research at MPhil and PhD level on social-scientific and interdisciplinary topics relating to development in the South and in Europe. The institute provides a vibrant research environment for MPhil and PhD students in development studies (http://www.nri.org/research/developmentstudies.htm), with students from a number of countries and a variety of backgrounds in research,government and non-governmental organisations. Students are also actively encouraged to network with peers from other universities in the UK.

The Livelihoods and Institutions Group (http://www.nri.org/work/li-cap.htm) works on a number of themes related to natural resources, environment and development. Particular interests include participatory and client-oriented methods of agricultural research and their institutionalisation, agricultural service delivery, performance and impact assessment methodologies, community based natural resource management, land tenure, management of protected areas, urban agriculture and rural-urban linkages, pastoralism, vulnerability to disasters and climate change. The Food and Markets Department (http://www.nri.org/work/etfm.htm) works on many economics-based development issues. Important themes include the performance of agricultural markets, international marketing and trade, micro-finance, enterprise development and poverty reduction, local economic development, ethical trade and corporate social responsibility.

We welcome applications from potential students from either a social or natural scientific background. We can offer full-time or part-time registration, with students based on our campus in Medway or in their home countries, or some combination of the two.

Research projects

Recent topics include:

• Land tenure and sustainable livelihoods in north-east Ghana.
• Agricultural market institutions and pro-poor growth in Malawi.