Funded PhD Position at the University of Iceland 2026: Research Water Governance in Low-Income African Countries

Overview

The University of Iceland is accepting applications for a full-time, three-year doctoral position on water governance in low-income African countries. The project examines how rural water-governance systems can be made more sustainable, efficient and equitable, with a focus on Uganda, Malawi and Sierra Leone, the countries where Iceland has bilateral development cooperation. The vacancy notice indicates a particular emphasis on Uganda. It is funded by the Icelandic Ministry for Foreign Affairs through the University of Iceland PhD Grants Fund.

The research looks at policies, institutions, governance arrangements and decision-making that affect water access, quality, infrastructure management and the long-term sustainability of rural water services. It treats water as both a natural resource and a public-governance issue, since weak coordination, maintenance, financing, unclear responsibilities, unequal access or limited community participation can undermine services even where infrastructure exists.

What you get

The researcher joins the University's interdisciplinary Environment and Natural Resources programme, a 180 ECTS doctoral programme, and may be linked to either the School of Engineering and Natural Sciences or the School of Social Sciences. They work with a doctoral committee covering natural-resource management, development studies, economics, social sciences and water governance. Working facilities are at the University in Reykjavík. The advertisement does not give the salary, or the number, length or funding of field visits, so candidates should ask the contact person about travel, insurance, fieldwork funding and security.

Requirements

The work includes data collection in the African partner countries together with the doctoral committee. This may involve international fieldwork, engagement with government authorities, consultation with rural communities, interviews with water users and service providers, collecting policy and institutional data and working with local organisations, following ethical fieldwork procedures.

Key dates

The expected start is 1 November 2026 or another agreed date, and applications must be submitted by 4 September 2026.