Hands On The Land seeks between 4 to 6 young enthusiastic researchers who will collectively develop research that is relevant to the European Food Sovereignty movements, processes and struggles.
The Young Researchers Program is a pilot initiative drawing upon the work started by the Critical Agrarian Studies network (ICAS). It is premised upon the importance of research and education as key tools to support the construction of alternatives in food sovereignty. The initiative aims at fostering coordinated research efforts and mutually reinforcing synergies between various on-going processes geared towards strengthening food sovereignty in Europe.
The Young Researchers Program is a mentorship programme by the Hands On the Land Alliance in cooperation with TNI, FIAN International and Friends of the Earth, is open for applications until the 19th of September. This program enables young engaged scholars and activists to strengthen their capacities around understanding food sovereignty and the human right to food, including opportunities for peer-to-peer learning, benefitting from the experience of mentors, and the opportunity to attend two main events as part of the research process.
Hands On The Land (HOTL) seeks between 4 to 6 young enthusiastic researchers who will collectively develop research that is relevant to the European Food Sovereignty movements, processes and struggles. The program will place the researchers into two research teams of two to three people paired with a mentor, with each team looking at one of the following cross cutting themes:
1.) The meaning/role of urban food policies for food sovereignty
2.) The understanding/shaping of consumption and distribution side of agroecology in European food systems.
The research will build upon the outcomes of discussions and debates held during two upcoming processes:
- The second edition of the Nyéléni Europe Forum For Food Sovereignty, which will take place in Cluj Napoca, Romania, between 26th-30th October 2016.
- The International Seminar on Local Public Policies for Food Sovereignty (LPPFS) will take place in Donostia, in the Basque Country in Spain 16th-17th November 2016.
As a result, interested researchers should be available to join both events, where they will have the opportunity to carry out interviews with key persons, attend presentations and solicit inputs on their research topic.
The research will produce two written outputs in the form of focussed research briefs, with a target length of around 15-20 pages, to be published as part of a HOTL collection. The publication should be written in an accessible and captivating style that appeals to a broad audience.
The programme provides a travel stipend for each young researcher to cover costs of travel to Nyeleni and to the Seminar – as well as a small honorarium.
How to apply:
Interested researchers are encouraged to send, in English or Spanish, a max 1. page explanation outlining their motivation for one of the research topics, attaching their resume and a short writing sample to youngresearchers@tni.org Please indicate in the email subject which topic you are applying for.
The deadline to submit the application is 19th September 2016.
For full details of the Young Researchers Program please visit the HOTL website: https://handsontheland.net/young-researchers-program/
