An exciting opportunity has arisen for a 3-year PhD studentship, starting in September 2015, funded by the ESRC CASE studentship scheme together with the University of Manchester. The main focus of the studentship is to investigate how resource-poor communities in urban environments of the global South at different levels of organisation are able to secure adequate fire and rescue service provision.

An exciting opportunity has arisen for a 3-year PhD studentship, starting in September 2015, funded by the ESRC CASE studentship scheme together with the University of Manchester. CASE studentships involve a PhD student working in partnership with an organisation to undertake a study which is designed to be relevant to the organisation.

The main focus of the studentship is to investigate how resource-poor communities in urban environments of the global South at different levels of organisation are able to secure adequate fire and rescue service provision and enhanced well-being within a context of decentralisation of these services, or in the absence, or withdrawal of the state. This aim is central to the work of Operation Florian, a UK Fire and Rescue Service Humanitarian Aid Charity, which delivers projects worldwide to improve the operational capacity of fire and rescue services, and who are ultimately driven by the desire to improve the livelihoods and well-being of local communities.

Through successive action research stages, the PhD student will first undertake a desk-based study to systematise materials that document past and current projects of Operation Florian in different countries. Following this, the PhD student will visit Zimbabwe with members of Operation Florian to plan future fieldwork in urban communities in the cities of Bulawayo and Harare.

For full details of what to expect, a candidate profile and how to apply please use this link: how to apply

Interviews are scheduled to take place the 18th and 23rd February 2015. The successful applicant will be required to submit a full application for PhD Development Policy & Management, Institute for Development Policy and Management (IDPM), University of Manchester. Candidates invited for interview are expected to cover their own travel expenses.

Further information
To discuss the studentship or your application please contact Dr Tanja Müller at tanja.mueller@manchester.ac.uk with copy to Dr Alfredo Stein at alfredo.stein@manchester.ac.uk