Advert for a Ph.D. Position

Background

The School of Public Health of the Makerere University and the School of Public Health of the Free University of Brussels (Université Libre de Bruxelles) are partners in a program co-financed by the Belgian francophone Academy for Research and Higher Education (ARES), and its Dutch-speaking counterpart, VLIR-UOS. This inter-university program aims to support Belgian development cooperation in its policy on social protection, inequality, and inclusive growth (including decent work), particularly in three partner countries: Uganda, the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and Rwanda. 

Position description

Within this framework, we are recruiting a suitably qualified individual with interest in advancing their knowledge and research skills in the area of social protection and UHC in sub-Saharan Africa. The candidate will contribute to a better understanding of how social protection is developed within the framework of universal health coverage and how internal and external policy coherence can be guaranteed. More specifically, the PhD research should contribute to answering one or more of the following research questions:

1.    How is the UHC policy shaping and guided in three countries? In particular, who are the most important stakeholders involved in driving the UHC policy (including donors), what are their ideas, interests and limitations, how are they involved in the UHC policy dialogue and how do they promote their agenda?

2.    What are the possible in coherences between the UHC agenda and the social protection agenda? How could more coherent and integrated approaches be promoted?

3.    What are the needs expressed by local communities regarding social protection in health? Do they correspond to the policy agendas promoted by the government and global actors, including the global cooperation for decent work and social protection?

The researcher will be hired by the Makerere University as a PhD fellow as soon as possible and will receive regular salary in Belgium from the Université Libre de Bruxelles (ULB), enabling them to organize funding as a scholarship (24 of the 48 months of the scholarship). They will meet the criteria for registration as a doctoral student at the ULB and Makerere University, in a joint PhD program. This means that the successful candidate will obtain a PhD degree from both Makerere University and the Université Libre de Bruxelles after fulfilling the requirements of the doctoral school of both institutions (final requirements will be agreed upon at the beginning of the PhD trajectory). The PhD fellowship support will continue until the end of the PSP project, with an annual review for acceptable performance and progress.

The role

The PhD candidate will be expected to conduct the following tasks among others:
1.    Develop a research topic within the framework of the consortium, together with other researchers and in close interaction with state actors responsible for the design and implementation of public policies 
2.    Support the day-to-day implementation of the project.
3.    Conduct qualitative and/or quantitative research including data collection and analysis in line with the project objectives as guided by supervisors.
4.    Participate in consultations and engagement with partners including the Belgian development actors.
5.    Present research papers at scientific conferences and write scientific manuscripts that will contribute to the attainment of PhD.
6.    Accompany consortium missions to partner countries
7.    Participate in the dissemination activities of the consortium

Eligibility

•        A master's degree in Public Health or Health Economics or Health Services Research, or Social Sciences, or a closely related master's degree.
•        A Cumulative Grade Point Average (CGPA) of at least 3.6 at bachelor's, and at least 4.0 at master's degree training.
•    Ugandan citizenship.
•    Experience in conducting research on Universal Health Coverage will be an added advantage.

How to apply:

Suitably qualified persons should email their application which must include the following:
1.        A 1-page type written application letter addressed to the Dean, Makerere University School of Public Health, with a subject line "Application for a PhD Position on the Policy Support Program Social Protection and UHC"
2.    Up-to-date curriculum vitae.
3.    Copies of the relevant academic certificates and transcripts.
4.    A copy of the national identification card.
5.    The PhD concept (no more than 3 pages, font type Arial 11, single spacing) describing the possible PhD research idea in line with the project domains described above; including: i) Brief background, ii) research problem, ii) research hypotheses/ theoretical underpinning for the research, iii) specific aims, iv) research design, and, v) analysis plan.
6.    Two (2) letters of recommendation, with at least one from an academic supervisor at masters training, including their functioning email address and daytime phone number.

The above application documents must be submitted as ONE PDF file to the email: recruitment@musph.ac.ug, with the subject line "Application for PhD Position on the Policy Support Program Social Protection and UHC" The deadline for submission is 18th April 2024 at 23:59.

NB: Canvassing for the position is prohibited and may lead to automatic disqualification.