Postdoc in Drylands Transform

This interview was first published at SLU.se on 21 October 2021.

"Large-scale investments and land tenure reform are affecting pastoralists’ and agro-pastoralists’ land rights, access to natural resources and security. In the face of these changes, governance of rangelands has emerged as a major issue for policy makers and academics”, James continued. 

James will work as part of a team, led by Per Knutsson and Göran Bostedt, to identify and promote innovative natural resource management and governance institutions that strengthen both pastoralists’ and agro-pastoralists’ secure and flexible rights to resources.

Research background

The topics and themes of Drylands Transform have been central to James' research in Samburu and Marsabit Counties of northern Kenya, where he spent two years during his PhD. He has also conducted research at sites across the Kenyan drylands, including West Pokot and Turkana Counties and is therefore familiar with the project’s study region in Kenya.

Focusing on the Lake Turkana Wind Power project, his PhD research examined the impacts of large-scale investments and land commodification on pastoralists’ lives, including their relationships with the changing environment, conceptions of place, interactions with neighbours and politics of belonging.

James' postdoctoral research has continued this work while pushing it in new directions to look at intersections between large-scale investments, land governance and pastoralism. 

“My research draws on a range of theoretical approaches from geography, anthropology, and political ecology to conceptualise the commodification of drylands, pastoralist dryland use, and governance”, said James. 

“I am excited to apply and develop my knowledge and experience of pastoralist land use and governance in East Africa and contribute as part of a multidisciplinary team to this very important research project”, he concluded.

Facts

Drylands Transform

Drylands Transform is a 4-year research project funded by Formas that started up during the Covid-19 pandemic in October 2020. It includes an interdisciplinary research team representing SLU and seven other universities and international organisations from Sweden, Kenya and Uganda. 

Visit the website for Drylands Transform.