The Council for the Development of Social Science Research in Africa (CODESRIA) invites proposals on the topic of the acquisition of fertile lands in Africa for outsourced food and fuel production, i.e., "land grabbing."
The Council for the Development of Social Science Research in Africa (CODESRIA) invites proposals on the topic of the acquisition of fertile lands in Africa for outsourced food and fuel production, i.e., "land grabbing."
With the emergence of food and financial crises in 2008, land grabbing has been occurring at an astounding pace across the globe. Africa faces a new scramble for the accelerated exploitation of its rich lands and natural resources. This is already leading to increasing conflict, land dispossession, eviction and displacement, and deepening poverty amongst various groups.
CODESRIA invites Multinational Working Groups (MWG) to address this topic. The MWG is one of the flagship research vehicles employed by CODESRIA to promote multi-country, multi-disciplinary, and inter-generational reflections on critical questions of concern to the African social science research community. Each MWG will be led by two coordinators who have different specializations, and possibly a gender mix. The size of a single MWG should not exceed fifteen researchers.
An independent selection committee will screen proposals and select those that have a relatively better quality and depth. The life span of the project will be 18 months, during which time all aspects of the research process should be completed and the final manuscript submitted for publication in a CODESRIA book series.
More about land grabbing, its sub-themes, and how to submit a proposal are included with CODESRIA's call for proposals. The deadline for proposals is 31 August 2012.