PhD in Governing African agrifood system transformations

Are you looking for a PhD position (4 years) in public administration and policy? Are you interested in how West African cocoa value chains can transform to be more sustainable and just? We are seeking a PhD candidate in public administration and policy who will combine their passion, skills and knowledge of sustainable cocoa value chains, bottom-up governance and critical methodologies.

Global agri-food systems are under increasing scrutiny for reproducing unsustainable and unjust outcomes. Despite decades of initiatives such as Fair Trade International and Rainforest Alliance certifications, evidence of transformative impact remains ambiguous. These schemes have often improved awareness but not necessarily altered the structural conditions underpinning environmental degradation, labor precarity, or the persistent poverty of peasant farmers. At the same time, the global political economy of agri-food is being reshaped by shifting trade alliances, geopolitical tensions, and evolving governance mechanisms. This conjuncture invites renewed theorization of how value chains might be governed differently to produce more sustainable and equitable futures. 

In recent years, calls to “decolonize” global value chains have gained prominence, yet the practical and analytical implications of such calls remain underdefined. What would it mean, in concrete governance terms, to decolonize global agri-food systems? How might institutions, standards, and trade relations be restructured to address the historical asymmetries of power that continue to shape them?

These questions are especially urgent in West African cocoa economies, where the paradox of hungry farmers producing for the world’s consumption remains stark. Global dependence on African cocoa contrasts with the enduring poverty and food insecurity of producers – a contradiction that challenges prevailing governance frameworks and narratives of “inclusive” development.

This PhD research invites critical engagement with these tensions by examining the political economy and governance of agri-food value chains from an African perspective. It aims to explore how “decolonizing” agendas can move beyond critique to inform tangible institutional and policy reforms. This requires unpacking the power relations that structure value chains – among smallholders, state actors, multinational corporations, and civil society organizations – and analyzing how alternative epistemologies and practices might reorient governance toward just and sustainable outcomes. Possible research questions include:

• How are African smallholders organized and represented in the policymaking and implementation process of cocoa value chain development?
• How do they experience and negotiate global sustainability and trade regimes in practice?
• What governance processes could rebalance relations among states, value chain actors, and producer communities to enable more equitable transformations?
• How can dialogical encounters – such as workshops between EU officials and African smallholders – serve as sites for rethinking the epistemic and institutional foundations of “decolonized” value chain governance?  

Your duties and responsibilities include:

• Perform high quality and original research on the topic outlined above.
• Develop innovative conceptual and methodological approaches to study the decolonization of agri-food governance arrangements.
• Successfully publish results in top quality academic outlets.
• Contribute to outreach, societal debates and educational activities as part of a wider team.
• Mobilize results for peasant farmer communities and their civil society and state representatives.

Your ambition is to work in academia to advance critical theories and methodologies related to the public administration and governance of sustainable African agri-food system transformations and value chains globally. You have strong affinity with West African cocoa systems and interested in immersive fieldwork embedded within government institutions and other value chain actors.

You also possess:

• A completed Master’s degree in public administration or a closely related discipline, demonstrating strong academic performance and research potential.
• Strong interest in critically interrogating agri-food value chains or cocoa systems more broadly, with a proven affinity with political economic, critical and decolonial perspectives.
• A keen interest in pursuing qualitative methodology research and embedded fieldwork in West Africa.
• Excellent skills in academic writing. Fluency in English; ability to speak French and/or Twi is an advantage.
• Demonstrated ability to work both independently and collaboratively in an interdisciplinary, multicultural research environment.

For this position, your command of the English language is expected to be at C1 level. Sometimes it is necessary to submit an internationally recognized Certificate of Proficiency in the English Language even if you are coming from an English-speaking country or institution. More information can be found here.

You will work here
The research is embedded within the chair Public Administration and Policy Group (and member of the Sectorplan Techniek II team, which is led by Dr. Siera Vercillo who will be your main supervisor (https://www.wur.nl/en/persons/siera-vercillo.htm and https://www.linkedin.com/in/sieravercillo/ ) and Dr. Jeroen Candel will serve as your promoter (https://www.wur.nl/nl/personen/jeroen-candel.htm and (https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeroen-candel-08265229/?originalSubdomain=nl).

Wageningen University & Research offers excellent terms of employment. A few highlights from our Collective Labour Agreement include:

• Partially paid parental leave;
• working hours that can be discussed and arranged so that they allow for the best possible work-life balance;
• there is a strong focus on vitality and you can make use of the sports facilities available on campus for a small fee;
• a fixed year-end bonus of 8.3%;
• excellent pension scheme.

In addition to these first-rate employee benefits, you will receive a fully funded PhD position and you will be offered a course program tailored to your needs and the research team.

The gross salary for the first year is € 3,059.- per month rising to € 3,881.-  in the fourth year in according to the Collective Labour Agreements for Dutch Universities (CAO-NU) (scale P). This is based on a full-time working week of 38 hours. We offer a temporary contract for 18 months which will be extended for the duration of the project if you perform well.

Wageningen University & Research offers plenty of opportunities for growth and development, with a strong internal recruitment policy and excellent training programmes.

You will work on the greenest and most innovative campus in the Netherlands, in an international and open working environment. For 20 consecutive years, we have been voted the "best university" in the Netherlands! A place to be proud of.

Coming from abroad
Wageningen University & Research is the university and research centre for life sciences. The themes we deal with are relevant to everyone around the world and Wageningen, therefore, has a large international community and a lot to offer to international employees.

Because we expect you to work and live in the Netherlands our team of advisors on Dutch immigration procedures will help you with the visa application procedures for yourself and, if applicable, for your family.
Feeling welcome also has everything to do with being well informed. We can assist you with any additional advice and information about for example helping your partner to find a job, housing, or schooling. Finally, certain categories of international staff may be eligible for a tax exemption on a part of their salary during the first five years in the Netherlands.

For more information about the position, please contact Dr Siera Vercillo, Assistant Professor via 00 31 317 489905 or email: siera.vercillo@wur.nl.

Questions about the procedure? Get in touch with Jouke van Oostenbrugge, Corporate Recruiter, via  recruitment.ssg@wur.nl.

Ready to apply?
Click on the application button next to the vacancy on our website. Only applications submitted through our website will be considered.

You can apply till and including 14 December 2025 (midnight). The first interviews are scheduled for January 2026.

Interested candidates should submit the following:

• A cover letter outlining motivation and suitability for the position (max. 1 page).
• A CV, including relevant research experiences. The CV should include contact details for two relevant references (max. 2 pages).

Additional information form
For this position, you must fill in a mandatory form which will allow us to have a comprehensive view of your qualifications and better assess your fit for it. You can access the form using the link below:

PhD in Governing African agrifood system transformations – Fill out form

Your prompt response will ensure that your application continues to move forward in the evaluation process. We assure you that the information provided will be kept confidential and used solely for this application process.

Welcome, safe, and valued
Wageningen University & Research (WUR) highly values diversity and inclusion because we believe that different insights lead to innovative solutions. We create a work environment where everyone feels welcome, safe, and appreciated, regardless of background, identity, or experience. Together, we are building a culture where everyone's unique contribution adds to the success of our organization.

​The mission of Wageningen University & Research is “To explore the potential of nature to improve the quality of life”. Under the banner Wageningen University & Research, Wageningen University and the specialised research institutes of the Wageningen Research Foundation have joined forces in contributing to finding solutions to important questions in the domain of healthy food and living environment. With its roughly 30 branches, 7,600 employees (6,700 fte) and 13,100 students and over 150,000 participants to WUR’s Life Long Learning, Wageningen University & Research is one of the leading organisations in its domain. The unique Wageningen approach lies in its integrated approach to issues and the collaboration between different disciplines.

Read the 5 reasons why your future colleagues enjoy working at WUR and watch the video below to get an idea of our green campus!

We will recruit for the vacancy ourselves, so no employment agencies please. However, sharing in your network is appreciated.

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