MSc Fellowships in Ethiopia - Characterize Mixed Livestock Systems in Ethiopia

MSc Fellowships in Ethiopia - Characterize Mixed Livestock Systems in Ethiopia

The International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI) seeks to recruit two MSc students for interdisciplinary natural and social science research under a BMZ-funded project entitled “Programme for Climate-Smart Livestock (PCSL)”.

The Project focuses on increasing the three main pillars of climate-smart agriculture: (1) increased agricultural productivity, (2) mitigation of greenhouse gas emissions, and (3) adaptation of livestock systems to climate change.

One aim of the project is to characterize and baseline mixed crop-livestock systems to identify potentials and constraints for climate smart agriculture.

ILRI works to improve food and nutritional security and reduce poverty in developing countries through research for efficient, safe and sustainable use of livestock. It is the only one of 15 CGIAR research centres dedicated entirely to animal agriculture research for the developing world.

Co-hosted by Kenya and Ethiopia, it has regional or country offices and projects in East, South and Southeast Asia as well as Central, East, Southern and West Africa.

The position will investigate livestock characteristics in agricultural production systems with a major focus on ruminants (small and large) and aims at collecting a suite of data required for establishing accurate Tier 2 GHG emissions baselines across different agroecological zones for the duration of one year.

A standardized protocol that was already successfully applied in Kenya and Tanzania will be followed, following its adaptation to the regional context.


Scope of the MSc assignment

The MSc students will directly contribute to Activity A1 “Setting up GHG emissions baselines and performance indicators for adaptation interventions” of the project entitled “Programme for Climate-Smart Livestock (PCSL)”.

Activity A1 aims particularly at characterizing livestock systems in terms of productivity and its environmental footprint by generating accurate Tier 2 GHG emissions baselines.

This is necessary first step towards establishing and evaluating mitigation options from livestock production while also providing pathways to enhancing the productivity and sustainability of livestock systems.


The MSc students will contribute to this by undertaking the following research activities: