Background
The Sokoine University of Agriculture (SUA) has received grants from Facebook Inc. for the purpose of conducting researches in agricultural misinformation among smallholder farmers in Tanzania. The project researchers are working closely with smallholder farmers in Morogoro, Tanga, and Kilimanjaro regions to explore their (smallholders’) digital literacy and how the same is related to their vulnerability to misinformation in relation to agricultural related information available online and on social media.

The Project focuses on:

• Helping smallholder farmers identify agricultural related misinformation during their agricultural activities;
• Developing the digital literacy of smallholder farmers, especially in their agricultural related activities;
• Helping smallholder farmers use available digital technologies in accessing, using and disseminating agricultural related information; and
• Establishing strategies to help smallholder farmers identify agricultural related misinformation available on social media and online.
• The expected project deliverables include:
• Improved digital literacy of smallholder farmers, especially in agricultural related activities;
• Established strategies to help smallholder farmers identify agricultural related misinformation available online and on social media;
• Improved attitude of smallholder farmers on accessing, using, and disseminating agricultural information during their agricultural dealings; and
• Improved abilities of smallholder farmers to identify agricultural related misinformation available online and on social media.

MSc. Research Support
The Project intends to use part of the money to support research activities of some SUA MA/MSc. Students. Interested candidates must have completed their course works and are ready to undertake their research within the project’s context. Thus, interested candidates must identify and write research proposals within the project context.

Required Competencies (Combined)

• A good BSc. Degree (GPA > 3.5) in Social Sciences fields/Information technology/Agriculture/Rural Development and related fields.
• High social competences in interacting with stakeholders at different levels;
• Excellent skills in oral and written English;
• Great interest in working with an interdisciplinary team;
• Excellent skills in statistical software (e.g. SPSS, SAS, STATA) in data analysis;
• Good understanding of the Internet and its associated technologies like social media;

What the Research Project will offer

• Possibility of working in a strong project team;
• Field expenses and travel allowances; and
• Supervision by project experts from SUA

Expected Deliverables

• At least one paper published or accepted in a peer-reviewed, indexed journal.

Application
Interested candidates are required to write an application letter and submit it along with research proposal, budget and timeline to:

Prof. Justin K. Urassa, Project Leader
College of Social Science and Humanities
P. O. Box 3035 Chuo Kikuu, MOROGORO, TANZANIA

and email the same to urassa@sua.ac.tz and magesa@sua.ac.tz

before Friday, 23rd July 2021 at 1600HRs. Only short-listed candidates will be contacted immediately after the deadline to set up the interviews. Female candidates are encouraged to apply.