Drylands Summer School 2027 in Kenya: Fully Funded Participation for Master’s and PhD Students 🌍🌱
Drylands Summer School 2027 in Kenya: Fully Funded Participation for Master’s and PhD Students 🌍🌱. Applications are now open for the Drylands Summer School 2027, a fully supported in-person training programme focused on:
🌾 PASTORALISM
🌍 DRYLAND RESILIENCE
🐄 LIVESTOCK SYSTEMS
🌱 NATURAL RESOURCE MANAGEMENT
📚 RESEARCH METHODS
🏛️ POLICY
and:
🤝 HUMANITARIAN & DEVELOPMENT PRACTICE.
The Summer School will take place from:
📅 16–21 MARCH 2027
at:
📍 CAMP SIMPIRRE, GOTU, ISIOLO COUNTY, KENYA.
It is organised by the Center for Research and Development in Drylands (CRDD) with ongoing support from the Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research (ACIAR) and other partners.
The programme is primarily aimed at:
🎓 MASTER’S AND PhD STUDENTS
working on drylands, pastoralism, rangelands, livestock systems and related social, political, economic and ecological issues.
Applications close on:
🚨 20 NOVEMBER 2026.
⚠️ Important Accuracy Note
The Drylands Summer School 2027 provides:
✅ GROUND TRANSPORTATION
✅ MEALS
and:
✅ ACCOMMODATION
for all selected students through ACIAR-supported funding.
However:
✈️ INTERNATIONAL AIRFARE IS NOT AUTOMATICALLY GUARANTEED FOR EVERY INTERNATIONAL PARTICIPANT.
CRDD states that it will seek funding to sponsor the international travel of a small number of students from the wider Horn of Africa, while also encouraging self-sponsorship.
Therefore, the safest description is:
FULL PARTICIPATION COSTS COVERED + LIMITED INTERNATIONAL TRAVEL SUPPORT
rather than universally claiming that all international participants receive fully funded flights.
🌍 Drylands Summer School 2027: Quick Overview
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Programme | Drylands Summer School 2027 |
| Theme | Building Resilience from Below in the Pastoral Drylands |
| Organiser | Center for Research and Development in Drylands |
| Acronym | CRDD |
| Funding Partner | Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research |
| Country | Kenya 🇰🇪 |
| Venue | Camp Simpirre, Gotu, Isiolo County |
| Dates | March 16–21, 2027 |
| Intensive Sessions | 4 Days |
| Format | In Person |
| Target Group | Master’s & PhD Students |
| Kenyan Students | Eligible |
| Horn of Africa Students | Limited International Places |
| Participation Costs | Covered |
| Meals | Covered |
| Accommodation | Covered |
| Ground Transport | Covered |
| International Airfare | Limited / Subject to Funding |
| Expected Cohort | Around 40 Participants |
| Application Deadline | November 20, 2026 |
| Results | Expected Early 2027 |
| Status | Applications Open |
CRDD plans to select around 40 participants, aiming for diversity in disciplinary background, experience, gender and geographic origin.
🏛️ About CRDD
Drylands Summer School 2027 in Kenya: Fully Funded Participation for Master’s and PhD Students 🌍🌱
The Center for Research and Development in Drylands — CRDD works on research, policy and development issues affecting dryland and pastoral communities.
Its work focuses on developing approaches grounded in:
LOCAL KNOWLEDGE
PASTORAL LIVELIHOODS
RESILIENCE
EARLY WARNING
ADAPTATION
and:
DRYLAND POLICY.
For the 2027 Summer School, CRDD is working with ACIAR and other research and policy partners to challenge conventional assumptions about pastoralism and explore more locally grounded approaches to resilience.
🌱 What Is the Drylands Summer School?
The 2027 programme is the:
SECOND STUDENT EDITION
of the Drylands Summer School.
The first student Summer School was held at Camp Simpirre in Isiolo County in:
FEBRUARY 2025.
The programme brings together postgraduate students whose research engages with:
PASTORALISM
DRYLAND SYSTEMS
RANGELANDS
LIVESTOCK
RESILIENCE
and:
DEVELOPMENT POLICY.
It is designed to strengthen both:
ACADEMIC RESEARCH
and:
PRACTICAL UNDERSTANDING OF DRYLAND COMMUNITIES.
🌾 Theme: Building Resilience from Below in the Pastoral Drylands
The 2027 theme is:
BUILDING RESILIENCE FROM BELOW IN THE PASTORAL DRYLANDS.
Drylands Summer School 2027 in Kenya: Fully Funded Participation for Master’s and PhD Students 🌍🌱
The programme challenges the assumption that pastoralism is automatically:
INEFFICIENT
ENVIRONMENTALLY DAMAGING
or:
INHERENTLY VULNERABLE.
CRDD argues that emerging evidence increasingly shows pastoralism can be highly adaptive under dryland conditions when mobility, local knowledge and flexible livelihood systems are properly understood.
🎯 What Are the Main Objectives?
Participants will explore key debates around pastoral systems in relation to:
🌍 SOCIAL CHANGE
🌱 ECOLOGICAL CHANGE
🏛️ POLITICAL CHANGE
and:
💰 ECONOMIC CHANGE
across the Horn of Africa.
The Summer School also aims to help participants:
✅ Strengthen Research Methods
Participants will learn approaches relevant to Master’s and PhD research in pastoral areas.
✅ Develop Alternative Analytical Approaches
The School will encourage participants to rethink conventional resilience and humanitarian frameworks.
✅ Learn From Peers
Peer-to-peer learning is a core component.
✅ Build a New Research Network
CRDD hopes to create a network of emerging:
SCHOLAR-ACTIVIST-PRACTITIONERS
who can contribute to research, policy and practice around pastoralism.
📚 What Will Participants Study?
The programme will include several major learning areas.
🐄 Introduction to Pastoralism and Policy
Participants will explore:
PASTORAL PRODUCTION SYSTEMS
PASTORAL LIVELIHOODS
and:
POLICY APPROACHES TO DRYLANDS.
🌍 Resilience From Below
The programme will examine locally grounded forms of resilience and the role of:
HIGH-RELIABILITY PROFESSIONALS.
🔬 Qualitative Research Methods
Participants will learn practical qualitative approaches for conducting research in pastoral areas.
This may be particularly useful for students working on:
INTERVIEWS
FOCUS GROUPS
ETHNOGRAPHIC METHODS
Drylands Summer School 2027 in Kenya: Fully Funded Participation for Master’s and PhD Students 🌍🌱
and:
COMMUNITY-BASED RESEARCH.
🏛️ Policy Processes
The School will explore how research can contribute to:
POLICY CHANGE
DEVELOPMENT PRACTICE
and:
HUMANITARIAN DECISION-MAKING.
📖 Thesis Discussions
Participants will also have opportunities to discuss their:
MASTER’S
or:
PhD RESEARCH
informally with facilitators and fellow students.
🏞️ Fieldwork Component
The School is not classroom-only.
It will combine:
LECTURES
PARTICIPATORY EXERCISES
and:
FIELDWORK.
This allows participants to connect theory with real dryland and pastoral contexts.
👩🏫 Who Will Facilitate the Programme?
The Summer School will feature international research and policy experts.
Confirmed facilitators listed by CRDD include:
PROFESSOR IAN SCOONES — IDS SUSSEX
PROFESSOR ELIZABETH STITES — TUFTS UNIVERSITY
DR. HUSSEIN TADICHA — CRDD
DR. RAHMA HASSAN — CRDD / TUFTS
and:
PROFESSOR EMERITUS GUFU OBA.
Additional researchers and practitioners may also participate from organisations including:
ILRI / JAMEEL OBSERVATORY
CHRISTENSEN FOUNDATION
and:
ICPALD.
🎓 Who Can Apply?
The principal target group is:
MASTER’S AND PhD STUDENTS
whose research engages with dryland and pastoral systems.
🇰🇪 Kenyan Applicants
The programme primarily targets:
MASTER’S AND PhD STUDENTS FROM KENYA.
Applicants should have a strong interest in:
SOCIAL
ECONOMIC
POLITICAL
or:
ECOLOGICAL
dynamics of dryland ecosystems.
🌍 Horn of Africa Applicants
Drylands Summer School 2027 in Kenya: Fully Funded Participation for Master’s and PhD Students 🌍🌱
A limited number of international students from the broader Horn of Africa may also be selected, subject to funding.
CRDD specifically names:
🇸🇴 SOMALIA
🇩🇯 DJIBOUTI
🇪🇹 ETHIOPIA
🇪🇷 ERITREA
🇸🇩 SUDAN
🇸🇸 SOUTH SUDAN
🇺🇬 UGANDA
and:
🇹🇿 TANZANIA.
🎓 Academic Requirement
Applicants must provide evidence that they are:
CURRENTLY ENROLLED
and making:
CONSISTENT PROGRESS
in a:
MASTER’S
or:
PhD PROGRAMME
at a university located in the eligible region.
📚 Relevant Fields of Study
CRDD specifically welcomes students in:
🌍 DEVELOPMENT STUDIES
👥 SOCIAL ANTHROPOLOGY
👥 SOCIOLOGY
🏛️ POLITICAL SCIENCE
💰 ECONOMICS
🌾 AGRICULTURE
🐄 LIVESTOCK PRODUCTION
🌱 ECOLOGY
🏞️ NATURAL RESOURCE MANAGEMENT
and other fields connected to:
RANGELANDS
LIVESTOCK SYSTEMS
and:
DRYLAND SOCIAL, POLITICAL AND ECONOMIC ISSUES.
🌍 Can Africans Apply?
Yes, but the programme is geographically targeted.
The strongest eligibility is for:
KENYAN STUDENTS
and a limited number of students from the named:
HORN OF AFRICA COUNTRIES.
This is not advertised as a pan-African opportunity open equally to every African country.
🇿🇼 Can Zimbabweans Apply?
Based on the official 2027 call:
⚠️ ZIMBABWE IS NOT LISTED AMONG THE INTERNATIONAL TARGET COUNTRIES.
The international funding pathway specifically mentions students from:
Somalia, Djibouti, Ethiopia, Eritrea, Sudan, South Sudan, Uganda and Tanzania.
Zimbabwean applicants should therefore not assume eligibility unless CRDD confirms otherwise.
💰 Is the Drylands Summer School Fully Funded?
For selected participants, CRDD will cover:
✅ GROUND TRANSPORTATION
✅ MEALS
and:
✅ ACCOMMODATION.
This means there is no standard participation fee for selected students.
✈️ Are Flights Covered?
Not automatically for everyone.
CRDD states that it will try to secure funding for the international travel of:
A SMALL NUMBER OF STUDENTS
Drylands Summer School 2027 in Kenya: Fully Funded Participation for Master’s and PhD Students 🌍🌱
from the wider Horn of Africa.
International applicants are also encouraged to consider:
SELF-SPONSORSHIP.
Therefore:
⚠️ DO NOT ASSUME AIRFARE IS GUARANTEED.
🏨 Is Accommodation Covered?
Yes.
CRDD confirms that accommodation is covered for selected participants.
🍽️ Are Meals Covered?
Yes.
Meals are included in the participation support.
🚐 Is Ground Transport Covered?
Yes.
CRDD states that:
GROUND TRANSPORTATION
will be covered.
🏕️ Where Will the Programme Take Place?
The Summer School will be held at:
CAMP SIMPIRRE
in:
GOTU, ISIOLO COUNTY, KENYA.
The programme is fully:
IN PERSON.
📅 How Long Is the Programme?
Participants arrive on:
16 MARCH 2027
and depart on:
21 MARCH 2027.
The programme includes:
FOUR DAYS OF INTENSIVE SESSIONS.
⚠️ Full Attendance Is Required
CRDD explicitly states that:
PARTICIPATION FOR THE FULL PERIOD IS REQUIRED.
Applicants should therefore only apply if they can attend the entire programme.
👥 How Many Participants Will Be Selected?
CRDD expects to accept approximately:
40 PARTICIPANTS.
Selection will aim to achieve a strong balance across:
ACADEMIC DISCIPLINES
EXPERIENCE
GENDER
and:
GEOGRAPHIC ORIGIN.
📄 What Documents Are Required?
The public call specifically confirms that applicants must provide:
✅ PROOF OF ENROLMENT
and evidence of:
✅ CONSISTENT PROGRESS
in an eligible Master’s or PhD programme.
Applicants should also be ready to provide information about:
ACADEMIC BACKGROUND
RESEARCH INTERESTS
THESIS TOPIC
DRYLAND / PASTORALISM EXPERIENCE
Drylands Summer School 2027 in Kenya: Fully Funded Participation for Master’s and PhD Students 🌍🌱
and:
MOTIVATION FOR ATTENDING.
📝 How to Apply for the Drylands Summer School 2027
Step 1 — Confirm Your Eligibility
You should be enrolled in an eligible:
MASTER’S
or:
PhD PROGRAMME.
Step 2 — Confirm Your Research Fit
Your work should connect to:
DRYLANDS
PASTORALISM
RANGELANDS
LIVESTOCK SYSTEMS
or related social, economic, ecological or political themes.
Step 3 — Prepare Proof of Enrolment
Applicants must demonstrate current postgraduate enrolment.
Step 4 — Prepare Your Research Information
Be ready to explain:
YOUR RESEARCH QUESTION
FIELD OF STUDY
RESEARCH LOCATION
and:
WHY THE SUMMER SCHOOL IS RELEVANT.
Step 5 — Complete the Online Application Form
CRDD accepts applications through its official Google Form linked from the programme announcement.
Step 6 — Complete Every Section
CRDD specifically asks applicants to:
COMPLETE ALL SECTIONS FULLY.
Step 7 — Apply Before November 20
The deadline is:
🚨 20 NOVEMBER 2026.
📅 When Will Results Be Announced?
CRDD says applicants should expect responses:
IN EARLY 2027.
The organisation also notes that its first student edition attracted an overwhelming number of applications, so applicants should expect a competitive selection process.
📋 Application Checklist
Before submitting, confirm:
✅ You Are a Master’s or PhD Student
Required.
✅ You Are Making Consistent Academic Progress
Required.
✅ Your Research Relates to Drylands or Pastoralism
Important.
✅ You Have Proof of Enrolment
Required.
✅ You Can Attend March 16–21, 2027
Required.
✅ You Can Participate In Person
Required.
✅ You Can Attend the Entire Programme
Required.
✅ You Have Explained Your Research Clearly
Important.
✅ You Have Completed Every Application Section
Required.
✅ You Understand International Travel Funding Is Limited
Important.
✅ Deadline
November 20, 2026.
🎯 How to Strengthen Your Application
Drylands Summer School 2027 in Kenya: Fully Funded Participation for Master’s and PhD Students 🌍🌱
🌾 Show Strong Research Relevance
Do not simply say:
“I am interested in climate change.”
Explain specifically how your research relates to:
PASTORALISM
DRYLANDS
RANGELANDS
LIVESTOCK
or:
RESILIENCE.
📚 Explain Your Thesis Clearly
Describe:
WHAT YOU ARE STUDYING
WHY IT MATTERS
and:
HOW THE SUMMER SCHOOL WILL IMPROVE YOUR RESEARCH.
🌍 Demonstrate Local Understanding
Applications may be stronger when they show engagement with:
PASTORAL COMMUNITIES
LOCAL KNOWLEDGE
DRYLAND POLICY
or:
FIELD-BASED RESEARCH.
🔬 Highlight Methodological Needs
Explain whether you want to strengthen:
QUALITATIVE METHODS
POLICY ANALYSIS
COMMUNITY RESEARCH
or:
INTERDISCIPLINARY APPROACHES.
🤝 Show Willingness to Learn From Others
The programme is highly interactive.
Demonstrate openness to:
PEER LEARNING
FIELDWORK
and:
CROSS-DISCIPLINARY DISCUSSION.
⚠️ Common Application Mistakes
Avoid:
- Applying without being enrolled in a Master’s or PhD programme
- Applying with research unrelated to drylands or pastoral systems
- Assuming all international flights are funded
- Ignoring the geographic eligibility rules
- Failing to upload or provide proof of enrolment
- Submitting incomplete sections
- Writing a vague motivation statement
- Ignoring the full-attendance requirement
- Assuming the programme is online
- Missing the November 20 deadline
- Applying without explaining your thesis or research topic
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
Drylands Summer School 2027 in Kenya: Fully Funded Participation for Master’s and PhD Students 🌍🌱
Are applications open for the Drylands Summer School 2027?
Yes.
CRDD opened applications on:
OCTOBER 12, 2026.
When is the Summer School?
MARCH 16–21, 2027.
Where will it take place?
At:
CAMP SIMPIRRE, GOTU, ISIOLO COUNTY, KENYA.
Is the programme online?
No.
It is:
FULLY IN PERSON.
Who can apply?
Primarily:
MASTER’S AND PhD STUDENTS FROM KENYA
plus limited applicants from selected wider Horn of Africa countries.
Which fields are eligible?
Relevant disciplines include:
DEVELOPMENT STUDIES
SOCIOLOGY
ANTHROPOLOGY
POLITICAL SCIENCE
ECONOMICS
AGRICULTURE
LIVESTOCK PRODUCTION
ECOLOGY
and:
NATURAL RESOURCE MANAGEMENT.
Is participation free?
Yes, selected students have:
GROUND TRANSPORT
MEALS
and:
ACCOMMODATION
covered.
Are international flights covered?
Only potentially for a limited number of selected Horn of Africa participants and subject to available funding.
How many students will be selected?
Approximately:
40 PARTICIPANTS.
Can Africans apply?
Yes, but the international call is geographically targeted rather than continent-wide.
Can Zimbabweans apply?
Zimbabwe is not included in the official list of priority international countries for the 2027 call.
Is full attendance mandatory?
Yes.
CRDD explicitly requires participation for the full duration.
What is the deadline?
🚨 NOVEMBER 20, 2026.
When will successful applicants hear back?
CRDD expects to respond in:
EARLY 2027.
🚀 Final Thoughts
Drylands Summer School 2027 in Kenya: Fully Funded Participation for Master’s and PhD Students 🌍🌱
Drylands Summer School 2027 in Kenya: Fully Funded Participation for Master’s and PhD Students 🌍🌱. The Drylands Summer School 2027 in Kenya offers an excellent opportunity for postgraduate researchers working on:
🌾 PASTORALISM
🌍 DRYLAND RESILIENCE
🐄 LIVESTOCK SYSTEMS
🌱 RANGELANDS
🔬 RESEARCH METHODS
and:
🏛️ DRYLAND POLICY.
Selected students will receive support covering:
✅ ACCOMMODATION
✅ MEALS
and:
✅ GROUND TRANSPORTATION.
Drylands Summer School 2027 in Kenya: Fully Funded Participation for Master’s and PhD Students 🌍🌱
The programme combines:
LECTURES
FIELDWORK
PARTICIPATORY EXERCISES
PEER LEARNING
and:
THESIS DISCUSSIONS
with leading researchers and policy experts.
Applicants should remember that international airfare is:
⚠️ LIMITED AND SUBJECT TO ADDITIONAL FUNDING.
Applications must be submitted before:
🚨 20 NOVEMBER 2026.
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🔑 Key Details
Programme: Drylands Summer School 2027
Theme: Building Resilience from Below in the Pastoral Drylands
Organiser: Center for Research and Development in Drylands
Funding Partner: Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research
Country: Kenya 🇰🇪
Venue: Camp Simpirre, Gotu, Isiolo County
Dates: March 16–21, 2027
Format: In Person
Target Group: Master’s & PhD Students
Fields: Development Studies, Sociology, Anthropology, Political Science, Economics, Agriculture, Livestock, Ecology & Natural Resource Management
Accommodation: Covered
Meals: Covered
Ground Transportation: Covered
International Travel: Limited / Subject to Funding
Expected Participants: Around 40
Full Attendance: Required
Application Deadline: November 20, 2026
Results: Expected Early 2027
Status: Applications Open
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