Job Description

Applications are invited for a postdoctoral fellowship with SANBI's Division: Biodiversity Research, Assessment and Monitoring and the African Climate & Development Institute (ACDI) at the University of Cape Town to support research on the scientific justification for the ecological aspects of Ecosystem based Adaptation (EbA) and Nature based Solutions (NbS) interventions in South Africa.

The postdoctoral fellowship is under the auspices of the project titled, 'Unlocking Climate Finance for Climate Change Adaptation, which has been awarded to SANBI by the Government of Flanders. The project aims to develop and enhance SANBI's institutional capacity in climate change and biodiversity adaptation in its role as a National Implementing Entity for the Adaptation Fund (AF) and Green Climate Fund (GCF) in South Africa. The postdoctoral fellowship will fall within Result Area 2 of this project which is: Policy-Science Interface for climate change adaptation strengthened to facilitate improved integration of climate science into SANBI's GCF programme of work. The research would address the scientific underpinning of nature-based approaches as an adaptation strategy for climate change.

Requirements: The postdoctoral fellowship is open to individuals who have completed a PhD in the last five years or have submitted their PhD and will be awarded by early 2024. Applicants may not previously have held full-time permanent professional or academic posts. Applicants must have a strong ecological background, preferably including work in multiple South African biomes. Applicants must be independent and proactive with a peer-reviewed publication track record corresponding to the applicant's career stage. Applicants must demonstrate an ability to undertake research, assess and synthesise literature, and use scientific evidence to formulate defendable recommendations. Past experience working with climate change projections will be an advantage. The individual must be comfortable and confident with stakeholder engagement including EbA practitioners, government, academia and civil society in South Africa.

Research Areas: In the overall context of climate change impacts, the main areas of research are:

(1) Review existing EbA and NbS principles, criteria and indicators to develop a framework for assessing the success of EbA / NbS interventions;

(2) assess existing South African research literature and project experience on the impacts of EbA/ NbS interventions on the resilience of the flow of ecosystem services in different biomes;

(3) produce a final report that can be published as a peer reviewed article on the scientific basis for EbA / NbS interventions in South African biomes.

Bursary value: A fellowship based on R350,000 per year and is available until 30 November 2024. An extension of the project may be possible based on the availability of funding and progress. Some running expenses will also be made available each year.

Application procedure: Each application is to be accompanied by a standard bursary application cover sheet (attached to this advert). Applications are to include a full CV; certified copies of ID and academic records; two letters of reference (one must be from an academic supervisor); examples of published work and a short motivation letter describing the applicant's suitability for the position in terms of skills and experience.

Send all documents to with SANBI-UCT Climate change and ecosystem adaptation Postdoctoral Fellowship in the subject line.

Contact details

Academic queries can be directed to Dr Graham von Maltitz ( ) and Dr Petra Holden . Questions about the application process should be sent to Ms Renxc3xa9 du Toit ( ).

SANBI reserves the right not to fill this fellowship. If no response has been received by end April 2024, candidates may assume that their applications were unsuccessful.

Closes: Thursday, 29 February 2024 (The successful candidate will be notified by the end of March 2024)
Location: Cape Town

ABOUT SANBI

The South African National Biodiversity Institute (SANBI) contributes to South Africa's sustainable development by facilitating access to biodiversity data, generating information and knowledge, building capacity, providing policy advice, showcasing and conserving biodiversity in its national botanical and zoological gardens.

SANBI