When the Sentinel project began in 2017 it put out a call for proposals from PhD candidates through its partner, The Regional Universities Forum for Capacity Building in Agriculture (RUFORUM). Candidates were asked to propose topics on: 

• the environmental and social impacts of agricultural expansion under different pathways
• critical success factors in efforts in the agriculture and/or forestry sector that help manage the trade-offs between agricultural production, and 
• conservation and analysis of the effectiveness of current land use planning mechanisms/approaches. 

Successful candidates would be offered a US$7500 research grant over four years to carry out their PhD research in line with the Sentinel project’s areas of study.

Twenty-five candidates, largely from the project’s focal countries (Ghana, Zambia and Ethiopia), were selected for the research grants. Of the 25, four were from Ghana, two of whom were studying at the University of Ghana. 

The students – Seyram Loh and Jacqueline Baidoo – have been sharing their experiences with me in my role as Communications and Liaison Officer.

Seyram Loh is studying at the Institute for Environment and Sanitation Studies. During the COVID-19 lockdown, Loh presented his research proposal to his institute on 'The effect of agricultural land use on biodiversity in Ghana.' During the presentation, delivered via Zoom, members of his faculty were invited to critique his work and suggest ideas on how to improve his proposal. 

Later in the year, Jacqueline Baidoo, studying with the Geography and Resource Development Department, will present her proposal to research the economic feasibility of forests.

In late 2019, the PhD candidates attended RUFORUM’s Annual General Meeting (AGM) – the forum’s supreme decision-making platform – held at the University of Cape Coast, Ghana. Vice chancellors, researchers, development partners and government officials from across Africa attended. 

For Baidoo, meeting other PhD candidates from other universities was the highlight, while Loh shared how he had learnt valuable background about the Sentinel project.

“During the AGM we were taken through the various scenarios that had been developed by the project. We were also taken through a series of lectures and had the opportunity to present our research topics to which feedback was provided” he said.

Loh added that the critique he received after presenting his proposal at the AGM contributed to the successful presentation of his proposal topic to his institute. He expressed interest in getting access to the various research topics that other PhD candidates, funded by the project, are working on. 

RUFORUM, through the development of online skills training sessions, webinars and learning exchanges, intends to bring the PhD students together more frequently so they can learn from each other as well as interact more with the Sentinel project.

Delali Kumapley is Communications & Liaison Officer for the Sentinel Ghana Project