Advancing intersectional geographies of diaspora-led development in times of multiple crises

About the project

This study investigates the overlapping impact of the COVID-19 and cost-of-living crises on individual and collective remittance practices amongst diaspora communities in the United Kingdom. Using an intersectional and relational approach and deploying innovative and creative participatory methods, the project will explore transnational household dynamics, relations and everyday practices.

There is an increasing urgency to understand the impact of multiple, overlapping national and global crises on individual and collective remittance practices. Whilst data is beginning to emerge on the impacts of COVID-19 on recipient households, the voices of remittance sending communities and households in the United Kingdom, across multiple axes of intersectional differences or oppressions and in context of an emerging cost-of-living crisis, remain absent. Salient questions, therefore, need to be asked about how the compounding, uneven nature of these crises shape remittance and investment decision-making and sending practices, including their individual and collective forms, and the consequences for transnational family and diaspora community dynamics. Further, little is known about how the technologies around remittance sending are changing alongside these, and in response.

The student will develop intersectional approaches and creative methodologies to researching diaspora-led development, using key informant interviews with UK diaspora and origin country community organisations, as well as creative digital participatory methods with transnational households and communities.

The study has strong policy relevance and it will benefit from the international research and policy practitioner networks in diaspora engagement developed by the supervisory team.

We are open to the choice(s) of communities the student will work with.

We strongly encourage applications from PhD candidates who are from a migrant/diaspora background and familiar with the (trans)local context and language(s) of the communities they will research with.

Potential supervisors

• Potential supervisors: Lead supervisor Supervisors Dr Julie Vullnetari Associate Dean (Equality, Diversity & Inclusion)

Supervisors

• Supervisors: Dr Julie Vullnetari Associate Dean (Equality, Diversity & Inclusion)

Dr Julie Vullnetari

• Dr Julie Vullnetari: Associate Dean (Equality, Diversity & Inclusion)

Entry requirements

You require both of the following qualifications in a social science subject:

Applications will be considered based on the candidate's:

• a UK bachelor's degree with 2:1 honours (or international equivalent)
• a master of science (MSc) with 2:1 honours/merit (or international equivalent)
• experience of qualitative research methods
• understanding of participatory methodologies and approaches
• interest in the relationship between migration and development, and awareness of geographical and other inequalities

International applications

If English isn't your first language, you'll need to complete an International English Language Testing System (IELTS) to demonstrate your competence in English.

You'll need to achieve IELTS 7.0 overall with a minimum of 6.5 in all components.

Fees and funding

This project is funded by the ESRC South Coast Doctoral Training Partnership .

Tuition fees will be paid and you'll receive a stipend (living allowance) of up to £17,668 tax-free per year, for up to 3.5 years.

You can also claim funding for training and fieldwork.

How to apply

You must submit 2 application forms, one each to:

• University of Southampton
• ESRC South Coast Doctoral Training Partnership

University of Southampton application

Apply to University of Southampton

You need to:

• choose programme type (Research), 2023/24, Faculty of Environmental and Life Science
• choose PhD in Geography and Environmental Science (Full time)
• add name of the supervisor (Dr Jennifer Dickinson) in section 2

ESRC South Coast Doctoral Training Partnership

Apply to ESRC South Coast Doctoral Training Partnership

You must submit your application to the University of Southampton before you apply to the ESCR South Coast Doctoral Training Partnership

Faculty of Environmental and Life Science

Email: fels-pgr-apply@soton.ac.uk

ESRC South Coast Doctoral Partnership

Email: scdtp@soton.ac.uk

Project leader

If you wish to discuss any details of the project informally, please contact Dr Jennifer Dickinson.

• email: j.dickinson@southampton.ac.uk
• phone: +44 (0)23 8059 2977

Research areas