Nine Master’s Students Awarded ICLD’s Fieldwork Grant

Nine master’s students studying at Swedish universities are awarded ICLD’s Fieldwork Grant for thesis research. The students will conduct fieldwork in Guatemala, Ukraine, Kenya, Zambia, Colombia and South Africa during the spring of 2025.

On November 18th the students participated in an introductory workshop at Gothenburg University where they presented their proposals to receive feedback on how to further sharpen their research. The workshop was also an opportunity to get to know ICLD, learn how their research ties to local democracy and how it may be relevant for local governments. 

The students will be travelling to Guatemala, Ukraine, Kenya, Zambia, Colombia, and South Africa. The research projects connect to ICLD’s core values of equity, participation, transparency and accountability. They cover relevant themes such as climate adaptation, citizen participation and women’s political representation. Each thesis shall contribute to the understanding of how local democracy and local governance can contribute to achieving sustainable development and poverty reduction. 

We wish the students the very best as they proceed with their fieldwork and data collection. 

The recipients are:

Iraide Arcos Fabrega, University of Gothenburg, Political Science. “Agroecology as a tool for participation in local governance. Economic and political empowerment of Mayan-Q’eqchi’ peasant women in Guatemala” (Guatemala)

Eliza Kravchenko, Uppsala University, International Humanitarian Assistance. “Community Perceptions and Trust in the Humanitarian Response in Lviv Region” (Ukraine)

Lucrecia Cristina Charchalac Ochoa, University of Gothenburg, Political Science. “The Psychology of Environmental Stewardship: Understanding Social Norms, Collective Identity and Local Governance in the 48 Cantones of Totonicapán, Guatemala” (Guatemala)

Jan Philipp Berndt, Lund University, Environmental Studies and Sustainability Science. “On the Correlation between Climate Resilience and Forced Displacement in the Rift Valley Province, Kenya: A Bottom-Up Assessement” (Kenya)

Caroline Bergqvist, University of Gothenburg, Human Rights. “Reducing Infant Mortality Among Children of Teenage Mothers in Zambia Through Local Democracy” (Zambia)

Natalia Melo Perez, Lund University, Environmental Studies and Sustainability Science. “Sustaining Life: The role of women in ecological integrity through culinary traditional practices in Vaupes, Colombian Amazon” (Colombia)

Eila Strandmark, Lund University, International Development and Management. “Turning crisis into opportunity: A qualitative case study of nature-based solutions’ impact on women’s disaster resilience, preparedness and recovery in Tana River County in Kenya” (Kenya)

Anna Stenkert, Lund University, Environmental Studies and Sustainability Science. “South Africa’s Just Energy Transition Partnership (JETP) as a path towards place-based, democratic, and equitable energy transitions?” (South Africa)

Nomandla Singeni, Stockholm University, International Comparative Education. “The Challenges Faced by Educators in Implementing Human Rights Education (HRE) in South African Schools” (South Africa)

For more information about the grant and how to apply, please check ICLD’s page for the Fieldwork Grant.