Environmental Science

Doctor of Philosophy in Natural Resources and Peace

The Doctor of Philosophy in Natural Resources and Peace is a postgraduate research programme offered at Egerton University through the Faculty of Environment and Resource Development. The programme trains scholars to conduct advanced research on the intersection of natural resource management and peacebuilding, addressing resource-based conflicts, environmental security, and sustainable resource governance in Kenya and the East African region.

Students engage with natural resource governance, environmental conflict, peacebuilding theory, resource-based conflict analysis, environmental security, and research methodology. The programme is delivered by thesis, requiring candidates to develop a research proposal, conduct independent field research, and produce a doctoral dissertation that makes an original contribution to the field of natural resources and peace.

Kenya and the broader East African region face numerous resource-based conflicts including water conflicts, land disputes, pastoralist conflicts over grazing resources, and conflicts over mineral extraction. The programme addresses these challenges under Vision 2030 and national peacebuilding frameworks by training researchers who can inform conflict-sensitive resource management and peacebuilding policy.

Teaching methods include supervised research, field studies in conflict-affected areas, seminars, and thesis writing. Candidates work with supervisors to develop proposals, conduct field research on resource-conflict dynamics, and write their dissertations. The programme is delivered full-time over a minimum of three years at Egerton University's main campus in Njoro.

Graduates pursue careers as university lecturers, environmental conflict researchers, peacebuilding specialists, natural resource managers, and policy analysts in universities, research institutions, government agencies, NGOs, and international organisations working at the environment-peace nexus.

This programme is ideal for holders of a Master's degree in natural resources, environmental studies, peace studies, conflict management, or related disciplines who are committed to advancing knowledge at the intersection of resource management and peacebuilding.

Duration: 3 years
Public, up to: Ksh 474,000
Private, up to: Ksh 313,700
Job market: Moderate

The programme

What you study, how long it takes, and how it is delivered.

Practicalities

Study mode: Full-time, Part-time
Attachment: 0 months
Average class: 5 students
Award: PhD

What you study

10 subjects

Natural Resource Governance
Environmental Conflict Analysis
Peacebuilding Theory
Resource-Based Conflict
Environmental Security
Research Methodology
Sustainable Resource Management
Thesis Research
Environmental Policy
Conflict-Sensitive Development

Modules

10 in the programme

Natural Resource Governance and Policy
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Frameworks for governing natural resources including property rights, decentralisation, and community-based resource management
Environmental Conflict Analysis
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Theories and methods for analysing environmental conflicts including drivers, dynamics, and resolution mechanisms
Peacebuilding Theory and Practice
Year 1Semester 33 creditsCore
Contemporary peacebuilding approaches, liberal peace, local peacebuilding, and environmental peacebuilding
Resource-Based Conflict in East Africa
Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore
Analysis of resource-based conflicts in the East African region including water, land, pasture, and mineral conflicts
Environmental Security and Climate Conflict
Year 2Semester 23 creditsCore
Environmental security theory, climate change as a conflict multiplier, and security implications of environmental degradation
Sustainable Resource Management and Peace
Year 2Semester 33 creditsCore
Sustainable natural resource management approaches that promote peace and prevent resource-based conflict
Research Methodology in Environmental Peace Studies
Year 3Semester 13 creditsCore
Qualitative and quantitative research methods for studying resource-conflict dynamics and peacebuilding outcomes
Conflict-Sensitive Development and Policy
Year 3Semester 23 creditsCore
Integrating conflict sensitivity into development policy and natural resource management programmes
Thesis Proposal Development
Year 3Semester 33 creditsCore
Development and defence of a doctoral research proposal on a natural resources and peace topic
Thesis Research and Writing
Year 4Semester 16 creditsCore
Independent doctoral research culminating in a thesis defended before internal and external examiners

Specialisations

Environmental Science
Specialization in Environmental Science, preparing graduates for careers such as environmental-scientist.
Conservation Management
Specialization in Conservation Management, preparing graduates for careers such as conservation-area-manager.
Conflict Resolution Practice
Specialization in Conflict Resolution Practice, preparing graduates for careers such as conflict-resolution-officer-junior.
Peacebuilding and Conflict Resolution
Specialization in Peacebuilding and Conflict Resolution, preparing graduates for careers such as peacebuilding-specialist.
Sustainability Management
Specialization in Sustainability Management, preparing graduates for careers such as sustainability-manager.
Water Resource Management
Specialization in Water Resource Management, preparing graduates for careers such as water-resource-manager.

A day as a student

A typical day involves independent research, reviewing literature on resource-conflict dynamics, analysing field data from conflict-affected communities, and writing under supervisor guidance. Students attend research seminars, present findings at departmental colloquia, and conduct fieldwork in resource-conflict areas.

The trade offs

In its favour

Unique interdisciplinary programme addressing Kenya's resource-based conflicts
Relatively affordable tuition at Egerton University
Opportunities with UNEP, IUCN, NCIC, and peacebuilding NGOs
Contributes to both environmental sustainability and peacebuilding in Kenya

Against it

Career paths are less defined than in purely technical environmental science fields
Limited to one confirmed institution offering this specific programme
Field research in conflict-affected areas may involve security risks
Research funding for environmental peace studies is less established than for STEM fields

What it costs

Tuition at both ends of the market, and how to pay for it.

What it costs, and where

Against 181 environmental science courses

Public170k to 474k

170k at Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology474k at University of Nairobi

Private150k to 314k

150k at Mount Kenya University314k at Kabarak University

Annual tuition in Kenyan shillings, rounded. The upright tick is the median for this field, so a bar sitting entirely to its right is an expensive programme by the standards of its own subject.

The fine print

UoN WMI PhD ~474K/yr (wmi.uonbi.ac.ke). JKUAT ~170K. MKU 150K, Kabarak ~314K/yr

Students may access HELB postgraduate loans, DAAD scholarships, NRF research grants, and IUCN conservation fellowships.

Funding options

HELB Postgraduate Loan
LoanKsh 80,000
DAAD Scholarship
Scholarship
NRF Research Grant
Grant
IUCN Research Fellowship
Fellowship

Scholarships

3 recorded

DAAD Scholarship
ScholarshipKenyan
African graduates meeting academic criteria for doctoral study
HELB Postgraduate Loan
LoanKsh 80,000Kenyan
Kenyan postgraduate students enrolled in recognised universities
NRF Research Grant
GrantKenyan
Researchers at Kenyan institutions conducting research relevant to national development

Getting in

The grades, the alternatives, and who accredits the award.

What you need

KCSE mean grade: C+
Alternative entry: Relevant diploma or equivalent qualification

Master's Degree
Master's degree in Natural Resources, Environmental Studies, Peace Studies, or related discipline from a recognised university
Research capability
Evidence of research ability through publications, reports, or academic work
Concept note
Concept note of 5-7 pages outlining the proposed research area

How you are assessed

3 components

Thesis Examination
Coursework100% of the mark
Oral Viva Voce
Coursework100% of the mark
Proposal Defence
Coursework100% of the mark

Accreditation

Accredited by the Commission for University Education (CUE). Graduates may register as NEMA associates for environmental impact assessment practice.

Accredited by

Commission for University Education (CUE)
Academic accreditationRequired
Mandatory accreditation for all university programmes in Kenya

Where it leads

The roles it opens, and what you leave with.

Where graduates go

4 roles

University Lecturer (Environmental Studies)
High demandKsh 80,000 to Ksh 180,000
Teaches environmental studies and conducts research on resource-conflict dynamics in university departments
Environmental Conflict Researcher
Moderate demandKsh 70,000 to Ksh 160,000
Conducts research on environmental conflicts at research institutions, think tanks, or NGOs
Peacebuilding Specialist
Moderate demandKsh 80,000 to Ksh 200,000
Designs and implements peacebuilding programmes addressing resource conflicts for international organisations and NGOs
Natural Resource Manager
Moderate demandKsh 70,000 to Ksh 160,000
Manages natural resources with conflict-sensitive approaches at government agencies or conservation organisations

Graduate outcomes

Graduates work as university lecturers, environmental conflict researchers, peacebuilding specialists, natural resource managers, and policy analysts in universities, government agencies, NGOs, and international organisations.

Where these fields lead

8 careers

Certifications

Industry links

Common misconceptions

Natural resources and peace is not a real academic field
The intersection of natural resource management and peacebuilding is a well-established interdisciplinary field drawing on environmental science, political science, and conflict studies, with growing importance in resource-conflict regions.
Resource conflicts in Kenya are purely ethnic
Many conflicts in Kenya are fundamentally about access to and control of natural resources including land, water, and grazing pastures, requiring resource-focused conflict analysis and resolution.
A PhD in natural resources and peace has limited career prospects
Graduates work in universities, government peacebuilding agencies, UNEP, NGOs, and international organisations addressing resource conflicts and environmental security.
This field is only relevant to conflict zones
Resource-peace research is relevant to all areas where natural resource management decisions affect community relations, including conservation areas, water allocation, and land reform.

Related courses

Phd in peace and conflict management