The trepidations of a PhD researcher – Who are you and why are you here?

Abstract

This paper contributes to research that has a predominant focus on Western researchers in the global South. First, the paper examines how my African identity fits into a Western discourse of being a researcher and their intersections with my other personalities as I world-travel. "World-travelling" is about the plurality of selves and an opening for self-construction. Second, the paper elaborates on violence and intimidation in the field and how researchers may succeed or fail in negotiating such risks. As a non-native researcher in a UK-based University, I acknowledge my plurality of selves and the skills needed to navigate these social worlds.

Broken promises: a rights-based analysis of marginalised livelihoods and experiences of food insecurity in large-scale land investments in Tanzania

“…In Village 1, fourteen participants were split into two equal groups -seven men and seven women, allowing us to conduct two FGDs, which each lasted about two hours. The FGD in Village 2 was limited to one session with both male and female participants because of the sudden termination of the first author's research permit (Talleh Nkobou, 2020). Focus groups were specifically useful in exploring the perceptions of village members regarding institutions related to land investments; the role played by key actors, e.g., government officials in land investments; human rights and recourse mechanisms, for example the support provided by the government in case of the violations of rights; and the gendered implications of the LSLIs.…”

“…As already mentioned, the lack of sound data on LSLI is exacerbated by (i) the reluctance of governments and investors to reveal information on land-based investments which are controversially deemed to be proprietary and confidential (Cotula, 2011), (ii) the varied nature and definitions of LSLIs (Anseeuw, 2013), (iii) the lack of rigour in research methodologies (Edelman, 2013;Locher & Sulle, 2014;Oya, 2013), and (iv) the risks involved in researching such a politically charged phenomenon (Cramer et al, 2015;Talleh Nkobou, 2020). These challenges and limitations can lead to what Oya (2013) describes as 'killer facts' within LSLI research, or, stated differently, 'the extent to which data reflects realities … is questionable' (Oya, 2013, 505).…”

NGO-Led Community-Based Conservation: A New Frontier of Territorialization with Implications for Pastoralists’ Land Tenure and Climate Change Adaptation

“…Methodological challenges in studying large-scale land control processes have been documented. These include the tendency of activist organizations and media to rely on quick 'killer facts' [134], as well as the reluctance of promoters and investors to share data with researchers [135]. We overcame these challenges using an inductive research approach, allowing for data to inform an appropriate analytical framework.…”

“…We overcame these challenges using an inductive research approach, allowing for data to inform an appropriate analytical framework. This mitigated the challenges associated with any priori constructs, which could undermine the relations between us as researchers and NGO-led CBC promoters, investors, and interests (see, for instance, [135]).…”

“…A broad range of published and grey literature was examined and interpreted, providing a critical and historicized understanding of the contextual and broader social, political, and ecological dynamics shaping pastoralism, biodiversity conservation, and climate change Methodological challenges in studying large-scale land control processes have been documented. These include the tendency of activist organizations and media to rely on quick 'killer facts' [134], as well as the reluctance of promoters and investors to share data with researchers [135]. We overcame these challenges using an inductive research approach, allowing for data to inform an appropriate analytical framework.…”