From conflict to coexistence - How can new biodiversity finance approaches promote elephants and humans living in harmony?

The Global Biodiversity Framework commits countries to minimizing human-wildlife conflict and promoting coexistence, emphasizing private sector roles in conservation funding. This project addresses escalating conflicts between humans and the critically endangered Sumatran elephant, focusing on the Peusangan Elephant Conservation Initiative (PECI) in Aceh, Indonesia. PECI pilots innovative financing, blending traditional and private sector funding, to protect elephants and restore habitats while fostering local livelihoods through agroforestry and a nature-first economy. In close collaboration with WWF Indonesia, UGM University, and WWF UK, you will assess the impact of interventions designed to promote coexistence by reducing human-elephant interactions. The research blends fieldwork in rural Sumatra, data analysis, and applied research to inform ongoing projects. You will engage with multiple stakeholders across different cultures and languages, contributing to conservation and rural development. Deliver evidence on the effectiveness of new financing approaches and conservation interventions on human-elephant coexistence, pro-environmental behavior, and livelihood improvements. Provide practical recommendations for scaling conservation finance models integrating private sector investment and community participation in biodiversity protection. The critically endangered Sumatran elephant faces threats from habitat loss and ongoing conflict with humans. This research offers vital insights into conservation finance innovations that can enable sustainable coexistence between humans and wildlife, informing global biodiversity goals and supporting fragile ecosystems and communities.

Qualifications equivalent to a UK first or upper second-class honours degree, or a masters in a relevant subject. Strong intellectual curiosity, excellent project management and communication skills, understanding of biodiversity conservation and/or rural livelihoods, resilience and ability to work independently, ability to collaborate across stakeholders, cultures and languages, and capacity to conduct fieldwork in rural Sumatra. Desirable: ability to speak Bahasa Indonesian or related languages, experience conducting social science research in rural Southeast Asia, and knowledge of statistical and spatial analysis (especially R). Non-traditional academic backgrounds are welcome.

Submit by email to Dr Leejiah Dorward at l.dorward@bangor.ac.uk with subject line "WGSSS collaborative PhD application (Conflict to coexistence)" by midnight on 05 May 2026. Include:
(1) completed WGSSS Application Form (Section 3 Welsh Language not required; Section 4 should reflect your own thoughts on how the project could develop);
(2) academic CV (max 2 pages) addressing essential and desirable criteria;
(3) 2 academic or professional references detailing research strengths;
(4) degree certificates and transcripts (with translations if applicable)
; (5) proof of English Language Competency if relevant. Interviews will be conducted via Teams on 18 May 2026. Informal enquiries: f.stjohn@bangor.ac.uk.