"PhD Studentship: Polycentric Governance of Community Benefit Funds to Support local-to-Regional Sustainability Transitions."

University of Strathclyde

Project summary:

• Community Benefit Funds (CBFs) from low-carbon projects are proliferating in the UK and beyond.
• CBFs are not usually regionally coordinated, focusing instead on delivering local-level community benefits.
• This PhD mobilises systems-thinking to explore innovative polycentric governance approaches to CBFs that deliver both community-level benefits and support regional sustainability transitions.

Subject areas

• Business and management
• Economics
• Politics and Government
• Social Science and Social Care

Start date: 1/5/2026

Deadline: 19/1/2026

Duration: 36 months

Funding: Funded

Funding towards: Home fee, Stipend - UKRI stipend rate for UK students.

Funding details: Fully-funded scholarship for 3 years covers all university tuition fees (at UK level) and an annual tax-free stipend. International students are also eligible to apply, but they will need to find other funding sources to cover the difference between the home and international tuition fees. Exceptional international candidates may be provided funding for this difference.

Number of places: 1

RCUK eligibility: No

Eligibility:

• A background in social science (e.g. business and management, economics, sociology, geography) with a first or 2:1 UK Honours degree, or overseas equivalent.
• A Masters degree in a relevant subject or equivalent work experience will be strongly preferred
• A strong understanding of:
  • Sustainable development
  • Justice and just transitions
  • Community and regional development
  • Policy, governance and markets
• Experience of designing and employing qualitative research methods.
• Excellent interpersonal and teamworking skills

https://www.strath.ac.uk/studywithus/postgraduateresearchphdopportunities/business/huntercentreforentrepreneurship/exploringthemulti-levelgovernanceofcommunitybenefitfunds/

Study modes eligibility: Full-time

Fee Status: Home

Project Details:

• Scotland is home to £40m of Community Benefit Fund (CBF) annual investment, primarily from renewable energy projects. CBF investment is set to grow significantly as CBFs grow in number and expand into other low-carbon projects, such power transmission infrastructure, natural capital etc.
• There is a pressing need to strategically coordinate CBFs’ investment with one another, as well as other funding streams, to ensure these funds generate local community benefits, whilst also contributing to broader regional development goals too.
• This PhD will mobilise systems-thinking to explore whether polycentric governance approaches to CBFs could help achieve this aim.
• Drawing together quantitative and qualitative data, including case studies from Scotland and beyond, the research will examine CBF approaches operating today (sectorally, internationally etc.) and their effectiveness in realising both community benefits and regional development.
• The PhD student will be part of the UKRI funded JUST-Systems consortium; a £5.6 million, five-year multi-institute research programme, that places people and communities at the heart of the Net Zero transition.
• The PhD student will be based within the Strathclyde Institute for Sustainable Communities (SISC); an interdisciplinary research institute that explores pathways for fair and sustainable futures, where communities are represented, empowered and enriched.

Primary Supervisor: Professor Matthew Hannon

Additional Supervisor/s: Dr Jennifer Roberts

Further information: matthew.hannon@strath.ac.uk