Please read this page in its entirety before nominating!
As part of bilateral cooperation between Ukraine and Iceland, the Icelandic Ministry for Foreign Affairs has provided GRÓ GEST with funding for up to two Ukrainian fellows to attend the GRÓ Gender Equality Studies and Training Programme in 2027.
GRÓ GEST is a 30 ECTS postgraduate programme hosted by the University of Iceland. The programme runs in Iceland from January to May 2027 and is designed for professionals working to advance gender equality, social justice, and institutional change. It combines academic training with practical tools for gender analysis, policy work, project development, research, and transnational dialogue.
Find more information about the programme on www.gest.org.
Ukrainian organisations and institutions are invited to nominate qualified candidates for this special call. Please note that nominations must be submitted by organisations or institutions. Individual applications cannot be accepted at the nomination stage.
Find the link for nominations here: https://www.grocentre.is/gest/moya/formbuilder/index/index/fellowship-nomination-form-for-2027-gro-gest-programme-special-call
Target group
This call is intended for Ukrainian professionals, young researchers, and institutional actors whose work contributes to the advancement of gender equality in Ukraine. We especially welcome nominations of candidates working in areas such as gender equality policy, women’s rights, gender-based violence prevention and response, peacebuilding, post-war recovery, human rights, social inclusion, education, civil society development, or gender mainstreaming in public institutions.
Candidates should be in a position where participation in the GRÓ GEST programme can strengthen both their own professional capacity and the work of their organisation or institution.
Eligibility criteria
Nominees should:
- be Ukrainian nationals and residents, or otherwise clearly connected to gender equality work in Ukraine under this special call;
- be gainfully employed by the nominating organisation or institution;
- work in a field relevant to the advancement of gender equality;
- have completed at least one university degree at BA/BS/BEd level or equivalent;
- have at least two years of relevant professional experience;
- be fluent in spoken and written English;
- demonstrate leadership potential and a clear commitment to gender equality;
- preferably be junior professionals or young researchers, with priority generally given to candidates under the age of 35.
Final assignment
All candidates must have a strong and realistic idea for a final assignment before applying. The final assignment is developed throughout the programme in Iceland and must be directly relevant to the candidate’s work and institutional context.
Candidates may apply through one of two tracks:
Project Track: for candidates who wish to develop a practical project proposal to be implemented in Ukraine after the programme. Project ideas must have the support of the nominating organisation or institution.
Research Track: for candidates with a strong academic background who wish to develop a research project with potential for publication in a respected academic journal.
Candidates without a clear, feasible, and relevant project or research idea are unlikely to be selected.
Scholarship
The scholarship covers international travel, housing in Iceland, per diem during the five-month programme, teaching, learning materials, and access to programme facilities.
Nomination requirements
Nominating organisations or institutions should use the linked nomination form to submit:
- the nominee’s full name;
- the nominee’s position/title and institutional affiliation;
- the nominee’s email address;
- a short description of the nominee’s current work and relevance to gender equality;
- a brief explanation of why the organisation is nominating this candidate;
- a short description of the candidate’s proposed project or research idea;
- confirmation that the candidate has sufficient English proficiency to participate in postgraduate-level study.
Timeline
- Nomination deadline: 15 July 2026
- Application deadline for invited nominees: 17 August 2026
- Programme period: January–May 2027
Following review of nominations, qualified nominees will be invited by GRÓ GEST to submit a full application with supporting documentation. Only nominated candidates who are invited by GRÓ GEST may submit a full application.
Nomination form/link: https://www.grocentre.is/gest/moya/formbuilder/index/index/fellowship-nomination-form-for-2027-gro-gest-programme-special-call
Further information regarding admission requirements:
https://www.grocentre.is/gest/capacity-development-gest/postgraduate-diploma-programme-1/admission
Contact for questions: gest@hi.is*
*please note that GEST offices are closed after Friday 17 July 2026 and reopen on Monday 10 August 2026.