Embassy of Iceland Hosts GRÓ Alumni Reception in Mongolia

The Embassy of Iceland in Beijing hosted a fruitful networking reception for GRÓ alumni in Ulaanbaatar, the capital of Mongolia. Mongolia has long been one of GRÓ’s most engaged and valued partner countries, and the event provided a meaningful opportunity to connect alumni across the GRÓ training programmes and to strengthen ties between the alumni community, the Embassy of Iceland and UNESCO, as GRÓ works under the auspices of UNESCO.

The Honorary Consul of Iceland in Mongolia, Mr. Bold Magvan, welcomed the group, and the Deputy Head of Mission of the Embassy of Iceland, Ms. Inga Dóra Pétursdóttir, delivered a presentation introducing the new opportunity of establishing a GRÓ Mongolia Network. This initiative is part of a broader effort by the GRÓ Centre to create national alumni networks—volunteer-led associations that bring together alumni from all four GRÓ training programmes focusing on land restoration (GRÓ LRT), geothermal energy (GRÓ GTP), fisheries (GRÓ FTP), and gender equality (GRÓ GEST).

The aim of such networks is to promote continued professional development, foster peer collaboration, and strengthen the long-standing relationship between GRÓ alumni and Iceland. They also serve as platforms for ongoing dialogue with the Icelandic Embassy and UNESCO.

The reception concluded with a broader networking event, bringing together alumni with local business leaders, financiers, UN agencies, academics, and members of the diplomatic community.

Since its establishment in 2007, the GRÓ Land Restoration Training Programme (GRÓ LRT) has developed a particularly strong partnership with Mongolia. With 37 Mongolian fellows having completed the programme, Mongolia now represents the largest national group of GRÓ LRT alumni worldwide. Many of these alumni were in attendance, and their continued efforts to promote sustainable development in Mongolia are both acknowledged and appreciated.

One notable example is Dr. Sumjidmaa Sainnemekh, the first GRÓ LRT PhD scholarship recipient. Dr. Sainnemekh completed her doctoral studies at the Agricultural University of Iceland in 2022 and currently serves as a rangeland management specialist with The Nature Conservancy in Mongolia.

Bilateral cooperation also extends into the field of geothermal energy. Through the GRÓ Geothermal Training Programme, sixteen Mongolian experts have received advanced technical training. In 2023, the programme conducted a mission to Mongolia to deepen institutional partnerships and identify new candidates. Among GRÓ GTP alumni in Mongolia is Mr. Purevsuren Dorj, who is also a GRÓ GTP Master’s scholarship recipient. He now leads the Renewable Energy Division at the National Energy Center of Mongolia.

Iceland’s partnership with Mongolia also includes collaboration in the field of gender equality—one of the central priorities of Iceland’s international development policy. One Mongolian fellow has completed the GRÓ Gender Equality Studies and Training Programme, and this remains an important area for future cooperation.

The event in Ulaanbaatar stands as a testament to the depth and diversity of the Iceland–Mongolia relationship, built on decades of collaboration and shared commitment to sustainable development.