GRÓ Land Restoration Training Programme graduated 19 fellows
The GRÓ Land Restoration Training Programme (GRÓ LRT) celebrated the graduation of 19 specialists in sustainable land management and ecosystem restoration this week at a ceremony held at the Agricultural University of Iceland, Keldnaholt campus. This marks the 18th graduating cohort since the programme was established in 2007.
The graduating fellows came from nine partner countries in Africa and Asia: Benin, South Africa, Ghana, Kenya, Kyrgyzstan, Lesotho, Malawi, Mongolia, and Uganda. This is the first time the programme has graduated fellows from Benin and South Africa.
Speeches at the ceremony were delivered by Nína Björk Jónsdóttir, Director-General of GRÓ, Sjöfn Vilhelmsdóttir, Director of GRÓ LRT, and Ragnheiður I. Þórarinsdóttir, Rector of the Agricultural University of Iceland. Two of the fellows also addressed the audience: Emma Akinyi Odera from the Centre for Training and Integrated Research in ASAL Development in Kenya, and Otabek Nigmatov from the American University of Central Asia in Kyrgyzstan.
Emma and Otabek reflected on their experiences in the programme and how it has strengthened both their professional expertise and their commitment to ecological restoration. As Otabek put it: “…while we come from different places, we share one goal: restoring our lands and communities.”
They both emphasized that the programme had also strengthened them personally and deepened their bonds with the other fellows. As Emma said: “Every conversation, every adventure, every knowledge exchange helped me grow, not just professionally, but personally.”
The fellows represent GRÓ LRT’s partner institutions, including ministries, environmental agencies, local authorities, NGOs, universities, and research institutions. As in recent years, the cohort also included fellows working in biosphere reserves that are part of UNESCO’s Man and the Biosphere (MAB) Programme.
Since its foundation, 240 fellows have graduated from the six-month GRÓ LRT training. Altogether, the four GRÓ programmes have trained 1,835 professionals through their five- to six-month training courses.
We warmly congratulate the Class of 2025 and wish them every success in their future endeavours!
