UNESCO AfriMAB-GRÓ LRT Land Restoration Fellowships 2026
- Omran Aburayya
- Aug 16
- 3 min read
If you’re an African biosphere reserve professional working to heal our planet, Applications are now open for the AfriMAB-GRÓ LRT Land Restoration Fellowships 2026!
UNESCO, in collaboration with GRÓ Land Restoration Training Programme (GRÓ LRT) hosted at the Agricultural University of Iceland (a UNESCO Category 2 Centre), is offering two fully funded fellowships in ecosystem restoration and sustainable land management specifically for African professionals. These six-month, postgraduate-level fellowships—running from 27 February to 27 August 2026—blend immersive academic coursework, hands-on field training, and a personalized project tailored to your home biosphere reserve’s needs.
🎓 Fellowship Summary
Location: Agricultural University of Iceland (Iceland)
Organizer: GRÓ Land Restoration Training Programme (UNESCO Category 2 Centre)
Study Level: Postgraduate diploma (30 ECTS)
Target Group: African biosphere reserve professionals actively engaged in restoration
Fields of Focus: Ecosystem restoration; sustainable land management
Value & Coverage:
Full tuition and academic expenses
Round-trip travel to/from Iceland
Health insurance
Monthly stipend for living costs
Duration: 6 months (27 Feb–27 Aug 2026)
Application Deadline: 15 September 2025
Start Date: 27 February 2026
Eligible To: African biosphere reserve professionals under 40 years old (with at least one year of experience); exceptions possible with extensive experience
🌏 Fellowship Overview
The GRÓ LRT programme offers a transformative learning journey: the first 12 weeks immerse fellows in academic coursework, technical training, and field visits across Iceland. The final 12 weeks are devoted to a tailored individual project developed in collaboration with the fellow’s home institution—designed to ensure immediate, real-world impact upon return. Graduates receive a Postgraduate Diploma in Ecosystem Restoration and Sustainable Land Management (30 ECTS).
This initiative aligns with the UN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration (2021–2030) and UNESCO’s upcoming MAB Strategic Action Plan, set to be launched at the 5th World Congress of Biosphere Reserves in Hangzhou, China, in September 2025. The fellowship is a strategic step toward building restoration capacity in Africa to address biodiversity loss, climate change, and degraded land.
🎁 Fellowship Benefits
Financial support: Covers tuition, travel, insurance, and living expenses—so fellows can focus fully on learning and restoration efforts.
Academic credential: Leads to a recognized Postgraduate Diploma (30 ECTS)
Practical learning: Blends classroom theory with field training across Iceland’s unique ecosystems
Tailored impact: Individual project designed with your home institution ensures direct application upon return
Global network: Join a growing community of restoration experts and practitioners
✅ Eligibility Criteria
Applicants must:
Hold a prominent role in restoration within a biosphere reserve
Have at least one relevant university degree (e.g. ecology, natural sciences, environmental management)—alternatively, extensive relevant experience may be considered
Have a minimum of one year experience within a biosphere reserve
Be proficient in English
Be under 40 years old (exceptions in extraordinary cases)
Home institution must:
Approve a six-month study leave
Maintain the applicant’s salary and benefits during the fellowship
Guarantee the fellow’s return to their position after completion
📝 Application Procedure
Submit your application by 15 September 2025 via the online form. Applications must include:
Letter of motivation
Curriculum Vitae (CV)
Endorsement from your biosphere reserve
Endorsement from your national MAB Focal Point or MAB Committee
Applications will be jointly reviewed by GRÓ LRT and the UNESCO MAB Secretariat, and only complete applications that meet all eligibility criteria will be considered.
ℹ️ Extra Information
The programme is hosted at a UNESCO Category 2 Centre based at the Agricultural University of Iceland, underscoring UNESCO’s institutional commitment and quality standards.
The training offers broad benefits aligned with global restoration goals, making applicants stronger agents of change in their home contexts.
Highlighting examples from previous cohorts—such as Leonard Gondwe from Malawi, who helped plant over 300,000 seedlings of the endangered Mulanje cedar—reflects the fellowship’s real-world impact.
If you're ready to amplify your restoration impact—with advanced training, practical tools, and a supportive international network—don’t miss this opportunity. Apply by 15 September 2025 and help shape the future of ecosystem restoration in Africa and beyond!
