Applications are open for the 2026 AfriMAB–GRÓ Land Restoration Training (LRT) Fellowships, offering African biosphere reserve professionals a rare chance to receive six months of fully funded postgraduate training in Iceland.
Hosted at the GRÓ LRT, a UNESCO Category 2 Centre at the Agricultural University of Iceland, the programme runs from 27 February to 27 August 2026. Fellows receive full tuition, round-trip airfare, health insurance, academic materials, and a monthly stipend for living expenses.
The training combines 12 weeks of academic and field courses on restoration ecology, land degradation, sustainable land use, and project design, followed by 12 weeks working on an individual project developed with GRÓ LRT mentors and the fellow's home institution. Graduates earn a Postgraduate Diploma in Ecosystem Restoration and Sustainable Land Management (30 ECTS).
Eligibility: Applicants must be under 40, hold a relevant degree or have substantial restoration experience, possess at least one year of work in a biosphere reserve, be proficient in English, and have institutional approval for six months' study leave with guaranteed return to their role.
Applications require a motivation letter, CV, endorsement from the biosphere reserve, and a recommendation from the national MAB Focal Point or Committee.
Deadline: 15 September 2025. Apply via the official online portal.
This fellowship strengthens restoration expertise across Africa, empowering professionals to combat land degradation, biodiversity loss, and climate change.
