UNESCO-Affiliated Centre for Sustainable Development and Capacity Building
Associated with :
The University of IcelandGRÓ (International Centre for Capacity Development, Sustainability and Societal Change) operates under UNESCO's auspices as Iceland's premier institution for development cooperation, focusing on four critical areas through specialized training programs. Established with core funding from the Icelandic government's development assistance budget, GRÓ has trained over 1,670 fellows through its six-month programs and supported 128 scholars in obtaining advanced degrees at Icelandic universities. The centre's four flagship programs - the Fisheries Training Programme (FTP), Gender Equality Studies and Training Programme (GEST), Geothermal Training Programme (GTP), and Land Restoration Training Programme (LRT) - address specific UN Sustainable Development Goals while leveraging Iceland's expertise in these fields. Since its inception, GRÓ has expanded its reach to over 100 partner countries, conducting short courses for nearly 5,000 participants in developing nations, while securing additional funding through partner institutions, grants, and international project participation. The centre's impact is particularly evident in its alumni's achievements, from contributing to constitutional amendments addressing gender equality to advancing sustainable resource management practices in their home countries