As African countries continue to confront the growing threats of land degradation, biodiversity loss, and climate change, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) has launched a major opportunity for young environmental professionals across the continent through the AfriMAB-GRÓ LRT Land Restoration Fellowships 2026.
The fully funded fellowship program, organized under UNESCO’s Man and the Biosphere (MAB) Program in partnership with the GRÓ Land Restoration Training Program (GRÓ LRT) in Iceland, is designed to equip African biosphere reserve professionals with advanced knowledge and practical skills in ecosystem restoration and sustainable land management.
Applications officially opened in August 2025, with selected fellows expected to undertake a six-month postgraduate-level training program in Iceland from 27 February to 27 August 2026. The initiative is hosted at the Agricultural University of Iceland, a UNESCO Category 2 Centre recognized internationally for its expertise in land restoration and environmental sustainability.
The program arrives at a critical moment for Africa, where millions of hectares of land are affected by desertification, deforestation, soil erosion, and unsustainable agricultural practices. Environmental experts warn that land degradation continues to threaten food security, biodiversity, water systems, and rural livelihoods across many African countries.
According to UNESCO, the fellowship seeks to build a new generation of restoration practitioners capable of addressing these environmental challenges using science-based and community-centered solutions. The organization emphasized that restoring ecosystems is becoming increasingly important under the United Nations Decade on Ecosystem Restoration (2021–2030).
“Degraded ecosystems threaten biodiversity, livelihoods, and climate stability,”
UNESCO stated in the fellowship announcement, highlighting the urgent need for trained restoration professionals across the continent.
The AfriMAB-GRÓ LRT Fellowship specifically targets professionals working within biosphere reserves, which are protected areas recognized under UNESCO’s Man and the Biosphere Program for balancing biodiversity conservation with sustainable development. Africa currently hosts dozens of biosphere reserves spread across countries including Kenya, Tanzania, Nigeria, South Africa, Ethiopia, Ghana, Senegal, and Malawi.
Successful fellows will receive full financial support covering tuition fees, round-trip travel to Iceland, health insurance, and monthly living stipends throughout the program. UNESCO confirmed that at least two fully funded fellowship positions will be available for the 2026 intake.
The training structure combines academic learning with practical field experience. During the first 12 weeks, fellows participate in intensive coursework, specialized technical training, and field visits across Iceland’s unique volcanic and fragile ecosystems. The final 12 weeks focus on an individual project tailored to each participant’s home institution and restoration priorities.
Graduates of the program receive a Postgraduate Diploma in Ecosystem Restoration and Sustainable Land Management worth 30 European Credit Transfer System (ECTS) credits.
UNESCO says the program is not only about academic training but also about creating long-term environmental leadership within African institutions. Fellows are expected to return to their countries and apply their knowledge directly to restoration projects within their biosphere reserves and communities.
The program also reflects growing international recognition of Africa’s importance in global environmental restoration efforts. Scientists estimate that restoring degraded African landscapes could significantly contribute to climate adaptation, carbon storage, biodiversity conservation, and sustainable agriculture.
One former participant from Malawi, Leonard Gondwe, described the fellowship as transformative for his professional career and restoration work. Gondwe previously worked on restoring the critically endangered Mulanje cedar tree within the Mulanje Mountain Biosphere Reserve.
“I now feel fully prepared to contribute as a restoration specialist in Malawi and beyond,”
Gondwe said in UNESCO program materials.
Eligibility requirements for the fellowship include being under the age of 40, possessing at least one year of experience within a biosphere reserve, and holding a relevant degree in fields such as ecology, environmental management, or natural sciences. In exceptional cases, UNESCO noted that extensive professional experience may substitute for formal academic qualifications.
Applicants must also receive endorsement from both their biosphere reserve institution and their national MAB focal point or committee. Participating institutions are required to guarantee study leave, maintain salaries during the fellowship period, and ensure fellows return to their positions after training.
The fellowship initiative aligns closely with UNESCO’s broader environmental agenda and the organization’s upcoming Strategic Action Plan under the MAB Program, expected to be highlighted during the 5th World Congress of Biosphere Reserves in Hangzhou, China.
Environmental experts believe programs such as AfriMAB-GRÓ LRT could play an important role in helping African countries build local expertise needed to restore degraded ecosystems while strengthening climate resilience and sustainable development.
As climate pressures intensify globally, UNESCO’s investment in African restoration professionals signals growing international confidence that local scientific leadership and community-driven environmental action will be central to the continent’s ecological future.