From Knowledge to Development Impact is the title of meeting series hosted by the GRÓ Centre for Capacity Development, Sustainability and Societal Change, the Ministry for Foreign Affairs and the Institute of International Affairs at the University of Iceland. The first meeting was held on November 5th 2025 and focused on the Geothermal Training Programme (GRÓ GTP).

The goal of the series is to highlight Iceland’s contribution to global capacity building through the four GRÓ Training Programmes, a key component of Iceland‘s international development cooperation.

The Geothermal Training Programme (GRÓ GTP), an intiative established in 1978 designed to strengthen geothermal exploration and development in countries with geothermal potential.

How does geothermal training translate into sustainable energy development in partner countries? How do alumni apply their training to lead change and innovation in their home countries?

We heard directly from fellows as they shared their experiences and insights on how capacity strengthening can drive progress in global development

You can watch the full event here:

Speakers:

Silja Bára Ómarsdóttir, Rector of the University of Iceland, bid guests welcome followed by an opening adress deliverd by Þorgerður Katrín Gunnarsdóttir, Minister for Foreign Affairs. Peter Maina, PhD fellow from Kenya, gave a keynote address detailing his experience and afterwards a video was shown highlighting the experiences of former GRÓ-GTP students from around the world. Next was a panel discussion moderated by Bjarni Richter, Director of the GRÓ Geothermal Training Programme. Participants were Nursanty Elisabeth Banjarnahor, PhD fellow (Indonesia), Álvaro Josué Campos Ramos, MSc fellow (El Salvador), Daryl Eastman James, Six-Month fellow (Dominica). To conclude Nína Björk Jónsdóttir, Director General of the GRÓ Centre, offered closing remarks.

Current fellows at GRÓ-GTP