From Knowledge to Development Impact is the title of a 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 third meeting in the series was held March 3rd and focused on the Gender Equality Studies and Training Programme (GRÓ GEST). Previous meetings have focused on the Geothermal Training Programme (GRÓ GTP) and the Fisheries Training Programme (GRÓ FTP). The last meeting will be held May 7 and will focus on the Land Restoration Training Programme (GRÓ-LRT).

The goal of the series is to highlight Iceland’s contribution to global capacity building through the four GRÓ Training Programmes. The programmes are a key component of Iceland‘s international development cooperation and operate under the auspices of UNESCO.

The GRÓ Gender Equality Studies and Training Programme (GRÓ GEST) equips professionals from low- and middle-income countries with advanced theoretical, analytical, and practical tools to advance gender equality and social justice in their home contexts. Since its establishment, GRÓ GEST has graduated close to 300 fellows from over 40 different countries, while simultaneously supporting a growing global network of alumni. GRÓ GEST alumni work across government institutions, civil society organisations, academia, and international agencies. Their work contributes to policy reform, institutional development, research, and community-level change in diverse political and social contexts.

The event explored how capacity development in gender equality translates into professional leadership, institutional influence, and long-term impact. In a rapidly changing global environment, what does it take to sustain credible gender expertise? How do professionals navigate political constraints while embedding lasting change in policy, research, and practice?

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 address delivered by Martin Eyjólfsson, Permanent Secretary of State, Ministry for Foreign Affairs. After that professor Irma Erlingsdóttir, Director of the GRÓ GEST programme, took to the stage with a thought provoking speech titled Reclaiming Gender Justice Among Backlash and Polarisation. Yeshiwas Degu Belay, GRÓ GEST alumni and PhD scholarship recipient from the University of Iceland/Erasmus University Rotterdam, gave a keynote address detailing his experiences and afterwards a video was shown highlighting the experiences of former GRÓ-GEST students from around the world. Next was a panel discussion moderated by Thomas Brorsen Smidt, Senior Programme Manager of GRÓ GEST. Participants were Aarti Lila Ram, Deputy Manager at Engro Foundation in Pakistan and GRÓ GEST alumni, Thelma Kaliu, Co-Founder of GenHub in Malawi and GRÓ GEST alumni, Mohamed Altamash Khan, Senior Gender Trainer at Men Against Violence & Abuse in India and GRÓ GEST alumni, and Yeshiwas Degu Belay. To conclude Nína Björk Jónsdóttir, Director General of the GRÓ Centre, offered closing remarks and introduced current GRÓ GEST fellows to the stage to deliver an inspiring farewell speech titled Together, Forward!

Myndir: Kristinn Ingvarsson