Beyond the Classroom: Why We Established WFDP Academy

Ekramy El Zaghat

Thu, 29 Oct 2026

Beyond the Classroom: Why We Established WFDP Academy

By H.E. Ambassador Ekramy El Zaghat
President, World Fund for Development and Planning (WFDP)

Education has always been recognized as a foundation of national development. Yet one of the most significant challenges facing societies today is not simply access to education, but access to knowledge that can be translated into meaningful action.

Across the world, governments are developing strategies for economic transformation, institutions are adapting to technological change, and international organizations are working to address increasingly complex development challenges.

However, an important question remains: How do we ensure that the knowledge needed to address these challenges reaches the people who can make a difference?

This question is central to the establishment of WFDP Academy.

Why We Established WFDP Academy

As President of the World Fund for Development and Planning (WFDP), I have consistently emphasized that sustainable development requires more than financial resources, international agreements, or ambitious policy frameworks.

It requires knowledgeable individuals, capable institutions, and professionals who understand how development policies can be translated into practical results.

Through our engagement with governments, institutions, and development partners, we recognize the importance of strengthening the connection between international development knowledge and the practical needs of societies.

WFDP Academy was established to contribute to this objective.

The Academy serves as the educational and capacity-development platform of WFDP, providing opportunities for individuals to expand their knowledge, strengthen professional competencies, and develop a deeper understanding of the issues shaping our world.

Our ambition is to make relevant educational resources accessible to a diverse international audience, regardless of geographic location.

Education Should Not Be Limited by Borders

The challenges confronting today’s world are interconnected.

Climate change does not recognize national boundaries. Economic instability can affect entire regions. Technological transformation is reshaping industries, governments, and labor markets.

Similarly, the need for effective governance, sustainable infrastructure, institutional capacity, and international cooperation extends across countries at different stages of development.

Education must reflect these realities.

A young professional in Africa should have opportunities to understand international development frameworks. A public-sector employee should be able to strengthen knowledge of governance and policy implementation. An entrepreneur should have access to learning that explains the relationship between innovation, economic growth, and sustainability.

The expansion of digital education creates opportunities to reach these audiences more effectively.

WFDP Academy begins as an online learning institution because we believe knowledge should be accessible beyond traditional geographic and institutional boundaries.

This approach allows us to build an international learning community while developing educational programs that respond to emerging global priorities.

Connecting International Knowledge With Practical Development

One of the defining principles of WFDP Academy is the connection between knowledge and implementation.

International frameworks provide valuable guidance for governments and institutions.

The United Nations 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, for example, establishes 17 Sustainable Development Goals addressing poverty, education, health, economic growth, environmental sustainability, governance, and international partnerships.

Understanding these goals is important.

But understanding how they relate to national development strategies, institutional responsibilities, and local implementation is equally essential.

Our educational approach therefore seeks to go beyond presenting theoretical concepts.

We aim to encourage critical thinking, practical understanding, and the ability to recognize how international development principles can be applied in different national and institutional contexts.

This is particularly important for professionals whose decisions influence public services, economic opportunities, institutional performance, and community development.

An Academy for Students, Professionals, and Future Leaders

WFDP Academy is intended to serve a broad learning community.

Our educational activities are designed to support students seeking foundational knowledge, professionals expanding their competencies, and individuals interested in international development and global affairs.

The Academy’s areas of educational interest include sustainable development, international relations, public policy, governance, leadership, technology, innovation, and institutional capacity development.

We also recognize the importance of continuous learning.

The rapid pace of technological, economic, and political change means that education cannot be viewed as a process that ends with graduation.

Professionals must continuously update their knowledge, reconsider established approaches, and develop new capabilities.

For this reason, WFDP Academy seeks to promote a culture of lifelong learning and professional development.

Beginning With Sustainable Development

Our initial educational offering, Introduction to Sustainable Development and the SDGs, reflects the Academy’s commitment to making essential international development knowledge accessible.

The course introduces learners to sustainable development principles, the United Nations 2030 Agenda, the 17 Sustainable Development Goals, international cooperation, and the practical challenges of translating global commitments into local results.

Designed for beginners, the course is delivered online and allows participants to study at their own pace.

By offering this introductory course free of charge, we aim to provide an accessible starting point for individuals interested in understanding the international development agenda.

It represents an initial step in developing a broader educational platform.

Building an International Learning Community

The long-term value of an educational institution is not measured only by the number of courses it offers.

It is also reflected in the quality of its learning environment, the relevance of its educational programs, and its ability to connect people with different experiences and perspectives.

WFDP Academy seeks to encourage international knowledge exchange and constructive dialogue among learners, instructors, researchers, and professionals.

We believe that exposure to different perspectives strengthens understanding and supports more informed decision-making.

The Academy will continue developing its educational activities progressively, with attention to academic quality, institutional responsibility, and the practical needs of its learning community.

As the institution develops, opportunities for additional educational programs and academic cooperation may be explored in accordance with applicable requirements and authorizations.

Our Vision for the Future

WFDP Academy is not intended to be merely another platform offering online courses.

Our objective is to develop an educational environment that connects global knowledge, institutional experience, and practical development challenges.

We want learners to understand not only what sustainable development means, but why it matters.

We want professionals to examine not only how institutions function, but how they can become more effective.

And we want future leaders to recognize that responsible development requires knowledge, cooperation, integrity, and the ability to translate ideas into action.

Education cannot resolve every development challenge.

But without education, the ability to address those challenges becomes significantly weaker.

The purpose of WFDP Academy is to help strengthen that ability—one learner, one course, and one opportunity at a time.

As we begin this educational journey, I invite students, professionals, educators, and institutions from around the world to explore the opportunities offered by WFDP Academy and contribute to a growing international community committed to learning and development.

Because the ultimate value of knowledge lies not only in what we learn, but in what we are able to achieve with it.

Learn. Develop. Create Impact.

H.E. Ambassador Ekramy El Zaghat
President
World Fund for Development and Planning (WFDP)