WICE, a global organization founded in 1989 by conservationist Daan Vreugdenhil, has announced a comprehensive restructuring aimed at modernizing its approach to sustainable development. The revitalization includes a renewed mission, expanded team, and updated operational model to address contemporary global challenges.
The organization will maintain its trusted legacy while expanding into new areas such as health, nutrition, agriculture, food systems, artificial intelligence, ecotourism, energy, environment, education, economic development, blockchain, governance, partnerships, and humanitarian assistance. This shift reflects a commitment to community-centered solutions that prioritize local leadership and leverage modern tools and financing mechanisms.
According to Emily Weeks, Ph.D., CEO and co-founder of WICE USA, formerly with USAID, the transformation honors past work while recognizing the urgency to do more and to do it differently. Weeks stated that the organization is blending decades of proven expertise with next-generation approaches that center people and embrace modern tools.
The restructured entity combines legacy credibility with a high-impact model. WICE now boasts a team of over 150 experts operating across more than 100 countries. The organization has managed over $50 billion in government contracts, advised presidents and national leaders, partnered with over 2,500 organizations, and delivered a century of combined results. The team has a proven ability to rapidly deploy anywhere.
WICE operates as an agile, decentralized consortium that prioritizes collaboration over competition. It shares skills and resources to deliver human-centered solutions at scale while fostering partnership, investment, and co-design with local communities. Dr. Ahmad Kablan, Ph.D., Vice President of WICE, formerly of USAID, emphasized the focus on creating innovative and inclusive solutions to global challenges, ensuring that health, ecosystems, and livelihoods can thrive.
Kablan noted that WICE is not just adapting to the evolving global development landscape but is helping lead its transformation. As the sector moves toward collaborative frameworks that blend public and private capital to unlock billions in investment, WICE aims to be at the forefront of advancing climate resilience, clean energy, inclusive economic growth, and sustainable infrastructure.
Weeks concluded that the organization is redefining development with a bold new beginning, ready to lead with all hands on deck. More information can be found at www.wice.org.
