While WARD currently resides on the GTTI campus, it is hoped that the Centre will be integrated into the new University of the Gambia as a "centre" within the university structure reporting directly to the university senate. This may involve relocating the WARD deliveries to the Rural Development Institute (RDI), situated in Mansakonko, which might itself become a rural campus of the university. Efforts are being undertaken to first make RDI an autonomous institution.

In the meantime, efforts are underway to negotiate advanced standing with the university through efforts by SMU, OUC, and GTTI. It is hoped that a final agreement specifying what standing participants completing all four courses and receiving a Rural Community Development Practitioner Diploma will be agreed to before the first group of graduates complete their diploma in February, 2004. WARD will provide a variety of of services to West African NGO's, government organizations, and institutions in the area of rural development. The centrepiece of these services will be the creation of an institute that will train community development workers and rural animators from across West Africa in a residential setting providing:

*	four certificate courses in all areas of community development practice, theory and background.
*	a diploma (issued by GTTI but also endorsed by OUC) for those completing all modules.
*	a laddering arrangement allowing graduates completing a university bridging component (when required) to enter the University of the Gambia with credit for equivalent courses taken in WARD.