Our Origins

IFTDO was founded on a bold premise: that training and development professionals could do far more for humanity together than apart.

This vision began to take shape in 1972 with the support of the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) and the American Society for Training and Development (ASTD, now ATD). In Geneva, 252 pioneers from 20 countries gathered to explore the creation of an international federation that could unify and advance the emerging field of training and human development.

Just one year later, at the Bath Conference in England (1973), representatives from 23 organizations across 20 countries formally launched the International Federation of Training and Development Organizations (IFTDO) and signed its founding charter on October 1, 1973.

From the outset, IFTDO was never just a professional association — it was designed as a global catalyst with a clear purpose:

• Advance human development worldwide by sharing knowledge, tools, and evidence-based practices.
• Convene diverse voices through international conferences and regional gatherings, creating space for innovation and mutual learning.
• Connect the local to the global, ensuring every member could shape — and benefit from — the future of work and learning.

The founding members spanned every continent — from Australia and Brazil to India, Israel, Norway, Malaysia, Mexico, Republic of China, South Africa, and the United States — united by a shared conviction: that training and development could become a driver of peace, progress, and human flourishing.

Today, that founding spirit still lights the way. As technology, economics, and society undergo rapid transformation, IFTDO continues its mission to build human capacity, foster cross-border collaboration, and shape a future where every person has the opportunity to thrive.