Bright Philip Donkor earns three Cambridge-affiliated certificates in SDGs, Paris Agreement & Biodiversity Law

Bright Philip Donkor, a young media practitioner, development advocate, and founder of the Briphildon Foundation, a non-profit organisation dedicated to empowering youth, supporting the less privileged, promoting civic participation, and advancing sustainable development initiatives in underserved communities across Ghana, has successfully completed three prestigious international short courses in sustainable development and law.

These include “Key Essentials: The Sustainable Development Goals and the Law”, “Key Essentials: The Paris Agreement, Sustainable Development and the Law”, and “Key Essentials: The Global Biodiversity Framework, Sustainable Development and the Law”.

The training programmes, offered under the Democratising Education for Global Sustainability and Justice (DemEd Global) programme, were jointly delivered by Lucy Cavendish College and Hughes Hall at the University of Cambridge.

For the first course, “Key Essentials: The Sustainable Development Goals and the Law”, Donkor was selected on August 7, 2025, following a rigorous international application process that drew over 1,400 applicants. Valued at over £800, the short online course was offered at no cost to successful participants through the support of a generous donor.

The second course, “Key Essentials: The Paris Agreement, Sustainable Development and the Law”, saw Donkor awarded a full bursary by the DemEd Global team. He was selected from a competitive pool of over 1,200 applicants and participated in the course free of charge, thanks to donor support.

Completing the trio, Donkor undertook “Key Essentials: The Global Biodiversity Framework, Sustainable Development and the Law”, another highly competitive programme attracting more than 1,200 applicants. Valued at over £800, this course was also provided at no cost to selected learners through the generosity of a donor.

Recognition of certificates

The certificates, awarded between September and October 2025, reflect his growing expertise in global policy frameworks, environmental sustainability, and international development law. In three separate emails sent to Donkor by Joanna Watterson, Programme Coordinator for Democratising Education for Global Sustainability and Justice at Lucy Cavendish College, University of Cambridge, the organisers congratulated Donkor on his achievements, and commended the high standard of his assessed works.

“We were delighted to have you participate as a learner and were impressed by the quality of your assessed work,’ portions of the congratulatory emails read. Donkor, a communications professional, was also praised for his constructive feedback, which organisers noted would help strengthen the courses for future cohorts.”

Transformative learning experience

Giving his assessment of the programmes, Donkor described the courses as transformative learning experience, designed to equip leaders, policymakers, academics, and practitioners with the skills to analyse and advocate for sustainability.

He said that completing three Cambridge-affiliated short courses in Sustainable Development and Law would significantly enhance his work as a media practitioner, researcher and development advocate, especially as Ghana deepens its engagement with global sustainability frameworks.

Speaking on how the first programme, “Key Essentials: The Sustainable Development Goals and the Law”, would benefit him, Donkor said the course had given him a stronger understanding of how the SDGs function as legal and policy instruments.

He explained that being selected from over 1,400 global applicants, and receiving a scholarship worth more than £800, reinforced his commitment to using the knowledge responsibly.

According to him, the training equipped him to better analyse national development policies, identify implementation gaps and promote accountability in Ghana’s pursuit of Agenda 2030. “This course has given me the legal and policy clarity I need to interpret SDG commitments and explain their implications to the public,” Donkor said.

Discussing the second programme—Key Essentials: The Paris Agreement, Sustainable Development and the Law, Donkor said the training was timely and further strengthened his commitment to advancing sustainability and climate justice in his professional work, especially in light of Ghana’s climate vulnerabilities.

He stated that the course had deepened his understanding of emissions obligations, climate finance, adaptation strategies and the legal mechanisms that guide the Paris Agreement. “This knowledge strengthens my ability to contribute to national climate discourse, whether through media work, civic education or research,” he explained.

He further noted that the course had empowered him to better interrogate environmental decisions and assess how Ghana is aligning its policies with global climate commitments.

Reflecting on the third programme, Key Essentials: The Global Biodiversity Framework, Sustainable Development and the Law, Donkor said the course had enhanced his capacity to understand biodiversity governance at a time when Ghana faces severe environmental pressures such as illegal mining and ecosystem degradation.

He explained that learning about the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework had equipped him with tools to follow policy developments, track enforcement weaknesses, and advocate for stronger conservation actions. “This training will help me examine how Ghana can balance development with biodiversity protection, especially in mining-affected areas,” Donkor added.

Overall, Donkor said the three courses had broadened his ability to work effectively at the intersection of media, sustainability, governance and public accountability.

He stressed that the combined training had placed him in a better position to support evidence-based dialogue on issues such as climate change, biodiversity loss, environmental regulation and national development planning. “These programmes have reshaped how I approach my work. They have strengthened my understanding of global sustainability agreements and how Ghana can interpret and implement them,” he added.

According to him, his goal is to use the knowledge gained to advance informed public debate, contribute to policy conversations and support advocacy that promotes sustainable and equitable development across the country.

Praise to Professors

He praised the case studies and live sessions led by Professor Dr Marie-Claire Cordonier Segger, a world-leading scholar and jurist in the field of sustainable development law and governance, who is also a Chair in Sustainable Development Law and Policy in the University of Cambridge.

He also commended Dr. Markus Gehring, Associate Professor at the Faculty of Law, University of Cambridge, for his guidance throughout the programme. Donkor believes the lessons acquired would directly influence his work in advocacy, governance, and community development.

He noted that as Ghana grapples with challenges from environmental degradation to governance reforms, he intends to apply the knowledge gained to shape initiatives that empower citizens and strengthen accountability.

“These programmes have inspired me to contribute more intentionally to the conversations around sustainability and justice in Ghana. It has not only sharpened my career focus but also reaffirmed my commitment to advancing participatory governance and climate resilience. And I am deeply grateful to Mr. Peter Asiedu, Executive Director of the Nurture Nature Foundation (NNF), for sharing this academic opportunity, which has paved the way for these achievements,” he further acknowledged.