After her initial studies in agriculture at the American University of Beirut (AUB), Lebanon, she obtained a doctorate in plant disease epidemiology from the Justus-Liebig University of Giessen, Germany, and since has gained over 30 years of experience in teaching, research and agricultural development projects with international organizations, including the UN agencies, USAID and NGOs. She taught at AUB and the Lebanese University and worked in research in Aleppo, and in agriculture, agribusiness, rural development and biodiversity working directly with rural communities and agri-food producers in various countries including in Africa, the Near East and Asia. She spent 20 years working with the Rome-based UN agencies, the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) and the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), where she last worked as a Service Chief with its Investment Centre collaborating with the International Financial Agencies such as the World Bank. Wafa also served as President of the Arab Society for Plant Protection and Vice President of the International Society for Plant Pathology.