Institut de Recherche pour le Développement (IRD)

The French Research Institute for Development (Institut de Recherche pour le Développement, IRD) is a French science and technology establishment under the joint supervision of the French Ministries of Higher Education and Research and Foreign Affairs. It operates internationally from its headquarters in Marseille, and two metropolitan centres of Montpellier and Bondy.

It was created as the 'Office de la recherche scientifique et technique outre-mer (ORSTOM)' in 1943.

The IRD institute has three main missions: research on world development, overseas consultancy and training.

It conducts scientific programs contributing to the sustainable development of the countries of the South, with an emphasis on the relationship between man and the environment.

Organisation

The IRD's scientific activities are organised through five departments :

• Earth and Environment
• Living Resources
• Societies and Health
• Expertise and consulting
• Support and training