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The German Institute of Development and Sustainability gGmbH (IDOS, pronounced: ˈaɪ̯dɔs) is a state-funded research institute and think tank specialising in international development and sustainbility policy, based in Bonn, Germany.

History

The institute was founded in Berlin in 1964 as a non-profit limited liability company under the name German Institute for Development Policy (DIE) and has been based in Bonn’s Tulpenfeld[1] district since 2000. Its work is primarily funded by public funds; 75% of the shares are held by the Federal Republic of Germany and 25% by the state of North Rhine-Westphalia.[2] On 23 June 2022, the institute was renamed the German Institute of Development and Sustainability (IDOS).[3][4]

The organisation is a member of the Johannes Rau Research Association[5] and the Working Group of Ministry-Affiliated Research Institutions[6]. IDOS employs around 180 staff, approximately two-thirds of whom work in research. Anna-Katharina Hornidge has been Director of IDOS since 1 March 2020. From 2003 to 2018, the institute was headed by Dirk Messner.[4]

Approach and Objectives

Through interdisciplinary research, consultancy and internationally oriented education, IDOS supports public policy aimed at the common good in the fields of global development and international cooperation. It advises public institutions in Germany and around the world on the basis of independent research. The Institute collaborates with research networks and partners from academia and the professional world in all regions of the globe.[7]

Tasks

The Institute’s core tasks are:

  • Research in the fields of development theory and development policy,
  • Advising German and international actors and institutions in the field of development cooperation,
  • Training university graduates through a nine-month postgraduate programme for careers in development cooperation, and providing further training for emerging leaders from emerging economies and Europe through the Managing Global Governance (MGG) Academy and the Shaping Futures Academy.[4]

Research

The research staff at IDOS focus on four research departments:[8]

  • Inter- and transnational cooperation
  • Transformation of economic and social systems
  • Environmental governance
  • Transformation of political (dis)order

In addition to the issues addressed by the departments, the Institute focuses on its cross-cutting initiative – Sustainable Futures: The Sustainable Futures concept forms the core of the Institute’s cross-cutting initiative and serves as a guiding principle for research, policy advice, knowledge collaboration and training.[9]

IDOS defines sustainable futures as futures that ensure a life of dignity whilst respecting the planet’s carrying capacity. Rather than seeking a single path, IDOS emphasises the plural form ‘futures’ to highlight the diversity of possible sustainable pathways.[10]

IDOS conducts research on the following regions: Africa, the Middle East and North Africa, Latin America, East Asia, South Asia, Central Asia and Eastern Europe.[11]

Consultancy

The Institute provides consultancy services at the German, European and international levels. Its aim is to bring together global discourse in the fields of international politics, cooperation and sustainable development; to develop policy-relevant concepts based on this discourse; and to comment on transnational and global issues and identify potential solutions.[12]

In particular, IDOS advises the Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) and other federal ministries, the Bundestag, the European institutions, international organisations, German public institutions involved in development cooperation, and other policy-shaping institutions and networks.[13]

In addition, research cooperation with African think tanks is being systematically expanded; the T20 Africa Standing Group, co-founded by IDOS, plays a central role in this.[14]

Training programmes

The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the international focus of research at IDOS also serve as guiding principles for its academic training programmes. It offers three training programmes and organises executive training courses as well as bespoke workshops and seminars. All training programmes are based in Bonn and funded by the BMZ.[15]

Postgraduate Programme

As part of its nine-month Postgraduate Programme (PGP / Postgraduate Programme for Sustainability Cooperation), IDOS prepares 18 university graduates each year for leadership roles in development cooperation.[16] The programme’s approximately 1,000 alumni form a global network and most remain in contact with IDOS. Well-known alumni include Achim Steiner, Jutta Frasch, Hans-Joachim Preuß and Ingrid-Gabriela Hoven.[17]

Managing Global Governance Academy

The Managing Global Governance (MGG) programme provides a platform for professional development, knowledge exchange and policy dialogue between governmental and non-governmental actors from emerging economies and Germany/Europe.[18] A central element of the programme is the MGG Academy, established in 2007, a 3.5-month dialogue and professional development programme for emerging leaders.

Shaping Futures Academy

This is a training and dialogue programme for emerging leaders from selected African and European (EU+) countries.[19] Since 2024, the programme has been known as the Shaping Futures: African-European Network on Development and Sustainability Academy.

Publication series

The Institute publishes its own series of publications in which IDOS researchers and guest authors regularly share their latest research findings and views on the latest developments and issues in international development policy.

  • The latest column
  • Policy Brief
  • Discussion Paper
  • Two-pagers
  • Analyses and statements
  • Briefing papers
  • Studies
  • a monthly newsletter[20]

Library and Documentation

IDOS has a specialist academic library that is open to the public.[21] It does not have a defined collection mandate, but supports the Institute’s researchers by providing literature on a project-by-project basis. The collection comprises just under 20,000 printed volumes, as well as electronic access to numerous databases, journal bundles and individual titles in the fields of development cooperation, international relations and politics, global public policy, global and sustainable development, and area studies. The IDOS library is also part of the ‘Specialist Information Network for International Relations and Area Studies’ and is helping to develop the ‘World Affairs Online’ database, a database covering issues relating to international relations and area studies.

See also

References

  1. ^ Commercial Register B of the Local Court of Bonn, Historical Extract for Register Number 8741, retrieved from handelsregister.de.
  2. ^ List of Shareholders of the company Deutsches Institut für Entwicklungspolitik, non-profit limited liability company with its registered office in Bonn, dated July 14, 2020 — Notary Christoph Dorsel.
  3. ^ Press Release: DIE is now the German Institute of Development and Sustainability (IDOS)
  4. ^ a b c Commercial Register B of the Local Court of Bonn, Chronological Extract for Register Number 8741, retrieved from handelsregister.de.
  5. ^ JRF Member List
  6. ^ Member List of the Working Group of Departmental Research Institutions
  7. ^ Mission Statement on the website www.idos-research.de, accessed on June 24, 2022.
  8. ^ Sustainability (IDOS), German Institute of Development and. “Research of the German Development Institute / Deutsches Institut für Entwicklungspolitik (DIE)”. www.idos-research.de. Retrieved 2026-06-11.
  9. ^ Sustainability (IDOS), German Institute of Development and. “Cross-Cutting Research – Sustainable Futures”. www.idos-research.de. Retrieved 2026-06-11.
  10. ^ German Institute of Development and Sustainability (IDOS): Cross-cutting Project – Sustainable Futures. Retrieved October 31, 2025.
  11. ^ German Institute of Development and Sustainability (IDOS): Regional Expertise. Retrieved October 31, 2025.
  12. ^ Sustainability (IDOS), German Institute of Development and. “Policy Advice”. www.idos-research.de. Retrieved 2026-06-11.
  13. ^ Sustainability (IDOS), German Institute of Development and. “Ongoing projects – German Institute of Development and Sustainability (IDOS)”. www.idos-research.de. Retrieved 2026-06-11.
  14. ^ Sustainability (IDOS), German Institute of Development and. “Research Networks”. www.idos-research.de. Retrieved 2026-06-11.
  15. ^ Sustainability (IDOS), German Institute of Development and. “Knowledge cooperation & training”. www.idos-research.de. Retrieved 2026-06-11.
  16. ^ German Institute of Development and Sustainability (IDOS): Postgraduate Programme for Sustainability Cooperation (PGP). Retrieved October 31, 2025.
  17. ^ German Institute of Development and Sustainability (IDOS): Previous Research Teams. Retrieved October 31, 2025.
  18. ^ German Institute of Development and Sustainability (IDOS): MGG Academy. Retrieved October 31, 2025.
  19. ^ German Institute of Development and Sustainability (IDOS): IDOS Annual Report 2023–2025, p. 60. Available online.
  20. ^ German Institute of Development and Sustainability (IDOS): Newsletter. Retrieved October 31, 2025.
  21. ^ German Institute of Development and Sustainability (IDOS): Library and Publications. Retrieved October 31, 2025.