The mission of IDEP is to assist policymakers and other stakeholders in enhancing their skills in the areas of policymaking, long-term perspective planning and institutional and regulatory reforms as well as facilitate the emergence of policy ideas and consensus positions in Africa. Through its research programme, IDEP seeks to create a new body of knowledge and to act as an interface between research and policymaking communities. To achieve its objectives IDEP
* conducts training programmes on different aspects of development and planning;
* organizes conferences, seminars and workshops on pertinent African development issues;
* tries to become a center of excellence with full intellectual freedom that will lead the debate on African development issues;
* provides direct consultancy and advisory services to African countries;
* networks with like-minded institutions;
* maintains information and documentation services on economic development and planning. ... [according to site editor's information; editors ilissAfrica]
