Article · Wikipedia archive · Last revised Jun 7, 2026

German Institute of Development and Sustainability

The German Institute of Development and Sustainability (IDOS) is one of the leading think tanks for development policy worldwide. The institute is based in Bonn, Germany.

Last revised
Jun 7, 2026
Read time
≈ 6 min
Length
1,383 w
Citations
18
Source
Wikipedia ↗
German Institute of Development and Sustainability (IDOS)
German Institute of Development and Sustainability (IDOS)
Logo: German Institute of Development and Sustainability (IDOS)
Established1964
AffiliationJohannes-Rau-Forschungsgemeinschaft
DirectorAnna-Katharina Hornidge
Websitehttps://www.idos-research.de/en/

The German Institute of Development and Sustainability (IDOS) is one of the leading think tanks for development policy worldwide.1 The institute is 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 Tulpenfeld2 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.3 On 23 June 2022, the institute was renamed the German Institute of Development and Sustainability (IDOS).45

The organisation is a member of the Johannes Rau Research Association6 and the Working Group of Ministry-Affiliated Research Institutions7. 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.5

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.8

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.5

Research

The research staff at IDOS focus on four research departments:

  • 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.

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.9

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.10

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.

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.

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.

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 two training programmes and organises executive training courses as well as bespoke workshops and seminars. Both training programmes are delivered in Bonn and funded by the BMZ.

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.11 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.12

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.13 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.14 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 newsletter15

Library and Documentation

IDOS has a specialist academic library that is open to the public.16 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

See also

External links
References

References

  1. This has been attested in January 2013 by the ranking of the Global Go To Think Tanks Report (of the Think Tanks and Civil Societies Program (TTCSP)): For the fifth consecutive time, IDOS has been selected as one of the Top Ten influential think tanks and research institutions in the field of development policy worldwide. IDOS is one of only three European research institutes ranked in this Top Ten list. IDOS improved its visibility in the international context in the current ranking on a wide scale, such as in the categories Top Think Tanks in Western Europe, Top Think Tanks – Worldwide and Best Government Affiliated Think Tanks. Once again, IDOS belongs to the Top 20 institutions among the Think Tanks with the Most Innovative Policy Ideas/Proposals. Furthermore, IDOS was evaluated in a number of categories for the first time, e.g., within the category Think Tanks with Outstanding Policy-Oriented Research Programs) or in the field of knowledge marketing (Think Tanks with the Best External Relations/Public Engagement Program).
  2. Commercial Register B of the Local Court of Bonn, Historical Extract for Register Number 8741, retrieved from handelsregister.de.
  3. 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.
  4. Press Release: DIE is now the German Institute of Development and Sustainability (IDOS)
  5. Commercial Register B of the Local Court of Bonn, Chronological Extract for Register Number 8741, retrieved from handelsregister.de.
  6. JRF Member List
  7. Member List of the Working Group of Departmental Research Institutions
  8. Mission Statement on the website www.idos-research.de, accessed on June 24, 2022.
  9. German Institute of Development and Sustainability (IDOS): Cross-cutting Project – Sustainable Futures. Retrieved October 31, 2025.
  10. German Institute of Development and Sustainability (IDOS): Regional Expertise. Retrieved October 31, 2025.
  11. German Institute of Development and Sustainability (IDOS): Postgraduate Programme for Sustainability Cooperation (PGP). Retrieved October 31, 2025.
  12. German Institute of Development and Sustainability (IDOS): Previous Research Teams. Retrieved October 31, 2025.
  13. German Institute of Development and Sustainability (IDOS): MGG Academy. Retrieved October 31, 2025.
  14. German Institute of Development and Sustainability (IDOS): IDOS Annual Report 2023–2025, p. 60. Available online.
  15. German Institute of Development and Sustainability (IDOS): Newsletter. Retrieved October 31, 2025.
  16. German Institute of Development and Sustainability (IDOS): Library and Publications. Retrieved October 31, 2025.