# African Institute for Economic Development and Planning

> research institute

**Wikidata**: [Q3146579](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q3146579)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/african-institute-for-economic-development-and-planning

## Summary
The African Institute for Economic Development and Planning (IDEP) is a research institute and international organization established in 1963 and located in Dakar, Senegal. It operates under the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA) and serves as a specialized institution dedicated to economic development and planning research across the African continent.

## Key Facts
- Founded in 1963
- Located in Dakar, Senegal
- Geographic coordinates: 14.662333°N, 17.438917°W
- Classified as both a research institute and an international organization
- Official website: https://www.uneca.org/idep
- Also known as: IDEP, Institut Africain de Développement Economique et de Planification
- Library of Congress Authority ID: n80083774
- VIAF ID: 158993644
- Ringgold ID: 119115
- IdRef ID: 026407396
- National Library of Israel J9U ID: 987007453020905171
- Yale LUX ID: group/686d245b-d2eb-4e00-9811-63dec15af394
- Wikipedia presence in French language edition

## FAQs

### What is IDEP and what does it do?
IDEP (Institut Africain de Développement Economique et de Planification) is a research institute focused on economic development and planning. As an international organization established in 1963, it operates from Dakar, Senegal under the auspices of the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa.

### Where is the African Institute for Economic Development and Planning located?
The institute is headquartered in Dakar, Senegal, at coordinates 14.662333°N latitude and 17.438917°W longitude.

### How can I find the institute in library and academic databases?
IDEP is indexed under multiple authority control systems including the Library of Congress (n80083774), VIAF (158993644), Ringgold (119115), and the French IdRef system (026407396). These identifiers help locate materials about and published by the institute across global academic catalogs.

## Why It Matters
The African Institute for Economic Development and Planning represents a critical institutional investment in African-led economic research and policy development. Established in 1963, IDEP emerged during a pivotal period when African nations were gaining independence and required indigenous expertise in economic planning and development strategies. As a research institute under the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa, it occupies a unique position at the intersection of academic research and practical policy application.

The institute's location in Dakar, Senegal places it at the heart of West African intellectual and political discourse. Unlike universities that balance teaching with research, or think tanks focused primarily on policy advocacy, IDEP functions as a dedicated research organization with an international mandate. This allows for sustained, long-term investigation into economic development challenges specific to the African context, free from the commercial pressures that might influence corporate research or the teaching obligations that divide attention at universities.

## Notable For
- Dual classification as both a research institute and an international organization, distinguishing it from purely national or academic institutions
- Over 60 years of continuous operation since its inception in 1963
- Operating under the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa framework
- Serving as a Francophone hub for African economic research (evidenced by French Wikipedia presence)
- Recognition across multiple international library and authority control systems spanning North America, Europe, and the Middle East

## Body

### Identity and Naming
The African Institute for Economic Development and Planning operates under the acronym IDEP, derived from its French name "Institut Africain de Développement Economique et de Planification." This dual naming convention reflects the institute's positioning within both Anglophone and Francophone African contexts, with Senegal's status as a French-speaking nation influencing its primary nomenclature.

### Organizational Classification
IDEP holds a distinctive dual classification in international organizational taxonomy. It is categorized as both a research institute—defined as an organization whose primary purpose is conducting systematic investigation—and as an international organization, indicating its multinational scope and governance structure. This classification is supported by references from the International Labour Organization and aligns with schema.org/ResearchOrganization standards.

The institute is formally differentiated from several related organizational types. Unlike scientific societies or learned societies, which function primarily as membership-based professional associations, IDEP conducts operational, hands-on research activities. It differs from think tanks in its broader fundamental research mandate rather than focused policy advocacy.

### Geographic Location
The institute is physically situated in Dakar, the capital city of Senegal, on the westernmost point of the African continent. Its precise coordinates are 14.662333°N latitude and 17.438917°W longitude. This coastal location positions IDEP at a historic crossroads of African, European, and Atlantic trade and intellectual exchange.

### Historical Foundation
IDEP was established in 1963, a significant year in African history marking the height of decolonization and the formation of the Organization of African Unity. This timing positioned the institute to support newly independent African nations in developing indigenous economic planning capacity and reducing reliance on colonial-era institutions and expertise.

### International Recognition and Authority Control
The institute maintains presence across major global library and knowledge management systems:

**North American Systems:**
- Library of Congress Authority ID: n80083774
- Yale University LUX ID: group/686d245b-d2eb-4e00-9811-63dec15af394

**European Systems:**
- VIAF (Virtual International Authority File) ID: 158993644
- French IdRef (Sudoc) ID: 026407396

**Middle Eastern Systems:**
- National Library of Israel J9U ID: 987007453020905171

**Academic Infrastructure:**
- Ringgold ID: 119115, a unique identifier used in scholarly publishing and library systems for institutional disambiguation

### Digital Presence
IDEP maintains an official web presence at https://www.uneca.org/idep, indicating its operational integration with the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa. The institute has representation on Wikipedia in the French language, with a sitelink count of 1, reflecting focused documentation in Francophone scholarly and reference contexts.

## References

1. [Source](https://www.ilo.org/wcmsp5/groups/public/@dgreports/@integration/documents/genericdocument/wcms_079493.pdf)
2. Virtual International Authority File
3. [Source](https://goo.gl/maps/AAmBxaeKL1xkocRAA)
4. Aligned ISNI and Ringgold identifiers for institutions
5. National Library of Israel Names and Subjects Authority File