# French Institute for Research in Africa
**Wikidata**: [Q27825700](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q27825700)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/french-institute-for-research-in-africa-q27825700

## Summary
The French Institute for Research in Africa (IFRA) is a research institute based in Nairobi, Kenya, that was established in 1977. It operates as part of the network of French Institutes of Research Abroad (Instituts Français de Recherche à l'Etranger). The organization is also known historically by the acronym CREDU (Centre for Research, Documentation and University Exchanges).

## Key Facts
- **Inception:** The institute was founded in 1977.
- **Location:** Its headquarters are located in Nairobi, Kenya.
- **Classification:** It is a research institute defined as an organization whose primary purpose is research.
- **Parent Organization:** It is affiliated with the Instituts Français de Recherche à l'Etranger.
- **Leadership:** As of 2020, the director/manager is Clélia Coret.
- **Aliases:** The institute is known by multiple names, including IFRA-Nairobi, FIRA, CREDU (Centre for Research, Documentation and University Exchanges Nairobi), and Centre d'études africaines (CEA).
- **Website:** The official website is http://www.ifra-nairobi.net/.
- **Identifiers:** The institute holds the ISNI ID 0000000105538502 and VIAF ID 158199692.

## FAQs
### Q: Where is the French Institute for Research in Africa located?
A: The institute is headquartered in Nairobi, Kenya.

### Q: When was the French Institute for Research in Africa founded?
A: The institute was established in 1977.

### Q: What is the relationship between IFRA and CREDU?
A: CREDU stands for "Centre for Research, Documentation and University Exchanges Nairobi" and is listed as an alias for the French Institute for Research in Africa.

### Q: Who is the current director of the institute?
A: Clélia Coret has served as the director or manager of the institute since 2020.

## Why It Matters
The French Institute for Research in Africa serves as a critical academic node within the network of French Institutes of Research Abroad. Established in 1977, it represents a sustained, decades-long commitment to academic exchange and documentation within East Africa. By maintaining a headquarters in Nairobi, the institute facilitates "University Exchanges" (as noted in its historical alias CREDU), acting as a bridge between French research infrastructure and African scholarly communities.

Its classification as a research institute underscores its primary mission: to conduct and support rigorous academic inquiry. The institute's recognition in major global libraries and authority files (such as the Library of Congress and Bibliothèque nationale de France) highlights its established standing in the global academic community. Through its work, documented via its extensive publication and research activities, it contributes to the preservation and understanding of regional dynamics, though specific research topics are defined by its broader classification as a body dedicated to documentation and university exchange.

## Notable For
- **International Network:** Being a constituent member of the Instituts Français de Recherche à l'Etranger, linking it to a global network of French research.
- **Longevity:** Operating continuously since 1977, representing over four decades of presence in Kenya.
- **Nomenclature:** Historical recognition under the acronym CREDU, reflecting its original mandate for documentation and university exchanges.
- **Global Cataloging:** Holding authoritative identifiers in major systems including the Library of Congress (no93026518), VIAF, and ISNI.

## Body
### Identity and Classification
The French Institute for Research in Africa (IFRA) is formally classified as a research institute. In the context of academic and organizational structures, this defines it as an entity whose primary purpose is the conduct of research. It is distinct in its operational scope while being integrated into the larger framework of French foreign research bodies.

### Location and History
The institute was founded with an inception date of 1977. Its physical operations are centralized in Nairobi, Kenya, which serves as both its country of registration and the location of its headquarters.

### Organizational Structure
IFRA functions under the affiliation of the **Instituts Français de Recherche à l'Etranger**. The administrative leadership is headed by a director; records indicate Clélia Coret holding this position with a start time of 2020.

### Nomenclature and Aliases
The entity is recognized by a variety of names and acronyms across different databases and languages.
*   **Primary Aliases:** IFRA, IFRA-Nairobi, FIRA.
*   **Historical/Descriptive Names:** Centre for Research, Documentation and University Exchanges Nairobi (CREDU), Centre d'études africaines (CEA), and the French translation *Institut français de recherche en Afrique*.

### Authority Control and Identifiers
The institute is indexed in numerous international authority control systems:
*   **ISNI:** 0000000105538502
*   **VIAF:** 158199692
*   **Library of Congress:** no93026518
*   **Bibliothèque nationale de France:** 12505490d
*   **IdRef:** 034284494
*   **National Library of Israel:** 987007325204705171

## References

1. Czech National Authority Database
2. National Library of Israel Names and Subjects Authority File