The Institute for African Development (IAD) focuses Cornell University’s interests, research, and outreach on the study of Africa. It also seeks to expand the depth and quality of teaching on Africa within the University community and to build a faculty and student constituency that is knowledgeable about issues of African development.

IAD mobilizes support from a broad constituency and is committed to promote the study of Africa in global perspective by collaboration and academic linkages with other departments, academic units, and institutions both within and outside Cornell.

The primary objective of the Institute is to serve as a base for Cornell’s initiative of strengthening the study of Africa, thereby creating an enabling environment for the University to play a key role in the creation of policies that influence African development.