The African Institute for Economic Development and Planning (IDEP) is a pan-African institution created in 1962 by the General Assembly of the United Nations. It began its operations on 21st November, 1963 with the primary purpose of accompanying and supporting newly independent African countries in their quest to build their human resource capacities as a necessary prerequisite for sustaining independence and promoting socio-economic development. Its main activities, derived from its mandate, are organized around a portfolio of capacity development and training programmes as well as a set of policy research and dialogue initiatives. It also offers on-demand advisory services to governments and public institutions, and serves as a forum for exploration of alternative thinking on African development.
The Institute functions as a subsidiary body of the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (ECA). It is headquartered in Dakar, Senegal and its membership comprises all the 54 African Member States. IDEP is the pioneer pan-African institution established on the African continent for the building, upgrading and/or updating of the technical aptitudes and proficiencies of mid-career and senior government officials in economic management and development planning.