Development Strategy

The Institute for Development Strategy (IfDS) is an independent research institute based in Munich, Germany, focused on making international development cooperation more effective and efficient. It works with organizations and professionals involved in designing, managing, and implementing development programs, using evidence and analysis to support better decisions.

IfDS combines evaluation, practical advice, and methodological research. It evaluates institutions and programs to identify underlying factors associated with strong or weak performance, then develops constructive recommendations and shares lessons learned to help improve results. The institute also researches and develops evaluation methods intended to strengthen the analytical value of tools used for evaluation and strategic planning. Its advisory work draws on careful analysis of research and evaluation findings, helping program teams apply evidence to their work.

The institute publishes reports and research contributions, including chapters in edited volumes and articles in special editions. Further reports and publications are available through its project listings. Through these activities, IfDS connects research with practical improvement in international development cooperation.