The International Institute for Environment and Development is an internationally recognised research organisation currently hosting the LIFE-AR Interim Secretariat.
The International Institute for Environment and Development (IIED) envisions a future where people and nature thrive together, with a commitment to equity, justice, and environmental integrity. By addressing today’s intertwined crises—climate change, biodiversity loss, and social inequality—IIED aims to inspire profound and lasting change through rigorous research and global collaboration.
Origins and History of IIED
IIED’s story began in the early 1970s, when economist Barbara Ward and other pioneering thinkers proposed a groundbreaking idea: the fates of people and the planet are interconnected. Today, their proposition is an accepted global narrative and at the heart of the 2015 Sustainable Development Goals.
Ward, who became the director of the International Institute for Environmental Affairs in 1971, expanded its mission to include social justice, and in 1973, the institute evolved into IIED.
IIED's Network and Partnerships
Since its founding, IIED has been a core member of movements for social and environmental justice, collaborating with diverse partners across the globe to achieve sustainable development. IIED’s network spans over 350 partner organizations across more than 60 countries, with a particular emphasis on collaborations in the global South. Together, they build capacity, gather critical evidence, and drive change from the grassroots to the policy level. IIED’s partnerships are rooted in a collaborative approach that values process and outcomes equally, ensuring that solutions are both inclusive and effective.
IIED's Research Focus
At the core of IIED’s work is high-quality research that influences policy and supports sustainable development. With a team of over 170 experts, IIED produces research that goes beyond traditional academic boundaries, striving to create impact-driven, actionable knowledge. This research informs decision-makers, builds capacity, and drives forward-thinking approaches to global challenges. IIED’s unique approach to research has produced pioneering solutions, helping communities, organizations, and policymakers create resilient and sustainable systems worldwide.
IIED and the LDC Group
IIED’s commitment to supporting vulnerable communities is evident in its longstanding partnership with the Least Developed Countries (LDC) Group. Recognizing the unique climate vulnerabilities and resource constraints facing LDCs, IIED has provided essential support to amplify the group’s voice in global climate negotiations, including those leading to the Paris Agreement.
IIED’s hosting of LIFE-AR originates from this support to the LDC Group.
Following a request from the LDC chair, IIED serves as a host organisation for the Interim Secretariat and provides on-demand technical, strategic, and logistical support to the initiative. However, IIED’s role was envisioned as temporary, until an independent LIFE-AR entity is created.
For IIED, LIFE-AR is an opportunity to learn from LDCs and reflect on how LIFE-AR principles and ‘business unusual’ can be embedded in IIED’s work and build the organisation’s capabilities.
