The Institut de recherche pour le développement (IRD), based in Marseille, is a French public scientific and technological establishment (EPST) under the supervision of the Ministries of Research and Cooperation.

It is involved in scientific and technical research through agreements signed between France and certain developing countries.

These research programmes, which are designed to support development in developing countries, focus on the humanities and social sciences (geography, sociology, etc.), the health sciences (infectious diseases, major endemics, nutrition, etc.) and the natural and environmental sciences.