The African Institute for Economic Development and Planning (IDEP) is a pan-African institution established in 1962 by the United Nations General Assembly. It started its activities on November 21, 1963 with the main objective of accompanying and assisting newly independent African countries in building their human resource capacities as a prerequisite for maintaining independence and promoting socio-economic development. Its core activities, derived from its mandate, revolve around a portfolio of capacity development and training programs, as well as a range of policy research and dialogue initiatives. It also provides on-demand advisory services to governments and public institutions and serves as a forum for the exploration of alternative thinking on Africa's development.

The Institute is a subsidiary body of the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (ECA). It is headquartered in Dakar, Senegal, and includes all 54 African member states. IDEP is the pioneering pan-African institution established on the African continent for the development, upgrading and/or updating of the technical skills and competencies of mid-career and senior officials in economic management and development planning.

In the years since its inception, IDEP has worked primarily within its mandate to support African governments in their training and capacity development efforts in the areas of economic management and planning. To this end, IDEP works closely with the ministries of finance, economic development and planning of its African member states to assess their needs and develop general, specialized and customized courses for their mid-career and senior officials. It also works with various ministries concerned with Africa's socio-economic development. In addition to its core mandate of training and capacity development, the Institute also conducts related policy research on various themes of economic management and development planning. In addition, it provides policy advisory services at the request of member states, tailored to the specific needs of the requesting governments. Finally, the Institute also organizes a regular series of policy dialogues, public seminars and policy conferences.

IDEP's work is based on the vision of a self-reliant, independent, and integrated Africa. IDEP sees itself as a center of excellence serving its African member states in the development of the high quality human resources needed for the progressive socio-economic transformation of the continent. The Institute also aspires to serve as a place of articulation of innovative policy thinking, adapted to the circumstances and needs of African countries, which are articulated at different times. The Institute also wishes, through the training, research and dialogue activities and programs it organizes, as well as the consultancy services it offers, to contribute to maintaining and strengthening a network of networked African public servants who are distinguished by their technical skills, recognized for the self-confidence they demonstrate in their commitments and acknowledged for the pan-Africanist spirit they embody. IDEP is committed to ensuring that all officials who participate in the Institute's activities and programs acquire a strong sense of empowerment that would propel them to greater professional performance and achievement, while contributing to the transformation of their countries.