We offer strategic high-level policy advice to government officials for their participation in trade negotiations, the identification of national development priorities and interests, policy formulation and management, institution and capacity building as well as consultation with stakeholders in business and civil society. The Centre assists in setting up policy action plans and in accessing external resources for development projects. It monitors projects – on behalf of recipient governments, funding agencies and implementing bodies – and ensures that everything is undertaken to achieve project objectives through the careful and efficient use of resources.

The Centre’s work is non-partisan and focuses on achieving practical results. IDEAS is independent, that is to say that it does not promote the donors’ commercial policy. This allows the Centre to act as a trusted and confidential advisor and to analyse what is in a country’s best interest.