Strategic objectives

In the long-term, the work the IGD will be guided by the following objectives:

• To strengthen IGD’s institutional positioning as a sought-after broker between the world of knowledge and the world of policy;

• To promote a broader understanding of the role of foreign policy and diplomacy in the pursuit of national and international developmental goals;

• To ensure that our analysis and dialogue have discernable policy outcomes and impact;

• To establish and strengthen mutually-beneficial strategic partnerships (with individuals and institutions) nationally, in the African region and globally;

• To enhance the standard of our service to clients and consumers of our work in order to ensure their satisfaction.

Association with UNISA

As part of its continuous repositioning as a world-class facilitator of ideas-making on foreign policy and international diplomacy, the IGD entered into an agreement with the University of South Africa in 2010. On this basis, the IGD has strategic partnership with UNISA to pursue joint research, dialogue and publications as well as giving the IGD access to some facilities and servicess.

About Funding

Besides the proceeds from the investment account built over many years of scrupulous financial management, the bulk of the IGD’s revenue is from major consultancy work for the South African government and international organizations as well as project funding from foundations and trusts. Recently, the IGD’s socio-political research, especially the analysis of actor dynamics in countries in Africa and the emerging world has attracted funding from some of the big SA corporate companies investing in the emerging markets.

The IGD has a Memorandum of Understanding with several sister institutes in various parts of the world. It also signed one with the National Treasury and the Department of International Relations and Cooperation, providing for cooperation on issues of common interests.

Below is a list of those organisations that have provided substantial support for the IGD’s work since 2007: the Friedrich Ebert Stiftung (since 1994), the Southern Africa Trust, the Africa Trust, the Standard Bank, t he Department of International Relations and Cooperation, the National Treasury, the UK’s Commonwealth and Foreign Office, and the Open Society Institute of Southern Africa.