Geographical areas

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IRD’s international network, comprised of representations, observatories, ICL and young affiliated teams, is unique in its long-term presence in the Global South and in its in-depth knowledge of research fields and partners. It guarantees reliable, high quality research, conducted jointly with partner countries and forming part of those countries’ priorities.

Geographical areas

Latin America

The IRD’s work in Latin America is mainly focused in the Andes and the Amazon, on a continent where countries all have very different levels of development. The IRD’s network in the region comprises 8 representations and a dense and varied set of scientific partners (universities and public research institutes). In this region, IRD’s research mainly explores hydroclimatic variability at regional level in the past and the present day, Andean geosciences, oceanography, aquatic and land biodiversity, food security, environmental quality, health and the social sciences.

Asia

IRD has been present in South East Asia since 1976 and has four representations there. Research is conducted on a partnership basis and tackles a wide array of topics such as agriculture and environment, biodiversity, aquaculture, health, geology and so on.

Africa and the Mediterranean

As is the case for French policy on aid for development, Africa and the Mediterranean are priority regions for IRD.

Overseas

Accounting for 97% of the French maritime area and 84% of French biodiversity, the overseas territories are of major significance for France and IRD. With its overseas territories, France is closely involved in other regions of the world such as South America and the Caribbean, the Indian Ocean and the Pacific.