The Institute of Development Studies aspires to be a center of academic excellence in generating knowledge for sustainable development in Tanzania and Africa through research, teaching, advisory services, and outreach activities.

The Institute’s mission is to promote knowledge on development issues in Tanzania and Africa through sound research, teaching, consultancy, outreach activities, and publication by advocating creativity, innovation, professionalism, and team spirit.

The overall objective of IDS is to provide a conducive environment for generating, disseminating, and preserving knowledge on development issues in Tanzania, Africa, and other developing countries. More specifically, the objectives of IDS are:

• To disseminate knowledge on socio-economic development to the community through research, interventions, publications, and advisory services in Tanzania and beyond.
• To introduce students to development perspectives and the factors influencing the development process in developing countries, helping them understand concepts and theories of socio-economic development.
• To expose students to key issues related to international development.
• To equip students with analytical skills for addressing cross-cutting issues such as gender, HIV/AIDS, and the environment in development.
• To introduce students to the impact and role of governance in socio-economic development.
• To enable students to disseminate and apply the acquired knowledge in combating poverty in all its manifestations.