1Although IRD is a research organisation, its purpose is not only to produce new knowledge. Its multiple aims include development aid for countries of the Global South, and deploying their own research systems is a way to help achieve this goal. For decades, this took the form of support and training operations for students of the Global South. However, this strategy turned out to be ineffective as, once trained, young researchers were often very isolated and received little financial support, eventually losing some of their skills or changing career path.

JEAI in hydrogeophysics, Benin.

••• IRD provides grants to fund research teams or help with their scientific progress •••

2This forced IRD to change its strategy in 1994: rather than training individuals, the Institute decided to support research teams entirely made up of nationals from partner countries. With the “AIRE Development” programme which was extended until 2005, 35 foreign teams received financial support over six years and established valuable contacts with the eight French research organisations involved in the programme. This enhanced the sustainability of research groups while also raising their profile so that they could secure additional international funding… thereby achieving greater self-reliance.

The JEAI team in Cameroon.

3Meanwhile, the AIRE Development programme revealed the existence of motivated teams that were too scientifically inexperienced to apply for funding under the programme. In 2000, IRD created the “young associated team” (JEAI) programme especially for them, a three-year grant allowing a team to work hand in glove with IRD to acquire skills and experience. In keeping with these schemes, the Institute also set up “international joint laboratories” (LMI), operational structures housed on the premises of partners from the Global South, based on a targeted research topic and a sustainable scientific platform (laboratory, major equipment, computing resources, documentation centre, etc.). Last but not least, IRD helped create new training programmes and implement research and education assessment systems.

“The ‘AIRE development’ programme was based on four pillars: wide range of research topics, scientific excellence, research coordination and the training of trainers. Within an African environment marked by dwindling funds for higher education and research brought about by structural adjustment plans, IRD has become a major player in scientific cooperation thanks to this initiative.” 
Maurice Tchuenté, initially research lecturer in Computer Science, then university chancellor, then Cameroon’s Minister for Higher Education and Research. He is currently a member of IRD’s scientific council