IIED builds bridges: between local and global, policy and practice, rich and poor, government and private sector, and across diverse interest groups. Our strength lies in our combination of research and action — generating robust evidence and know-how that is informed by a practical perspective acquired through hands-on research with grassroots partners.

IIED has four research groups, which coordinate our work on each of four interlinked issues. 

1) Climate change: Working in collaboration with partner organisations and individuals in developing countries our climate change group has been leading the field on adaptation to climate change issues.

2) Human settlements: Human settlements group works to reduce poverty and improve health and housing conditions in the urban centres of Latin America, Asia and Africa. It seeks to combine this with promoting good governance and more ecologically sustainable patterns of urban development.

3) Natural resources: The aim of the natural resources group is to build partnerships, capacity and wise decision-making for fair and sustainable use of natural resources. Our priority in pursuing this purpose is on local control and management of natural resources and other ecosystems.

4) Sustainable markets: The sustainable markets group drives our efforts to ensure that markets contribute to positive social, environmental, and economic outcomes.