About SID

Building bridges to develop a better world

The Society for International Development (SID) is a global network of individuals and institutions concerned with development, which is participative, pluralistic and sustainable. The Society was founded in Washington D.C. in 1957 and is based in Rome since 1978.
Through its programmes and initiatives, organised in key centres of development policy making in the North and in countries of the South, SID  plays a crucial role in helping promote dialogue between the various stakeholders and interest groups, both locally and internationally.

Vision and Mission

The Society’s programme of work seeks to build capacity within the organization in order for it to accomplish its broadly stated vision and mission that remain unchanged. Generally SID’s activities will aim to:

a) Contribute to building consensus for the need for a new convivencia by supporting initiatives that generate new visions for society, leadership and political will;

b) Encourage and facilitate dialogue between diversities through knowledge based activities;

c) Facilitate knowledge generation, sharing and dissemination.

Through its programmes, SID aims to position the institution as a leading point of reflection on development issues, an institution that brings together diverse views and experiences from across the spectrum of human endeavour. Through these efforts, SID is recognized as a pertinent, innovative and future oriented institution that fosters learning, innovation and constructive dialogue; one that nudges institutional boundaries and enlarges the spaces for exchange and exploration in the search for social justice and development that is just, equitable and sustainable.

SID Network
What makes SID a unique actor in the development arena is its network with over 3000 members in 80 countries and 45 local chapters. It works with more than 100 associations, networks and institutions involving academia, parliamentarians, students, political leaders and development experts, both at local and international level. This makes of SID one of the few organisation that has a holistic, multidisciplianry and multi sectorial approach to development and social change.
Click here to become a member.

SID Consultative Status
SID enjoys the highest consultative status, Category I, with the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC).
SID additionally maintains consultative status with the Council of Europe, IFAD, ILO, FAO, UNCTAD, UNEP, UNESCO, UNFPA and UNICEF.

SID Governance
The General Assembly, made up of SID members, is the sovereign body of the Society. The Assembly meets every three years and elects the Governing Council.  Click here to see the current office bearers.
The day-to-day activities of SID are coordinated by a Secretariat in Rome and by a Regional Office in Nairobi.