[1] It was founded to promote research from many disciplines on key problems including poverty, justice, well-being, and economics.
[2] The Association holds annual conferences; maintains a website and mailing list; supports training activities; and provides a forum in which collaborative research can emerge.
The association is supported by the Canadian International Development Research Centre (IDRC).
[3] The economist and nobel Laureate Amartya Sen was the founding president and remained President until 2006 when philosopher, Martha Nussbaum, took over.
She was succeeded in 2008 by Frances Stewart, who specializes in development studies.