[5] It was named 'Think-tank to Watch' in the Prospect 'Think-tank of the Year' awards in 2005 and is considered in international policy circles to be one of the world's leading think tanks on development.

Speakers include ODI staff,[12] visiting development policymakers,[13] DFID officials[14] and other prominent figures such as Justin Yifu Lin, the former World Bank Chief Economist,[15] Julia Gillard, the 27th Prime Minister of Australia, and David Miliband, chief executive officer of the International Rescue Committee.

[17] As a registered charity, ODI's income relies on "grants and donations from foundations, non-governmental organisations, the private sector, governments, multilateral agencies and academia".

[18] In March 2024, they announced new funding from the Patrick J. McGovern Foundation "to support the launch of the Data-centric AI programme and responsible data stewardship research activities over the next 12 months".

[19] David Steven of Global Dashboard criticized the ODI in 2013 for not making the distinction between subsidy and having a lower VAT rate on fuel comparison to other goods.