The board of directors is the highest governing authority within the management structure in the Institute of Rural Development Planning (IRDP). This is 4 years office tenure with extension of another two periods. His main task among others is to establish policy and directives that will lead the management of IRDP in the implementing its objectives
The Institute of Rural Development Planning (IRDP) is a corporate body established by the Parliamentary Act No. 8 of 1980. The Act provides a legal framework for the Institute to be established as an important national centre for provision of training, research and consultancy services in the field of Rural Development Planning and Management with main objective of alleviating qualitative and quantitative shortage of skilled manpower within the framework of sustainable capacity building directed towards reducing poverty and attaining sustainable development.
IRDP strives to enhance and strengthen capacity for Rural Development practitioners by providing training, research and consultancy services. IRDP is thus a multi-disciplinary and multi-sectoral institute empowered to oversee and coordinate the provision of expertise to in-service and pre-service personnel involved in Rural Development Planning in the country.