Since its founding in 1919, the International Astronomical Union (IAU) has worked to promote and safeguard the science of astronomy through global cooperation. In 2010, the IAU expanded this vision by adopting a Strategic Plan dedicated to "Astronomy for Development", a commitment to using celestial science as a catalyst for social change.

To turn this vision into action, the Office of Astronomy for Development (OAD) was established in 2011. A joint project between the IAU and the South African National Research Foundation (supported by the Department of Science, Technology, and Innovation), the OAD serves a singular mission: to leverage astronomy, its practitioners, technology, and skills, as a tool to drive sustainable development and improve the human condition worldwide.

We achieve this by mobilizing human and financial resources to unlock the scientific, technological, and cultural benefits of the field. Through strategic funding and global coordination, the OAD empowers projects that use astronomy to tackle the world’s most pressing sustainable development challenges.

Why Astronomy?

Astronomy is uniquely suited to development because it is:

1. Interdisciplinary – connects with physics, chemistry, biology, geology, and beyond (astrobiology, astrochemistry, astrogeology).

2. Technology-creating – astronomical needs have driven advances like CCD sensors, computing, and optics, which then find widespread use in everyday life.

3. Cultural & inspirational – every human culture has deep ties to the night sky, making astronomy a powerful tool for education, storytelling, and unity.

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