The Center for Development Research (ZEF) was founded in 1995 and started its actual research activities in 1997. ZEF's research aims at finding solutions to development-related issues. ZEF is an institute affiliated to the University of Bonn by being directly subordinated to the University's senate. By covering three main research areas, which are interrelated through interdisciplinary research projects, ZEF offers a broad and integrated perspective on development.

ZEF works on crosscutting themes of central importance for the developing world. The research programs build on the methods and analytical styles of the disciplinary research areas and link and integrate knowledge and capacities from these different areas. ZEF's three research departments are:

• Political and Cultural Change (ZEF A);
• Economic and Technological Change (ZEF B);
• Ecology and Natural Resources Management (ZEF C)