IRED is a global network and movement of partners who are seeking to achieve social and economic justice through economic and social initiatives, participation in governance and in policy processes. These organisations range from local community based organisations, peasant associations, youth and women's associations, national and regional networks. It acts as a forum through which organisations can act together at regional and global level to exchange ideas and lessons, create solidarity and to form common analysis and develop proposals for alternatives.
 
IRED's activities aim to facilitate intra- and inter-regional synergies, provide information to demystify global process and policies, facilitate economic linkages between organisations, provide technical support in economic activities such as commercialisation, linkages to markets, document and disseminate initiatives that can contribute to building alternatives, promote partnerships for local development, and strengthen capacities of people's organisations in policy influencing.
 
IRED's priority programme themes are: people's economy democratisation and local governance policy analysis and advocacy IRED's main areas of compentency are: policy analysis and advocacy capacity building of people's organisations information: collection, capitalisation, repackaging and dissemination technical support in microfinance and alternative financing to micro enterprises and the informal sector technical support in commercialisation for producers creating North-South and South-South linkages