ERF is an independent, nongovernmental, nonprofit networking institution dedicated to the mission of raising the capacity for and quality of policy-oriented economic research in the Arab countries, Iran and Turkey. The aim is to foster economic growth with equity and the effective integration of the region into the world economy. To achieve this mission, ERF initiates and funds policy-relevant economic research, and publishes and disseminates the results of this research to academia, and the policymaking and business communities. ERF functions as a resource base for economic research for the region.

The ERF community consists of regional and international economists, development practitioners, policymakers, members of the business community and research think tanks. Its core constituency is composed of Research Fellows, Research Associates and Senior Associates.

ERF was established in 1993 in Cairo, Egypt, when a group of regional economists and scholars supported by representatives of a number multilateral organizations and donor institutions approached, for the purpose of creating an independent self-sustaining institution that would help improve the quality and give momentum to applied policy-oriented economic research on the region.

ERF’s core objective is the creation of a strong MENA research community to encourage the production of independent and high quality economic research of ultimate relevance to public policy in the region. 

ERF achieves this objective by :

• Developing and coordinating research projects and securing the necessary funding.
• Disseminating the results of the research by executing a defined communications, public relations and media strategy.
• Forging links and initiating collaboration with regional and international think-tanks, research centers, statistical agencies, and development organizations.
• Housing, and regularly updating, a regional data bank and documentation library.