Independent, non-faculty unit within the University of Zimbabwe, established in 1994 in response to national consensus about the ecological, social and economic consequences of environmental change.

It undertakes:

• research
• database establishment
• information collation and dissemination
• consultancy
• education

It operates by means of a series of highly decentralised partnerships with other University Departments, Universities in developed and developing countries, government institutions and non-governmental organisations (NGOs).

WWW site includes details of IES services, staff, publications with online versions of policy briefs, and details of other relevant news and publications.