ISLAMIC RESEARCH AND TRAINING INSTITUTE The founders of the Islamic Development Bank (IDB) fully appreciated the role of research, training and information in the economic and social development of the Ummah. Hence, "to extend training facilities to personnel engaged in development activities in member countries" and "to undertake research for enabling the economic, financial and banking activities in Muslim countries to conform to the Shari'ah were included among the functions of the IDB in the Articles of Agreement establishing the Bank. OBJECTIVES In order to discharge its obligations in the areas of research, training and information, at the operational level, IDB established the Islamic Research and Training Institute (IRTI), located at its headquarters in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia; in 1401H (1981). The Institute became operational in (1983). Purpose and Functions The purpose of the IRTI is to undertake research for enabling the economic, financial and banking activities in Muslim countries to conform to Shari'ah and to extend training facilities to personnel engaged in economic development activities in the Bank's member countries. The major functions of IRTI, as stated in its Statute approved by the Board of the Executive Directors, arc: to organize and coordinate basic and applied research with a view to developing models and methods for the application of Shari'ah in the fields of economics, finance and banking; · to provide for the training and development of professional personal in Islamic economics to meet the needs of research and Shari'ah- observing agencies; to train personnel engaged in development activities in the Bank's member countries; to undertake any other activities which may advance its purpose. Organization The President of the IDB is also the President of the Institute and the IDB's Board of Executive Directors acts as its supreme policy-making body. The functioning of the Institute is supervised by the IRTI Management Committee. The Institute is headed by a Director responsible for its management and is appointed by the IDB President in consultation with the Board of Executive Directors. In response to the recommendations made by the Second Evaluation Committee, appointed by the management to evaluate the performance of IRTI for the period ( to ) in order to improve the overall efficiency, and effectiveness of the Institute, IRTI was restructured and is now composed of four technical divisions namely: the Islamic Economics, Cooperation and Development OECD) Division; the Islamic Banking and Finance (IBF) Division; the Training Division; and the Information Center (IRTIC); in addition to the Special Assignments Unit (SAU) and the Administrative Services Section. In the same line of changes leading to improvement, efficiency, and effectiveness, IRTI introduced a research screening process, which operates through its Research Advisor as well as IRTI Staff Seminar, to support its Academic Committee in its effort to evaluate research proposals, papers and other academic activities more effectively. RESEARCH The IECD and IBF Divisions concentrate on managing and conducting basic and applied research as well as organizing seminars and conferences to meet the research needs of member countries related to the application of Shari'ah in the fields of economics, finance and banking. They also coordinate teaching and research in those fields being carried out by sister institutions all over the world. In addition, they provide advisory services to member 2