Understanding and supporting the development of people in the day-to-day contexts in which they live and experience their multiple worlds are fundamental to any society’s hope of attaining a high quality of life and well-being for its citizens. The Institute for Human Development is dedicated to the pursuit of knowledge with direct relevance for policies, programs, and practices that enhance life experiences at all stages of human development. In its foundational years, the Institute seeks particularly to become a major instrumental agent, locally as well as globally, for advancing knowledge about the earliest years of children’s development and harnessing such knowledge for the purposes of shaping policies and interventions that ensure a strong start in life for all children wherever they may live.​​​​