CDR was established in 1989 as a Central American branch of the Free University of Amsterdam (VU). Despite its official independence from the VU in 2006, the challenge for CDR remains to find a balance between consultancy assignments and academia research. The framework for the consultancy work is based on intensive applied research, which combines studies on a micro level with sector and macroeconomic analyses.
The Foundation also remains closely linked with various research institutions, including:
- Wageningen Agricultural University Research Center
(www.wur.nl) - Center for Latin American Research and Documentation, Amsterdam (www.cedla.nl)
- University of Antwerp (www.ua.ac.be)
- Zamorano (Panamerican Agricultural School), Honduras (https://www.zamorano.edu/)
- CATIE-INCAE Master in Agribusiness Management (https://www.incae.edu/en/master-programs/miam.php)
- University for Peace (https://www.upeace.org/)
- Nitlapan (https://www.nitlapan.org.ni)
- ECORYS (https://www.ecorys.com)
- La Chispa (https://www.lachispa.eu)
- El Trueque / APROCO (https://www.facebook.com/feriaeltrueque)