The mission of the Office of Astronomy for Development (OAD) is to help further the use of astronomy, including its practitioners, skills and infrastructures, as a tool for development by mobilizing the human and financial resources necessary in order to realize the field’s scientific, technological and cultural benefits to society. The OAD  is a joint project of the International Astronomical Union (IAU) and the South African National Research Foundation (NRF) with the support of the Department of Science and Technology (DST).

The office funds and coordinates projects that use Astronomy as a tool to address issues related to sustainable development. Since 2013, more than 120 projects have been funded through the annual Call for Proposals. The OAD also engages in a number of activities on its own. The OAD has established 10 Regional Offices and Language Centres around the world who share the OAD vision but focus their activities within a geographic or cultural or language region.