IFEA is both a research unit and a support platform for French and European research in collaboration with Andean countries. It produces fundamental knowledge, mainly in the social and human sciences and archaeology. Its in-depth analysis of social, economic, political and cultural processes enables it to contribute to public debate, thanks to its mission to disseminate knowledge in a variety of ways (scientific publications, colloquia and conferences, provision of a research library). It also serves as a training ground for doctoral students. It collaborates with the French cultural action system, French universities and research institutions, and local scientific communities. The ability to compare and contrast processes on a regional scale - Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador and Peru - is one of the Institute's scientific strengths, appreciated by its partners.

The research library offers an exceptional collection of specialized works in French and Spanish: 38,000 books, 46,000 journals and a map library. IFEA publishes studies by its researchers and their partners (individual works, collective works, conference proceedings, etc.) in three collections: Travaux, Actes & Mémoires and Bibliothèque Andine de Poche (BAB). Most works are co-published in Peru, Bolivia, Colombia and Ecuador. The IFEA Bulletin publishes two thematic dossiers and one varia per year. Proposed articles are evaluated under the aegis of a broadly open editorial committee. These publications are particularly important for archaeology and linguistics, as well as for other disciplines such as geography, which are not widely represented in the Andes. For some years now, the books and the journal have also been available in electronic format, thanks to the CNRS's Opendition Books and Revues.org programs. The IFEA bookshop also sells a large number of books in paper format, directly on site, at book fairs and on consignment to bookshops. IFEA disseminates information about its activities and those of its partners on social networks:Facebook,Twitter,LinkedIn and Youtube.