The I.O.I. strives to encourage and support research and study into the institution of the ombudsman as well as to collect, store and disseminate research data. Since 2010 the I.O.I. the General Secretariat in Vienna hosts the Institute's archives.

Continuous commitment and outstanding efforts by members of the ombudsman community have shaped the I.O.I. and made it the most important organisation for the cooperation of more than 135 independent public service ombudsman institutions. The I.O.I. recently thanked them for their valuable services.

The 12^th regional Conference of the Asian Ombudsman Association  (AOA) will be held in Japan from 5^th to 8^th December 2011. An official website has been launched in order to provide information about the detailed pogramme.

Over the course of the summer, the General Secretariat has invited I.O.I. members to register for a free of charge electronic access to a comparative legal study about European Ombudsman Institutions. So far, already close to fifty accounts have been provided, enabling I.O.I. user to read and download individual chapters of the following publication: Kucsko-Stadlmayer, Gabriele (ed.): "European Ombudsman-Institutions. A comparative legal analysis regarding the multifaceted realisation of an idea", Springer Wien New York, 2008.

On 16 August 2011, the NSW Ombudsman tabled a special report to Parliament titled More than board and lodging: the need for boarding house reform. The report draws on extensive work by the Ombudsman´s office since 2002, which has identified serious concerns about the safety, health, welfare and rights of the residents of licensed boarding houses, and the adequacy of the system that is meant to protect them.

In communications to President Dolores de Cospeda I.O.I. President Beverley Wakem, Secretary General Peter Kostelka and European Regional Vice-President Rafael Ribó have expressed their concern on behalf of the I.O.I. regarding recent developments in Castilla-La Mancha that might lead to the abolition of its Ombudsman institution.

I.O.I. Europe organises a topical workshop on “The defense of rights and good practices in private management of public services - The Role of the Ombudsman” on 21 and 22 November 2011 in Barcelona.

According to Article 21 (2) of the I.O.I. By-laws “The officers of the Institute, except the Secretary General, shall be elected at the annual meeting of the Board from amongst the Directors”. As a consequence officer elections will be held during the Livingstone Board Meeting to appoint the President, Vice-President and Treasurer of the Institute.