Officially created in January 1989, following discussions which had started during the Spring of 1986 in the aim of creating an autonomous movement of Tunisian women, AFTURD initially was the national section of the Association of African Women for Research and Development (AAWORD) before becoming a national non-governmental organization in its own right (JORT 39 dated 5/19/1989).

AFTURD groups women researchers trained in theoretical approaches and militant action. These women wish to promote critical reflection on the condition of women, identify all kinds of obstacles, be they legislative, institutional and cultural, limiting the effective participation of women in economic and public life.

to do research on the integration of women in the development process;
to encourage conscious and critical participation of women in the decision making process, as well as in the formulation and realization of development priorities and projects so as to give new substance to the integration of women in development;
to promote research in order to effectively emancipate of Tunisian women and safeguard their rights;
to emphasize the real role of women within the cultural, social and economic development process, and to reinstate their role within history;
to create and develop communication and exchange networks between Tunisian women, between Tunisian and African women, as well as between Tunisian women and every individual, group or institution concerned with development problems in Tunisia, Africa or elsewhere.