UNU encompasses 12 institutes in ten countries. Established in line with the UNU Charter, these institutes aim to strengthen the academic, scientific and performance capabilities of institutions and scholars, especially in developing countries.

Each institute spearheads research and engages in capacity development activities in a particular, often interdisciplinary, field. Each institute’s director is guided by a board (or advisory committee) that is entrusted with responsibility for the attainment of the institute’s purposes, subject to overall authority of the UNU Council.

Visit the individual pages for more information on each UNU institute:

• UNU Institute on Comparative Regional Integration Studies (UNU-CRIS)
• UNU Institute for Environment and Human Security (UNU-EHS)
• UNU Institute for Integrated Management of Material Fluxes and of Resources (UNU-FLORES)
• UNU Institute of Advanced Studies (UNU-IAS)
• UNU International Institute for the Alliance of Civilizations (UNU-IIAOC)
• UNU International Institute for Global Health (UNU-IIGH)
• UNU International Institute for Software Technology (UNU-IIST)
• UNU Institute for Natural Resources in Africa (UNU-INRA)
• UNU Institute for Water, Environment and Health (UNU-INWEH)
• UNU Institute for Sustainability and Peace (UNU-ISP)
• UNU Maastricht Economic and Social Research Institute on Innovation and Technology (UNU-MERIT)
• UNU World Institute for Development Economics Research (UNU-WIDER)