UNU research focuses on the challenges faced by the United Nations and its Member States. Our current research portfolio supports all of the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), which were adopted by the UN General Assembly in 2015 to inspire global action to overcome the world’s biggest challenges.
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Crime-Conflict Nexus: The Hellish Road to Good Intentions - How To Break Political-Criminal Alliances in Contexts of Transition
How a sharpened analysis can reduce the role of illicit economies and crime in post-conflict and regime-change situations.
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Crime-Conflict Nexus: Myanmar Maneuvers: How To Break Political-Criminal Alliances in Contexts of Transition
Policy recommendations to act against Myanmar’s illicit economies for the remaining time of Suu Kyi’s five-year term.
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Crime-Conflict Nexus: Afghanistan Affectations: How To Break Political-Criminal Alliances in Contexts of Transition
Four possible inflection points where the international community and Afghan government could have fundamentally altered the course.
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Civil War Trends and the Changing Nature of Armed Conflict
Guiding adaptations in conflict management tools for international entities.
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The Rise of High-Level Panels: Implications for the New UN Secretary-General
The evolving UN experience with high-level panels, the types of impact they have had, and how they might prove most valuable going forward.
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Defining the Resilient City
The application of resilience for urban environments in contexts of fragility.
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Assessing the UN's Efforts To Counter Terrorism
The UN's crucial operational impact may extend beyond its counter-terrorism framework.
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How António Guterres Can Advance the UN’s Protection Agenda
Guterres will need to pursue action on three fronts in order to advance the UN’s protection agenda.
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Conceptualizing City Fragility and Resilience
A preliminary analytical framework that re-conceptualizes fragility and resilience at the city level.
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Strengthening the Impact of Research on UN Policy
How UN-oriented research entities could more effectively inform major UN policy processes.