Tokyo and Helsinki, 1 May 2026 — The United Nations University (UNU) is pleased to announce that Professor Patricia Justino has today begun her term as Director of the UNU World Institute for Development Economics Research (UNU-WIDER).
A Portuguese national and internationally respected development economist, Prof. Justino brings over two decades of experience conducting policy-relevant research on inequality, governance and inclusive development. She is the first woman appointed to lead UNU-WIDER, having previously served as the institute’s Deputy Director, where she helped shape strategic direction and deepen global partnerships.
Prof. Justino’s research explores how political violence, institutional change and social policy affect long-term development outcomes. She has worked extensively on post-conflict recovery, trust in public institutions, and inclusive economic systems — issues central to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals. Her work is deeply rooted in field-based evidence and has informed policy debates in multiple regions, particularly across Africa, Latin America and conflict-affected settings.
At UNU-WIDER, she has led initiatives that strengthened the institute’s country programmes, built closer collaboration with UN agencies and expanded its global research network. Her recent work offers concrete insights on governance and trust-building in post-conflict societies, the redistributive potential of social protection, and pathways to inclusive recovery.
UNU Rector and UN Under-Secretary-General Prof. Tshilidzi Marwala welcomed Prof. Justino to her new leadership role: “We are thrilled to have Professor Patricia Justino begin her term as Director of UNU-WIDER. Her deep research expertise at the intersections of inequality, post-conflict development, social policy and economic systems is exactly what is needed at this critical moment for global sustainable development. Her leadership will undoubtedly keep UNU-WIDER at the forefront of efforts to build a more just and equitable world.”
Prof. Justino has published in leading academic journals — including the Journal of Development Economics, World Bank Economic Review, and Journal of Peace Research — but her impact reaches well beyond academia. Her research has shaped strategies and programming at institutions such as the World Bank, FAO, UNESCO, USAID and the European Commission. She is also co-founder of the Households in Conflict Network, which has connected field researchers across the Global South and North.
Prof. Justino holds an MPhil in Economics from the University of Cambridge and a PhD from the University of London. In addition to her role at UNU-WIDER, she is currently a Professorial Fellow (on leave) at the Institute of Development Studies (IDS) in the UK and has held visiting positions at the European University Institute and Harvard University.
Media contact
Marie-France Boucher
Media and Communications Officer, UNU-WIDER, boucher@wider.unu.edu
