Research Projects

Generating solutions to pressing development challenges

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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.

Showing 1-10 of 477 results

Project 01 Oct 2025

Develop Regional and Global Trust Lists for Digital Trust Services

The regional and international trust lists will enable the recognition of Saudi digital identification and trust services across borders.

Project 08 Sep 2025

Development of a Policy Brief on the use of DPI for Trade and Investment

The project identifies tangible opportunities to support the Republic of Ghana's work in leveraging DPI for trade and investment.

Project 01 Aug 2025

Status Quo and Gap Analyses of Digital Social Protection Systems and Cross-Border Portability of Benefits in the Caribbean Community (CARICOM)

The project proposes recommendations for strengthening the cross-border portability of social protection benefits across the CARICOM region.

Project 16 Jun 2025

Raising the Level of Digital Trust and Identity Services Usage, and International Cooperation

The project aims to establish a robust legal and regulatory framework that supports the adoption and reliability of digital services.

Project 01 May 2025

A Resource Nexus perspective on data-driven management of waste (Data4Waste)

This project places data at the heart of the transition to circular waste systems.

Project 07 Nov 2025

Enhancing Water Security with Nature-based Solutions for Climate-Resilient Cities through a Resource Nexus Lens: A Case Study of Kathmandu Metropolitan City, Nepal​

The project addresses gaps in research and policy on Nature-based Solutions in fast-growing, resource-limited urban areas.

Project 07 Nov 2025

Environmental Footprint of the Electronics Industry in the Global South: Applying the Resource Nexus as an Analytical and Management Tool

The Resource Nexus helps map the impacts of electronics in the Global South, which cause pollution in the form of e-waste and mining.

Project 07 Nov 2025

A Resource Nexus Perspective on Sustainable Public Procurement: The Case of Mongolia

This project fills a critical knowledge gap at the intersection of environmental governance, institutional reform, & sustainable resource management.

Project 06 Nov 2025

Understanding the Resource Nexus between Urban Sprawl, Landscape Fragmentation and Habitat Network Connectivity in Sierra Leone

This study explores how urban sprawl, fragmentation and habitat connectivity affect resource management in Sierra Leone using the Resource Nexus lens.

Project 06 Nov 2025

Transdisciplinary Integration of Knowledge for Sustainable Transformations in Regional Water Management: A Resource Nexus Perspective

This research explore how transdisciplinary knowledge integration within a resource nexus perspective can support sustainable transformations in regional water management, particularly in the Global South.