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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No Research About Us Without Us: Participatory Policy-Oriented Research With Children and Youth Affected by Conflict
A participatory workshop model to assess the needs of children and youth impacted by conflict.
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Financial Sector Commission on Modern Slavery and Human Trafficking
Five Goals to bolster the industry’s response to modern slavery and human trafficking.
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The Iraqi State, Geopolitics, and the Popular Mobilization Forces
Policies that could potentially to chip away at paramilitary groups' power, mitigate their abuses, and enforce their accountability.
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Citizenship and Its Discontents in the Middle East: Kurdish Nationalism at an Impasse
The challenges facing Kurdish national identity in Iraqi Kurdistan's stalled political transition and the possibility for a new social contract.
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The New Geopolitics of Converging Risks: The UN and Prevention in the Era of AI
The emerging impacts of AI convergence on the United Nations’ prevention agenda.
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Assessing the Effectiveness of the United Nations Mission in South Sudan
An assessment of the achievements and impacts of the UN Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS).
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UN Sanctions and Mediation: Establishing Evidence To Inform Practice
Twenty policy recommendations to enhance complementarity, following discussions in New York and Geneva.
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Minimum Order: The Role of the Security Council in an Era of Major Power Competition
Amid rising great power tensions, the UN Security Council grapples with challenges in addressing conflicts.
Project
Surges and Swarms: A Conversation on Responsible Coverage of Migration
Recommendations for best practices for newsmakers, media regulators, United Nations entities and Member States when reporting on issues of migration.
News
New Research Provides Insights into Development Aid Addressing Target 8.7
A detailed and robust analysis on national commitments.