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.
Series
Seed Projects
UNU‑EGOV explores emerging initiatives to create innovative ideas and validate their potential before moving to later development stages.
Collection
Global Water Bankruptcy
Living Beyond our Hydrological Means in the Post-Crisis Era
Series
Impact
Impact from UNU work
Collection
Accelerating Progress on the Water-energy-food-ecosystem (WEFE) Nexus in Sub-saharan Africa
Inter-Agency Policy Brief – December 2025
Collection
THE DROUGHT-MIGRATION- CONFLICT NEXUS Was the Syrian Civil War Really Caused by Climate Change?
Investigating how climate stress, agriculture, and governance shaped Syria’s crisis beyond a single drought event.
Series
Visiting Fellows (UNU-CRIS)
Visiting Fellows are “fellows-in-residence” who participate in the activities of UNU-CRIS.
Collection
Gender Imbalance: Progress and Challenges in Achieving Gender-Inclusive Representation in Global Environmental Governance
Inclusive representation is key to effective environmental governance, addressing climate change, biodiversity loss, and land degradation with diverse perspectives and solutions.
Project
Cross-Border Conflict Evidence, Policy and Trends (XCEPT)
Analyzing how sanctions and peace operations can more effectively address violence in borderlands and cross-border conflict.
Collection
Ji Şer Ber bi Aştîyê: Bêçekkirina PKK’ê û Potansiyala Kesk a Aştiyê li Rojhilata Navîn
Întegrekirina Dadweriya Veguhêz a Kesk di pêvajoya aştiyê ya PKK-Tirkiyeyê de dikare zirarên ekolojîk ên şer çareser bike û aştiyek mayînde û berfireh pêş bixe.
Collection
Çatışmadan Barışa: PKK'nın Silahsızlanması ve Orta Doğu'da Barışın Yeşil Potansiyeli
PKK–Türkiye barış sürecine Yeşil Geçiş Adaletinin entegre edilmesi, savaşın ekolojik zararlarını ele alabilir ve kalıcı, kapsayıcı bir barışı teşvik edebilir.