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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Earth Shattering: Financial Engagement at the Nexus of Modern Slavery and Natural Resources in Africa
Promoting synchronized action to tackle risks and abuses in cocoa production and gold mining value chains in Ghana.
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Beyond Opportunism: The UN Development System's Response to the Triple Planetary Crisis
Capturing best practices and the constraints experienced by Resident Coordinators in relation to the Triple Planetary Crisis.
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Volunteer Security Outfits in North East Nigeria
Presenting evidence on conflict transitions and related programming for policymakers and practitioners.
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Governing Uncertainty
Surveying major trends that will shape the future of global governance over the next 30 years.
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Peacebuilding and Authoritarianism: The Unintended Consequences of UN Engagement in Post-Conflict Settings
Developing a usable framework to ensure peacebuilding support is not distorted or co-opted.
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The Security Council and Conflict Prevention: Entry Points for Diplomatic Action
Exploring how the Security Council can design and implement preventive diplomatic strategies in response to emerging, escalating, and acute crises.
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UN Sanctions and Humanitarian Action: Review of Past Research and Proposals for Future Investigation
An overview of research conducted on the interplay of UN sanctions and humanitarian action and a roadmap for future research endeavours.
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Conflict Exit Data Management and Integration at the United Nations
Advancing MEAC to build the international community’s capacity to effectively support conflict exits going forward.
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Paving Pathways to Peace Talks with Sanctions Exemptions?
Outlining the existing constellation of exemptions related to peace talks and identifying implications for policy practitioners.
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Gender and Health Hub
The Hub aims to develop a network of policy-makers, academics, and practitioners to promote policy-relevant research on gender and global health.