About the UNU


Mission: "to contribute, through research and capacity building, to efforts to resolve the pressing global problems that are the concern of the United Nations, its Peoples and Member States" [see UNU Charter]

Four Key Roles:
  • An international community of scholars
  • A bridge between the United Nations and the international academic community
  • A think-tank for the United Nations system
  • A builder of capacities, particularly in developing countries
Basic Facts:
Academic Management: Prof. Dr. Hans van Ginkel, Rector
Prof. Dr. Motoyuki Suzuki, Vice-Rector; Environment and Sustainable Development
Prof. Dr. Ramesh Thakur, Vice-Rector; Peace and Governance
Prof. Yozo Yokota, Special Adviser to the Rector
Annual Budget: US$ 35.9 million (2000)
Staff: (external link) 211 from over 30 countries
Established: By the United Nations General Assembly on 6 December 1973 [Resolution 3081 (XXVIII)]

History (external link)

Main Activities: Main Thematic Focus:
  • Research
  • Policy Studies
  • Capacity Building
  • Dissemination and Communication
  • Knowledge Networks


Structure:
Governing Council: (external link) 24 international experts acting in their personal capacities
Headquarters: (external link) Tokyo, Japan
Institutes: (external link) 13 Research and Training Centres and Programmes around the world
Partners: Over 30 UN organizations and more than 100 research institutions globally
Programme Areas: Peace and Governance (external link), and
Environment and Sustainable Development (external link)

Thematic Orientation:
Peace
(external link)
Governance (external link)
Development
(external link)
Science, Technology
& Society
Environment
(external link)
 International Relations

 UN System

 Human Security

 Armed Conflicts

  Human Rights/Ethics

 Democracy/
Civil Society

 Leadership

 Governance

 Globalization & Development

 Growth & Employment

 Poverty & Basic Needs

 Urbanization

  Innovation

 Info & Bio Technologies

 Software Technology

 Food and Nutrition

  Resource Management

 Sustainable Industry & Cities

 Water

 Global Climate
& Governance
Cross-Cutting Issues
Globalization; Global Public Goods; Human Rights; Gender; Food Security; Water; Focus Africa; China.