News

This article is part of UNU’s “17 Days, 17 Goals” series, featuring research and commentary in support of the United Nations Sustainable Development Summit, 25-27 September 2015 in New York City. Halfway through our series we step back to reflect on the bigger picture, with a special focus on goal #...

Ahead of International Day of Peace, 21 September, fear and conflict are returning to Burundi, warns migration expert Dr. Sonja Fransen. Her research shows that conflict and forced migration have long-term effects — effects that trickle down to post-war generations. The International Day of Pe...

This article is part of UNU’s “17 Days, 17 Goals” series, featuring research and commentary in support of the United Nations Sustainable Development Summit, 25-27 September 2015 in New York City. Goal #6: Ensure availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all For universal sa...

This article is part of UNU’s “17 Days, 17 Goals” series, featuring research and commentary in support of the United Nations Sustainable Development Summit, 25-27 September 2015 in New York City. Goal #5: Achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls Women and girls represent roughly half ...

This article is part of UNU’s “17 Days, 17 Goals” series, featuring research and commentary in support of the United Nations Sustainable Development Summit, 25-27 September 2015 in New York City. Goal #4: Ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities fo...

This article is part of UNU’s “17 Days, 17 Goals” series, featuring research and commentary in support of the United Nations Sustainable Development Summit, 25-27 September 2015 in New York City. Goal #1: End poverty in all its forms everywhere On 25th September, 15 years after the Millennium Summit...

Prof. Parvati Nair, UNU-GCM: United Nations University, Barcelona A child should not have to die to mobilise goverments into credible action. The photograph of three-year-old Alan Kurdi’s body washed ashore, which has mobilised international responses to the ongoing migration crisis in the Mediterra...

The Dutch development aid budget has fallen dramatically in recent years. In 2013 the Dutch Government stopped respecting the 0.7% norm, pushing through large budget cuts on development aid cooperation. The allocation of development aid is also more and more scrutinised, and one of the more controve...

Most people know very little about public procurement — yet it shapes everything from education to health to transport, and represents up to 30% of developing countries’ GDP. To find out more about this important but overlooked subject, Dr. Mindel van de Laar spoke to PhD fellow Ana Cris...

The path to doctoral funding is littered with Google searches, open calls, and endless talks with friends, colleagues, and contacts. So what’s the key to finding and securing funding? PhD fellow Ayla Bonfiglio shares her own backstory, along with her (proven) tips for success. The doctoral can...

Please note that on Tuesday 1 September 2015, UNU-MERIT and its School of Governance will officially move to a new address in Maastricht: UNU-MERIT Boschstraat 24 6211 AX Maastricht...

GLOBALLY each day almost 1000 children under 5 die from diarrhoea caused by contaminated water. More than 2.4 billion people – a third of all humanity – have no access to sanitation. And as populations grow, water is set to become a new source of danger, of conflict, given the rapid urban expansion ...

What is the difference between trafficking and smuggling? Can technology help turn the tables? How strong are legal protections worldwide? Just a few of the questions put to migration expert Dr. Melissa Siegel ahead of World Day against Trafficking in Persons, 30 July. What is the difference between...

Greece has received unprecedented migrant arrivals over the past few years, being at the frontline of entry into the European Union. The EU’s Frontex agency has just released new figures showing that the Turkey-Greece border has again become the primary mode of entry into the EU, writes Dr. Ka...

How can young people help themselves, both practically and professionally? How can developing countries cut youth unemployment and realise their full potential? How can the United Nations University make a difference? We asked Ibrahima Kaba, a PhD fellow from Guinea in West Africa, and Diego Salama,...

How do different countries deal with migrant integration? Do policies give immigrants the chance to survive or even excel? Or do policies act as barriers to integration? Just a few of the questions tackled by Dr. Özge Bilgili in the Migrant Integration Policy Index 2015. With the increase and divers...

In June each year, the closing ceremony marks the end of classes for our Master’s students in Public Policy and Human Development (MPP). Many leave Maastricht to write their thesis, do field research, start an internship or enjoy their summer holiday. The MPP closing ceremony is therefore the ...

How much will other Europeans lose if Greece exits the euro? Will the ‘contagion’ spread to Italy, Portugal or Spain? Is this as much of a political as an economic crisis? Ahead of this weekend’s crucial referendum, these were among the questions put to Dr. Thomas Ziesemer — one of 70 Du...

In 40 years of independence, Mozambique has made real progress: it is one of the fastest growing economies in the world, democratic institutions have been deepened, public services have been reformed, and human development indicators have significantly improved. Yet despite these achievements, great...

Around 3 billion people worldwide use traditional biomass and coal as their main sources of fuel at home, and 1.4 billion people have no access to electricity. To remedy this, the UN launched a call for universal access to modern energy in 2012, with a target year of 2030. Prof. Shyama V. Ramani sen...