The United Nations Research Institute for Social Development (UNRISD) has built its legacy on the courage to ask “why” and the commitment to listen to those who challenge the status quo. As we celebrate 62 years, we honor the bold ideas that have redefined social development research and the visionary people who transformed these ideas into action.
Pioneering hope: how two visionaries built UNRISD
UNRISD was established on 1 August, 1963, during a time marked by global struggles for independence and the divisions of the Cold War, yet it was also a period filled with hope for social progress and development.
The institute was envisioned by two intellectual giants of the United Nations—Nobel laureates Jan Tinbergen and Gunnar Myrdal—who understood that neglecting the social dimensions of development would undermine the entire “development project.” They also acknowledged the importance of having an independent research function within the UN, distinct from advisory and operational work, yet capable of influencing the action programs of the United Nations system. This vision led to the creation of UNRISD, the UN’s first dedicated research institute, which set the standard for integrating independent, evidence-based research into the work of the United Nations.
For over six decades, UNRISD has leveraged its autonomous status within the UN, and worked to keep the vision of its founders alive, pursuing independent, critical research, often on politically sensitive issues. Guided by this pioneering spirit, the institute has expanded the boundaries of social development and challenged dominant narratives, playing “David against the Goliaths of international development.”
Today, UNRISD continues to examine contemporary development challenges, questioning power, politics and the distribution of resources. Through interdisciplinary research and co-production of knowledge with its global network, UNRISD supports transformative change. It places equity, inclusion and justice at the center of sustainable development policy and practice.
A journey through social change: six decades of UNRISD research
Since the 1960s, UNRISD has been at the forefront of understanding social change. Across six decades, let us retrace the institute’s research, exploring how societies evolve, how inequalities take root, and how knowledge can inform policies that foster more inclusive and sustainable futures.
1960s. Pioneering social and human indicators of development
Founded in the 1960s, UNRISD brought social dimensions to the heart of development, advancing the use of human and social indicators alongside economic measures. Its early work laid the foundations for what became the Human Development Index in 1990.
1970s. Exploring the social and political dynamics of modernization
UNRISD turned its attention to agriculture, food, and the Green Revolution, highlighting the role of small-scale farmers in ensuring food security and sustainability. Research revealed that high-yielding technologies could marginalize small cultivators in unequal societies, emphasizing institutions’ roles in shaping impacts.
1980s. Promoting a holistic and multidisciplinary approach
UNRISD deepened the understanding of development beyond purely economic measures, highlighting the importance of social, institutional and environmental factors. Research emphasized holistic, multidisciplinary approaches that integrated social contexts and reinforced participatory, bottom-up development planning.
1990s. Anticipating the social effects of globalization
As globalization accelerated, UNRISD studied its social impacts on inequality, labor markets, and social structures, contributing valuable insights to international debates, including the 1995 Copenhagen Summit for Social Development. During this period, UNRISD also emerged as a leader in gender equality research, developing methods to measure women’s unpaid care work.
2000s. Taking global responsibility for social development
UNRISD conducted influential research advocating transformative social policies, highlighting production, redistribution, reproduction, and protection as key to inclusive, equitable, and gender-just development.
2010s. From crisis and uncertainty to the promise of transformative change
In the 2010s, following the 2007-2008 financial crisis and rising environmental concerns, UNRISD began to explore ways to achieve resilient, inclusive, and sustainable development. In these years the institute also assumed the research function for the UN Inter-Agency Task Force on Social and Solidarity Economy.
2020s. Overcoming inequalities: towards a new eco-social contract
Today, UNRISD continues to tackle inequality and promote social justice while integrating ecological sustainability into development policies. It investigated the role of elites in perpetuating inequality, and advanced research on South-South migration, intersectionality and gender equality and women’s unpaid care work. In recent years, the institute has developed sustainable development performance indicators to help businesses align better with sustainability goals. It has also launched its vision of new eco-social contracts for just and sustainable futures.
#IdeasThatShape: four stories of UNRISD’s impact
What if we had never challenged the status quo? For six decades, our work has been defined by both research excellence and a willingness to ask difficult questions — about who benefits, who decides, and who is left behind. The following four case studies show how UNRISD has challenged assumptions, reframed questions, and proved that asking difficult questions can change the world.
Reasserting social policy as a development imperative
What if social policy were seen as a solution, rather than a cost? In the 1990s, social policy was sidelined, treated as an expense rather than an investment. UNRISD dared to look deeper. Through rigorous research, we demonstrated that social policy can be transformative—breaking poverty cycles, reducing inequality, and building inclusive societies. From Copenhagen to Agenda 2030, our work has placed rights-based social policies at the center of global progress.
Putting gender equality at the heart of development
What if gender equality had never moved beyond the margins? In the 1970s, women’s roles were overlooked, and gender was sidelined. UNRISD highlighted the central role of women in development and the gendered impacts of policies, pioneering feminist and intersectional approaches. From shaping the 1995 Beijing Conference to conducting pioneering research on the care economy, UNRISD helped make gender equality a core pillar of social justice and development.
Rethinking the economy through cooperation
What if economies prioritized cooperation over profit? For decades, economic policy promoted growth over solidarity. However, UNRISD’s research on the Social and Solidarity Economy (SSE) changed that. From organizing the first international SSE conference in 2013 to establishing the UN Task Force on SSE and setting up the Knowledge Hub for the SDGs, UNRISD has transformed SSE into a recognized pathway for inclusive, sustainable development. Today, this legacy is driving historic milestones, including the 2023 UN General Assembly resolution promoting SSE, inspiring communities, policy-makers, and international institutions to rethink how economies can center cooperation, solidarity and social justice.
Shaping just transitions for a low-carbon world
What if we never asked who truly benefits from the green transition? Climate policies have often focused on emissions and economic growth, ignoring social inequalities. UNRISD has shown that just transitions must tackle systemic inequalities—across gender, race, class and geography— in order to ensure that no one is left behind. By convening global experts, producing evidence-based recommendations and elevating underrepresented voices, UNRISD has pushed for a transformative vision that puts all workers and justice at the center of climate action.