UNU-CRIS aims to contribute through research and training to a better understanding of the processes and impacts of intra- and interregional integration from multidisciplinary and comparative perspectives. The goal is to build policy-relevant knowledge about new forms of governance and cooperation and to contribute to capacity development on issues of regional integration and cooperation, particularly in developing countries. The work of UNU-CRIS focuses on:

 

• Visioning how multi-level governance is being shaped
• Monitoring the implementation and impact of regional integration
• Deepening the critical understanding of regional integration as a process of social transformation and of the relations between micro- and macro-regionalisms
• Strengthening the governance capacities at local, national, regional and global levels for dealing with regional integration
• Assessing the actual and potential role of regions in the UN system

For this a mix of basic research, applied research and knowledge brokering activities are necessary. At present UNU-CRIS research activities are organised into four research clusters that focus on:

• Studying Regions and Regional Integration from A Comparative and Multi-Level Governance Perspective
• Monitoring and Assessing Regional Integration Worldwide
• Studying the Global-Regional Peace and Security Complex
• Assessing the Socio-Economic Dimensions of Regional Integration