UNU International Institute for Global Health (UNU-IIGH), Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia is the designated UN think tank on global health, serving as a policy translation hub for UN member states, agencies and programmes. It was established by a statute adopted by the Council of the United Nations University in December 2005.
The Institute generates policy-relevant analysis by applying a gender lens to inform the development, implementation and evaluation of health programmes. UNU-IIGH also supports capacity development of local decision-makers and stakeholders to engage effectively with global health challenges within the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

UN Photo | John Isaac
2019 – 2023 Strategic Plan
UNU-IIGH’s 2019 – 2023 Strategic Plan focuses on three pillars: translating evidence into policy, generating policy-relevant analysis, and strengthening capacity for local decision making on key issues related to sustainable development and global public health.
UNU-IIGH Objectives
- To generate recommendations and build consensus on key global health issues through the convening of policy dialogues with member states, UN agencies and other key stakeholders
- To undertake translation and dissemination of global guidance and recommendations in global health priority areas to make them relevant for country-level decision-makers
- To support the implementation of global guidance through expert briefings, advice and training
- To develop analytical tools to inform the development of implementation and evaluation of gender mainstreaming tools in health programming
- To review the evidence and generate new knowledge in approaches to addressing gender inequalities in health and health outcomes
- To strengthen capacity for local decision making through South-South learning and fostering engagement between academics, professional associations, researchers, civil society and policymakers
- To develop knowledge products to inform global policy and best practice across health in the SDGs