United Nations University World Institute for Development Economics Research

What United Nations University World Institute for Development Economics Research does

UNU-WIDER is a United Nations research institute established in 1985 in Helsinki, Finland, as the first research centre of the United Nations University. It conducts research and policy analysis on development economics, with thematic focus on inequality between and within countries, sustainable peace, and the creation of fiscal space for development — directly tied to the UN 2030 Agenda and the Sustainable Development Goals. The institute serves governments, policymakers, national revenue authorities, and the global development research community, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa, South Asia, and other developing-country contexts.

The institute's technical core consists of three asset classes: (i) curated longitudinal databases — the World Income Inequality Database (WIID) and the Global Resources Database (GRD); (ii) the SOUTHMOD suite of tax-benefit microsimulation models covering multiple African countries, now in its tenth year; and (iii) Secure Research Data Labs co-established with African national revenue authorities, enabling researchers to access anonymized administrative tax data in controlled environments. These assets feed an output programme of working papers, books, research and policy briefs, the peer-reviewed Cambridge Elements in Development Economics series, and an annual conference and lecture programme.

UNU-WIDER is funded by an endowment plus contributions from the European Union and seven governments (Finland, Norway, South Africa, Sweden, Switzerland, United Kingdom) and operates under UN privileges and immunities. It does not sell its research; outputs are provided freely. Governance is provided by a UNU Council-appointed Board, and the institute is led by a Director — currently Patricia Justino, who succeeded Kunal Sen in 2026 after his 2018–2026 tenure.

Name

United Nations University World Institute for Development Economics Research

Legal name

United Nations University World Institute for Development Economics Research

Website

https://wider.unu.edu

Company type

Private

Founded year

1985

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

UNU-WIDER is a United Nations research institute in Helsinki, founded in 1985, that produces open-access development economics research, tax-benefit microsimulation models (SOUTHMOD), inequality databases (WIID), and secure research data labs for governments and academics worldwide.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Development Economics Research

NAICS

Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (61131), Educational Services (611), Educational Support Services (61171)

SIC

International Affairs (9721), Services-Educational Services (8200), Services-Engineering, Accounting, Research, Management (8700)

akta.pro primary industry

United Nations System & Specialized Agencies (BPADAAAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

International & Global Research Universities (Multi-Campus/International Footprint) (EDAHABAI), Research Collaboration & Joint Labs (International Partnerships) (EDAIABAC)

Keywords

• Development economics research
• Tax-benefit microsimulation
• Income inequality database
• Policy analysis services
• Fiscal space research

Headquarters

HQ city

Helsinki

HQ country

Finland

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Institutional Funding and Endowments: UNU-WIDER is primarily funded through an endowment fund with additional contributions from the European Union, Finland, Norway, South Africa, Sweden, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom. As a UN institution, it does not operate on commercial revenue models.

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

UNU-WIDER is a UN research institute that produces development economics research, policy analysis, and capacity development services targeting developing countries. Its core offerings include the SOUTHMOD tax-benefit microsimulation models for African countries, the World Income Inequality Database (WIID), the Global Resources Database (GRD), and secure research data labs established with national revenue authorities. The institute provides direct policy advice to governments and freely available original research publications.

Product overview

UNU-WIDER operates as a research institute providing economic analysis and policy advice for sustainable and equitable development. The institute offers a portfolio of research databases (WIID, GRD), the SOUTHMOD tax-benefit microsimulation model, and the SA-TIED secure data labs programme. These products are complemented by publications including working papers, books, and research briefs. The offerings are interconnected: databases provide the underlying data for research analysis, SOUTHMOD enables policy simulation, and the secure data labs facilitate access to administrative data for evidence-based policy research.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• SOUTHMOD: Tax and social policy microsimulation modelling programme for developing countries, celebrating 10 years of operation.
• SA-TIED
• WIDER Development Conference
• WIDER Annual Lecture

Products and services

• SOUTHMOD

Quantifiable outcome

• Secure research data labs established with national revenue authorities across sub-Saharan Africa enabling anonymized administrative tax data access
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core and major.

• African UnioncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership to launch the UNU-WIDER/African Union Winter School on public finance for development. Provides practical skills in applied public economics for African policy analysts and researchers.
• National Treasury of South AfricacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborates on the SA-TIED programme (Southern Africa - Towards Inclusive Economic Development) operating from the National Treasury - Secure Data Facility in Pretoria.
• Zambia Revenue AuthoritymajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborates with UNU-WIDER and ICTD on Tax research for development project, providing administrative tax data for original research.
• Uganda Revenue AuthoritymajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborates with UNU-WIDER on Tax research for development project, providing administrative tax data for policy-relevant research.
• African Tax Administration Forum (ATAF)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerATAF training programme partnership to strengthen tax gap analysis across African revenue authorities.
• International Centre for Tax and Development (ICTD)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborates with UNU-WIDER on Tax research for development projects using administrative tax data from African revenue authorities.
• United Nations UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerUNU-WIDER is a research institute of the United Nations University, part of the decentralized UNU system comprising the UNU Centre in Tokyo and worldwide network of Research and Training Centres and Programmes.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• World Bank Development Research Group: The World Bank's in-house research arm producing influential working papers and policy reports on development economics. Overlaps directly with UNU-WIDER on inequality, poverty, and fiscal-space topics, but operates at vastly larger scale with broader geographic mandate.
• OECD Development Centre: The OECD's development-focused research arm producing reports on emerging economies, inequality, and social policies. A multilateral peer with similar mandate around evidence-based policy advice for developing and emerging economies.
• International Monetary Fund (IMF) Research Department: IMF's research function publishes working papers, World Economic Outlook analysis, and staff discussions on macroeconomic and fiscal policy. Comparable to UNU-WIDER in producing policy-relevant economics research, but with sharper focus on macroeconomic stabilization and direct finance-ministry engagement.
• Brookings Institution: A major US-based think tank with a global economy and development program covering inequality, trade, and emerging markets. A broader incumbent with adjacent development-economics mandate and significant policy-influence footprint.

Direct peers

• International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI): A CGIAR research center providing policy research on food security, agriculture, and nutrition in developing countries. Comparable as a policy-oriented research institute with global footprint, donor-funded model, and focus on evidence-based development outcomes.
• Institute of Development Studies (IDS): A leading global development research and teaching institute based at the University of Sussex. Directly comparable to UNU-WIDER in blending research, policy engagement, and capacity development, with overlapping themes in inequality and governance.
• International Centre for Tax and Development (ICTD): A research-focused center specializing in taxation and development in low-income countries. UNU-WIDER explicitly collaborates with ICTD on tax research projects using African revenue authority data — a near-direct peer in mandate and methods.
• Center for Global Development (CGD): An independent think tank producing research on global development, debt, taxation, and international finance. Comparable to UNU-WIDER's tax and fiscal-space work, especially on developing-country tax policy and revenue mobilization.
• African Economic Research Consortium (AERC): A pan-African capacity-building network producing economic policy research across the continent. Comparable to UNU-WIDER on African-focused development economics research, capacity development, and policy engagement with African governments.
• Overseas Development Institute (ODI): A London-based global affairs think tank focused on international development and humanitarian policy. Closely comparable to UNU-WIDER's role as a research-policy hybrid, particularly around fiscal policy, governance, and inequality in developing countries.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/unuwider
• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/UNUWIDER
• Facebookfacebook.com/UNUWIDER
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/unu-wider

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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