Capacity building is one of the core activities carried out by UNU-EHS. There are three main avenues for delivering capacity building: through academic activities; through training programmes; and through project-based activities to develop capacities of institutions.

PhD scholarships

The United Nations University (UNU), in spite of its status as a fully fledged university, does not offer tuition in a conventional fashion such as the provision of study programmes for secondary education leavers neither does it grant academic degrees other than in co-operation with affiliated academic institutions.

In its endeavours to advance human security through knowledge-based approaches and research, UNU constitutes a link between the United Nations and the academic world, a characteristic which distinguishes it from any other university in the world. Its role is to facilitate the gathering of international scholars enabling them to form a think tank devoted to develop capacity and give advice to policy and decision-makers world wide. The support of young scientists, especially from developing countries wishing to earn a PhD in disciplines and fields relevant to the Institute’s mandate, plays a preponderant role. UNU in general and UNU-EHS in particular accomplish these goals through active involvement in far-reaching academic activities such as fellowships (co-opted honorary scientists) and numerous PhD and post doc programmes.

However, UNU-EHS does not grant PhD scholarships on a regular basis. PhD posts are only possible within the framework of externally funded projects in co-operation with other academic institutions and are advertised on an open call basis. Furthermore, UNU-EHS cannot confer doctor titles on its own but jointly with partner universities.

Academic activities

Academic activities include a Ph.D. programme and teaching duties at national universities. The Ph.D. programme targets individuals from developing countries who, it is hoped, will use their newly acquired knowledge and skills either back home or in institutions devoted to disaster risk reduction or sustainable development. It is also open to individuals from developed countries who are interested in working on global issues professionally. Tertiary education is a vital component for the development of any country and allows students with proven record and potential to acquire further knowledge and skills that can then be used at all levels of decision-making or capacity development in their countries of origin. Research Scholars work on UNU-EHS projects, but because UNU is not a degree granting university, they are affiliated with conventional universities from which they get their degree. There are no restrictions regarding the degree-granting university apart from, of course, the quality of its overall programmes and staff. UNU-EHS has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the University of Bonn and Research Scholars can follow the courses of the International Programme of the Centre for Development Research at this university. UNU-EHS staffs are also involved in course development and delivery of lectures in several universities worldwide. For example, staff members are responsible for a block course on Risk and Vulnerability at the University of Bonn. Other formal lecturing has taken place in various universities worldwide.

Training programmes

Several activities are undertaken under this programme. Firstly, UNU-EHS develops and delivers specific short-term training courses falling under its remit. These courses typically target experienced professionals who wish to acquire specific knowledge within their area of competence. An example of a training programme developed by UNU-EHS is the three-week long Urban Training Programme which allows city managers to improve on or develop new skills on disaster management and vulnerability assessment. UNU-EHS staff also serve as resource persons for training courses delivered by other organisations worldwide. Secondly, UNU-EHS recruits post-doctoral scholars, student assistants, and interns who come and work for short term periods (typically four months to two years) on specific research and capacity development programmes. This gives the opportunity for young scholars from around the world to acquire more experience in their field of expertise by being involved in concrete and practical projects with visible outcomes down the road. Finally, UNU-EHS allows young scientists to participate to key conferences worldwide through its Young Scientist Award. This award covers costs associated with travel, per diem, and conference registration and is meant to allow young scientists to attend important conferences that they would not be able to otherwise travel to and where they can present their own research results, participate in workshops and interact with experienced scientists from all over the world.

Project-based capacity development

UNU-EHS contributes to institutional capacity development thanks to its numerous research projects around the world. Using its own capacities and operating through networks that include other academic, research and governmental and non-governmental organisations, knowledge is systematically exchanged between large numbers of individuals. Some projects specifically target institutional capacity development, such as sharing experience in early warning of natural disasters in tsunami-affected countries. Another example is the creation of an UNU-EHS Cooperation Unit at the Nizhny Novgorod State University for Architecture and Civil Engineering in the Russian Federation, where activities include vulnerability assessment of urban communities to floods and development of a local disaster atlas.