UNU is dedicated to the generation and transfer of knowledge, and the strengthening of individual and institutional capacities in furtherance of the purposes and principles of the Charter of the United Nations.
The mission of UNU is to contribute, through research and capacity building, to efforts to resolve the pressing global problems that are a concern of the United Nations, its Peoples and Member States.
In fulfilling this mission, UNU fosters intellectual cooperation among scholars, scientists, and practitioners worldwide — especially those in the developing world — and functions as:

• an international community of scholars;
• a bridge between the United Nations and the international academic community;
• a think-tank for the United Nations system;
• a builder of capacity, particularly in developing countries; and
• a platform for dialogue and new and creative ideas.

In 2005, UNU celebrated its 30th year of existence as an autonomous organ of the United Nations General Assembly. In institutional terms, three decades is a short time; UNU is only half the age of its parent organizations, the United Nations and UNESCO (which celebrated their 60th anniversaries in 2005)
But from the perspective of UNU's evolution, and its contributions "to efforts to resolve the pressing global problems that are the concern of the United Nations, its Peoples and Members States," the University's first three decades represent a significant period of achievement. Since its modest beginnings in September 1975, UNU has grown and matured into a decentralized, global network comprising UNU Centre in Tokyo, a worldwide network of 13 UNU Research and Training Centres/Programmes (UNU RTC/Ps), and liaison offices at United Nations headquarters (New York) and UNESCO headquarters (Paris).
To ensure that its work remains relevant and responsive to the rapid and profound changes of our modern world, UNU continues to evolve and expand. A new RTC/P, focusing on issues of global health, became operational in 2006.
UNU is one of the smaller United Nations organizations, and is reliant on voluntary contributions. Yet, the University has increasingly enhanced the nature and impact of its contributions to the UN system and to the international academic community.
Within its unique position as the only university in the United Nations system, UNU undertakes a wide range of knowledge generation, knowledge transfer, and knowledge application/management activities: basic and applied research, foresight and policy studies, capacity development, networking/collaboration with external partners, and dissemination and outreach.