About Us
Since its founding in 1991, UNPO has cultivated deep expertise in self-determination, nonviolent strategy, and geopolitical advocacy, developed in close collaboration with its members, partners, and academic allies.
The UNPO Academy builds on this foundation as a global think tank that combines research, policy innovation, and strategic training to amplify the voices of unrepresented nations and peoples.
Emerging from initiatives like the Unrepresented Diplomats project (Oxford University, 2015–2016), the Academy now integrates decades of UNPO-led convenings, such as the Tallinn Conference on the Rights of Peoples and the Re-Imagining Self-Determination forum in Madeira (2025). It offers a space where expert knowledge meets lived experience, generating practical tools, critical insight, and forward-looking strategies for inclusive global change.
Research
The UNPO Academy serves as a hub for cutting-edge research on self-determination, rights-based governance, and the evolving role of unrepresented peoples in global affairs. Our digital library provides access to a wide range of resources developed by UNPO and its partners since 1991 — including policy briefs, UN submissions, thematic reports, and advocacy toolkits. We aim not only to preserve institutional memory, but to generate new insights that inform advocacy, influence policy, and support strategic decision-making for communities often excluded from traditional academic and diplomatic spaces. Our research agenda is shaped by member priorities and rooted in the lived realities of unrepresented nations and peoples.
Our Courses
As part of its mission to democratize knowledge and build strategic capacity, the UNPO Academy offers digital and in-person training on topics vital to our members and allies. Participants can enrol in self-paced courses and workshops covering: Nonviolent resistance and civil mobilization Digital and physical security for human rights defenders International advocacy and UN mechanisms Cultural and environmental rights Storytelling and strategic communication These courses are designed not only to educate, but to equip individuals and communities with practical tools to challenge marginalization and navigate the complex terrain of global advocacy.
Conferences and Convenings
UNPO has a long-standing tradition of bringing together communities, scholars, and policymakers for high-impact conferences and strategic dialogues. The Academy builds on this legacy by organizing and co-hosting: Global forums such as the Re-Imagining Self-Determination Conference (Madeira, 2025) Thematic roundtables on law, climate, technology, and cultural rights Regional advocacy workshops and strategic planning retreats Closed-door briefings for international institutions and decision-makers Public webinars that amplify the voices of unrepresented peoples
Who We Work With
The UNPO Academy thrives on collaboration and co-creation. We work alongside a diverse network of:
- Academic institutions and research centres, including long-standing partnerships with the University of Oxford, University of Tartu, University of Cyprus, and others
- Civil society organizations, think tanks, and human rights coalitions
- Community-based experts, who provide grounded, lived insights into the political, cultural, and environmental realities of unrepresented peoples
The UNPO Academy thrives on collaboration and co-creation. We work alongside a diverse network of:
Academic institutions and research centres, including long-standing partnerships with the University of Oxford, University of Tartu, University of Cyprus, and others
Civil society organizations, think tanks, and human rights coalitions
Community-based experts, who provide grounded, lived insights into the political, cultural, and environmental realities of unrepresented peoples
Through this interdisciplinary and intergenerational network, the Academy acts as a bridge between grassroots struggles and global expertise, producing knowledge that is both rigorous and responsive to the challenges of our time.
Prof. Fiona McConnell
Dr. Liam Saddington
Dr. Jonathan Harris
Member of UNPO’s Advisory Board, and Professor of Political Geography at the University of Oxford
UNPO’s Youth Advisor, and Teaching Associate in Human Geography at the University of Cambridge
Political Geographer and Assistant Professor at Dublin City University