The Institute shares strong ties with International Geneva ever since its creation at the time of the League of Nations in the wake of World War I. Located in the heart of the international district it collaborates with over a hundred actors in International Geneva, such as UNOG, UNEP, WHO, WTO, WIPO, UNHCR, OHCHR, UNFAO, ICRC, IPU, MSF and The Global Fund, and has signed a dozen memoranda of understanding (MOU) providing for a wide range of collaborative endeavours. Since 2012, the Institute enjoys consultative status with the UN Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC), thereby allowing it to participate directly in the work of the United Nations and have access to meetings on UN grounds.
The Institute’s research centres cooperate on many levels with experts from International Geneva and host a number of platforms interfacing with its actors, such as the Geneva Peacebuilding Platform, the Health Platform, the Geneva Trade Platform, etc. The Institute is also a member of other international networks such as the Swiss Network for International Studies (SNIS) and the Geneva Science Policy Interface (GSPI).
The Institute maintains an SDG portal to reference the work of its faculty, researchers and students on the UN Sustainable Development Goals and 2030 Agenda. This includes research projects, publications, events, teaching, or are part of external initiatives and partnerships.
The Institute regularly welcomes heads of international governmental and non-governmental organisations and representatives of the private sector to speak at its public events or private meetings. Some have become distinguished fellows. The Institute also collaborates with many of these organisations as well as diplomatic missions in Geneva in joint events at the Maison de la paix. Such event partnerships support the professional development of our students, contribute to our policy-relevant research and significantly increase our outreach; they also provide our partners with independent expertise in a neutral multistakeholder forum.
Thanks to these collaborations, the Institute’s students benefit from numerous internship, job and networking opportunities, as well as Capstone projects, which allow them to make useful contacts and gain hands-on professional experience for their international careers.
Finally, the Institute has a privileged relationship with the organisations headquartered in the Maison de la paix, which are active in the field of peace, international affairs and sustainable development.
