Editor’s choice
Editor’s choice
SEI has launched seven new “One-SEI” programs for 2025–2026, each designed to respond to some of the world’s most urgent and complex sustainability challenges. These programs bring together researchers from across SEI’s global network to collaborate on shared research agendas, build partnerships and generate real-world impact.
Each program supports SEI’s 2025–2029 strategy and aligns with its “priorities for change,” including climate transitions, nature and resources and health and wellbeing. Backed by internal core funding, the programs aim to spark innovation, amplify SEI’s thought leadership and mobilize external, long-term and programmatic funding.
“With these programs, we’re bringing our global expertise together to meet urgent sustainability challenges where action is needed most,” says Research Director and Deputy Director Åsa Persson. “These are areas where SEI already has a strong legacy – but also fresh ideas and a drive to innovate.”
These seven programs reflect SEI’s commitment to fostering greater collaboration across its centres and research themes. Rather than narrowly defined research projects, they take a programmatic approach – developing strategic research and funding agendas, engaging key partners and pursuing innovative ideas that respond to real-world needs.
Here is each program at a glance:
Helping countries deliver more ambitious, equitable and integrated climate plans under the Paris Agreement. The program brings together SEI’s cross-cutting expertise on mitigation, adaptation, finance, loss and damage and just transitions – offering a clearer vision of SEI’s role in supporting next-generation NDCs, long-term strategies and transparency frameworks.
Building a deeper understanding of how to unlock investment in low- and lower-middle-income countries. This program focuses on the demand side of finance – supporting projects and enterprises in the real economy – and explores blended finance, risk mitigation and policy de-risking to address market failures and attract private capital.
Responding to the sustainability challenges of the energy transition’s growing demand for critical minerals, this program will shape SEI’s value-added contribution to responsible mineral production through a comprehensive, multidisciplinary research agenda, stakeholder engagement and knowledge synthesis.
Tackling the rapid rise in transport emissions – especially in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) – this program promotes inclusive, climate-resilient mobility systems. It emphasizes equity, multimodal planning, behavioural change and digital tools for cleaner, safer and more accessible transport.
This program promotes multifunctional landscapes that deliver benefits for climate, biodiversity and livelihoods. By integrating research on sustainable agriculture, land use, value chains and forest conservation, it supports transitions aligned with the Rio Conventions and the SDGs, particularly in LMICs.
Addressing the systemic impacts of industrial animal agriculture, this program supports a protein transition that is environmentally sustainable, health-promoting and socially just. It builds on SEI’s existing leadership on just transitions, One Health and food systems policy engagement.
Bridging water resources management (WRM) and water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH), this program supports integrated planning and circular water solutions to improve public health, safeguard ecosystems and build resilience to climate extremes. It draws on SEI’s legacy in tools like WEAP and WASH-Flows and aims to support finance and implementation of nature-based and gender-responsive water strategies.
Each program is structured around a small leadership team drawn from multiple SEI centres and is supported by a shared workplan and regular collaboration. Activities include stakeholder workshops, joint proposal development, synthesis publications and communications targeted at decision-makers and partners.
The programs are also expected to contribute to SEI’s strategic engagement streams, act as entry points for funders and strengthen internal capacity, especially for early-career researchers.
“We’re creating a space where researchers can co-develop ideas, test new approaches and connect with funders and practitioners,” says Maria Xylia, program lead for the One-SEI program on sustainable transport. “Cross-centre collaboration reveals the diversity of our research while helping us amplify shared themes for greater impact.”
A major focus of the One SEI programs is expanding partnerships. Programs will proactively engage funders such as Horizon Europe, bilateral development agencies, the International Climate Initiative (IKI) and leading foundations – while also positioning SEI more prominently in international processes such as the UNFCCC, CBD and SDG implementation.
“The world is changing fast and SEI will seize the opportunity to influence that change,” says Måns Nilsson, SEI Executive Director. “These programs help us meet that moment together.”
Other publication / SEI’s new strategy sets a clear and ambitious path for the organization. Learn how we are adapting our research agenda for the coming five years.
One-SEI program / This One-SEI program supports integrated planning and circular water solutions to improve public health, safeguard ecosystems and build climate resilience.
Event on 20 June – 28 June / SEI colleagues are taking part in events at LCAW to highlight global leadership in industry and energy transitions, climate resilience finance, and adaptation.
