Initially under the sponsorship of the International Social Science Council (ISSC) and the International Council for Science (ICSU), the United Nations University (UNU) became IHDP's third institutional sponsor in 2007. Through these institutitonal arrangements, IHDP is firmly rooted within the international research communities, as well as international policy-making bodies and practitioner networks.

Our institutional sponsors guide the overall development of the programme. Together they select the Chair of our Scientific Committee, Executive Director, and conduct performance reviews.