Dag Hammarskjöld Foundation

The Dag Hammarskjöld Foundation is a non-governmental organisation established in 1962 in memory of the second UN Secretary-General, which aims to advance dialogue and policy for sustainable development and peace.

Who was Dag Hammarskjöld?

Dag Hammarskjöld was the second Secretary-General of the United Nations, serving with courage and integrity from 1953 until his tragic death in 1961.

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The Dag Hammarskjöld Lecture 2025

The Dag Hammarskjöld Foundation and Uppsala University are pleased to announce Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director-General of the World Health Organization (WHO), as the 2025 Dag Hammarskjöld Lecturer and medalist.

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Dag Hammarskjöld Lecture 2025

Latest updates

News

The Principle of Pragmatic Idealism

The Foundation’s executive director, Björn Holmberg, joins the Carnegie Council’s Values & Interests podcast to reflect on the role of pragmatic idealism in international affairs and what it means for global cooperation today.

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News
Strengthening the UN–EU Partnership in Peacebuilding and Prevention
Event
Stockholm presentation of the 2025 Financing the UN Development System Report: Managing unprecedented times
News
UN 80 Years in a World of Change – National Celebration
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Our work

Sustaining Peace
UN Financing
UN Leadership

Videos

Watch the 2025 United Nations Day commemoration in Uppsala, held on 24 October under the theme UN 80 Years in a World of Change, organised by the Dag Hammarskjöld Foundation, the Swedish UN Association, Uppsala UN Association, UN agencies and funds, together with the host County Governor of Uppsala. The event was held in Swedish.
Watch the 2023 and 2024 Dag Hammarskjöld Lecture, held by Rena Lee and Jan Egeland, on the 16 September in Uppsala.
2022 Dag Hammarskjöld Lecture 'Strength in our common humanity' by UN Deputy Secretary-General Amina J Mohammed at Uppsala University Hall on 23 February 2023.
A reference point on the laws, regulations, policies and guidelines of the international civil service.
Dag Hammarskjöld Commemorations 2021

Latest Publications

Publication
Financing the UN Development System: Managing Unprecedented Times
Publication
‘The perfect UN financing storm has arrived: It’s a tsunami!’
Publication
Evolution and reform of UN Peacebuilding – Ten areas of change
Publication
Strengthening the UN’s Peacebuilding Architecture – Transforming commitments into action
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“We are not permitted to choose the frame of our destiny, but what we put into it is ours.” 

Dag Hammarskjöld

I never discuss discussions.

Dag Hammarskjöld

‘Only he deserves power that everyday justifies it.’

Dag Hammarskjöld

‘Never for the sake of peace and quiet deny your convictions.’

Dag Hammarskjöld