New York: Member States heard on Tuesday how the UN is progressing with a new plan to ensure the world body remains effective, cost-efficient and responsive to the billions of people it serves. The informal meeting on the UN80 Initiative also provided a chance for ambassadors to share their views on the reform agenda, launched by Secretary-General António Guterres in March.
According to United Nations, UN80 is centred around three workstreams focused on efficiencies and improvements, a mandate implementation review, and structural changes and programme realignments across the entire UN system. The Secretary-General has emphasized that while addressing resource constraints is necessary, the main goal of the Initiative is to strengthen and improve the workings of the UN system.
Mr. Ryder, alongside UN Controller Chandramouli Ramanathan, presented updates on two workstreams during the morning session of the day-long meeting. He illustrated the context for UN80 and the challenges facing the UN today. Over the years, the UN has implemented approximately 40,000 mandates through a complex network of over 140 entities. In 2023, the UN delivered $69 billion in support and services globally, with humanitarian action receiving the largest portion of $31 billion.
Mr. Ryder highlighted that the $69 billion mark two years ago represented a peak and that currently, the UN has around $50 billion in resources due to significant uncertainty. This 30 percent reduction impacts the number of people directly reached by development work, decreasing from 380 million to 110 million in emergency situations. He suggested that streamlining the implementation of mandates and optimizing structures could increase the UN’s impact.
Mr. Ramanathan briefed delegates on workstream one, where a working group was established to develop proposals to enhance efficiency, reduce duplication, and standardize services. Measures include consolidating human resources, finance, and procurement services into unified support hubs and centralizing payroll operations. These proposals will be submitted to the Secretary-General and, if approved, will be incorporated into the 2026 proposed programme budget.
Mr. Ryder also presented workstream two, which involved mapping out the universe of mandates that the UN implements. The Secretariat services approximately 400 intergovernmental organs and conducts around 27,000 meetings annually. A mandate resource registry has been produced, with a report expected by the end of July to guide future actions.
He expressed concern over proposed budget cuts, specifically the 15 to 20 percent budget reductions and the 20 percent staff reduction, seeking more insight into how these figures were determined. He emphasized the need to protect geographical and gender balance during any downsizing process, highlighting the importance of transparency, accountability, and inclusivity.
General Assembly President Philémon Yang, in his opening remarks, noted the meeting took place just days before the 80th anniversary of the signing of the UN Charter. He reflected on the past 80 years and stressed the importance of ensuring the UN remains fit for purpose for the next 80 years.