United Nations(UN) Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has emphasized the need for “painful” changes to reform the global body, ensuring it can operate more efficiently amidst chronic budget constraints. The proposed reforms, part of the UN80 initiative launched in March, aim to streamline operations, eliminate overlaps, and enhance transparency and accountability.
Guterres stressed that the current financial and political situation demands urgent action, stating, “The liquidity crisis we now face is not new. But today’s financial and political situation adds even greater urgency to our efforts”.
Streamlining Operations
The UN80 initiative focuses on three key priorities: enhancing operational efficiency, assessing mandate implementation, and exploring structural reforms. To achieve these goals, Guterres proposed merging units from the Department of Political and Peacebuilding Affairs (DPPA) with the Department of Peace Operations (DPO), potentially eliminating 20% of posts from the two departments. This reduction, he said, “must be seen as a reference for the wider UN80 exercise”. Additionally, relocating positions from expensive cities like New York and Geneva to less costly locations could help alleviate financial strain.
Challenging Decisions Ahead
Guterres acknowledged that some changes will be “painful for our UN family”, but emphasized the need for member states to make tough decisions. “Many of you have agreed that this must be the moment to be bold and ambitious. That is what our Organization needs — and that is what our times demand,” he said. “Make no mistake – uncomfortable and difficult decisions lie ahead. It may be easier — and even tempting — to ignore them or kick the can down the road. But that road is a dead end”.
Potential Reforms
An internal working group suggested major reforms, including merging UN agencies, as part of the UN80 initiative. While Guterres didn’t directly address these proposals, he indicated that “clusters” working on similar issues would propose reforms and potential structural changes. This move aims to simplify processes, achieve gender parity, and streamline human resources procedures, ultimately repositioning the UN development system to better tackle the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals.
A Longstanding Effort
UN reforms have been an ongoing process, with previous efforts dating back to 1997 when Kofi Annan introduced “Track One” and “Track Two” reforms to enhance efficiency and effectiveness. The need for reform is driven by the changing global landscape, with many countries that weren’t part of the UN in 1945 now actively participating. General Assembly President Dennis Francis emphasized the importance of updating the UN’s rules and structures to reflect the current global reality.