New York, UN Secretary-General António Guterres has presented a sweeping reform agenda under the UN80 Initiative, aimed at streamlining operations and boosting the organization’s effectiveness across peace and security, sustainable development, and human rights.
Addressing the General Assembly, Guterres called for a more unified and cost-efficient UN system, emphasizing the need to overcome fragmentation, eliminate duplication, and improve funding models. “My vision is clear: entities that work together as one, to deliver better,” he stated.
🔧 Key Reform Tracks:
- Workstream 1: Focuses on modernizing business operations, including relocating offices to lower-cost duty stations and consolidating administrative platforms.
- Workstream 2: Reviews the lifecycle of mandates to improve coherence and accountability. Led by Jamaica and New Zealand, this track is in a “discovery phase” through the end of 2025.
- Workstream 3: Proposes structural changes such as:
- Merging UNDP and UNOPS to create a stronger engine for sustainable development.
- Combining UN Women and UNFPA to form a unified voice on gender equality and women’s rights.
- Reconfiguring peace and security teams at UN Headquarters and in missions across Yemen, Cyprus, and Central Africa.
General Assembly President Annalena Baerbock echoed the urgency of reform, calling the initiative “more than a cost-cutting exercise” and stressing the need for agility and technological innovation. She urged Member States to engage constructively, despite fiscal pressures.
The proposals are under review by the Fifth Committee, with decisions expected by December 2025.
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