In a world strained by escalating crises, deepening inequalities, and a growing mistrust of international institutions, the United Nations has embarked on a bold reform effort aimed at revitalizing its mission and operations. UN Secretary-General António Guterres unveiled the UN80 Initiative in March. This initiative seeks to make the global body more efficient. It also aims to be more impactful and more responsive to today’s complex challenges.
“This is a good time to look at ourselves. We should see how fit for purpose we are,” says Guy Ryder, Under-Secretary-General for Policy and Chair of the UN80 Task Force. “The circumstances are quite challenging for multilateralism—and for the UN.”
A Three-Pronged Overhaul
At its core, the UN80 Initiative revolves around three key workstreams:
1. Cutting Bureaucracy and Enhancing Efficiency
This stream focuses on improving the UN’s internal operations. It involves eliminating duplication, cutting red tape. Non-core functions are relocated to lower-cost duty stations.
“We want to strip out unnecessary bureaucratic processes,” says Ryder. “We’re targeting areas where improvements are long overdue.”
2. Reviewing 40,000+ Mandates with AI Support
Over decades, the UN has accumulated nearly 40,000 mandates—many of which overlap or are outdated. UN80 will revisit around 4,000 active mandates. These mandates guide the Secretariat’s work. They range from peacekeeping and humanitarian aid to human rights and development.
“We’ve tried this exercise before in 2006. It didn’t work well,” admits Ryder. “But this time, we have better data, analytics, and AI tools to make a compelling case to Member States.”
The ultimate decisions on what stays or goes, however, rest with Member States—the original architects of these mandates.
3. Rethinking UN Architecture
This final stream tackles structural reform. It asks whether the current organizational setup still works for today’s challenges. The system has become increasingly fragmented and complex, prompting a re-evaluation of how programmes align and collaborate.
“Eventually, we might want to look at the architecture of the UN system,” says Ryder.
Seven Clusters, One System-Wide Push
To drive such sweeping change, the Secretary-General created seven thematic clusters coordinated by senior UN officials. These span:
- Peace and security
- Humanitarian action
- Development (both Secretariat and UN-wide)
- Human rights
- Training and research
- Specialized agencies
“This is not just New York or just the Secretariat,” emphasizes Ryder. “This is the entire system responding—system-wide.”
Each cluster is expected to submit proposals to improve coordination, reduce overlap, and align operations with today’s priorities.
Not Just Cost-Cutting—But Rebuilding Relevance
While media attention has focused on looming budget cuts and job reductions, Ryder stresses that UN80 is not merely a cost-saving effort.
“Yes, we face financial challenges. But this is not a downsizing exercise,” he affirms. “We want to make the UN stronger and more relevant.”
Still, financial pressures are real. The 2026 programme budget, due in September, will likely include reductions in funding and staff posts, driven by delayed and insufficient contributions from Member States.
“We must reconcile two objectives: being financially sustainable while maintaining impact in delivering on the UN Charter,” Ryder adds.
Why It Matters: A UN That Delivers for People
The UN80 Initiative isn’t just a bureaucratic reshuffle—it’s about real-world impact. From displaced people and famine relief to peacekeeping, vaccinations, and climate action, the stakes are global and deeply human.
“If we transform ourselves, those life-saving interventions will reach people more effectively,” Ryder says.
Currently, the UN:
- Supports over 130 million displaced people
- Delivers food aid to more than 120 million
- Vaccinates nearly half of the world’s children
- Assists countries with elections, peacekeeping, human rights, and development
What Comes Next: July Proposals, September Budget, Member State Action
Key deliverables are on the horizon:
- June: Working group on Secretariat efficiencies led by Catherine Pollard will present initial proposals.
- July: Report on mandate review to be submitted.
- September: Revised 2026 programme budget to reflect financial realities.
- Late 2025–2026: Broader system reform proposals and potential intergovernmental process.
“The heavy lifting is underway,” says Ryder. “Soon, it will move into the hands of the Member States, where crucial decisions await.”
Defining Success: Credibility, Capability, and Trust
For Ryder, success means restoring public and political trust in the UN as the world’s go-to institution for peace, development, and human rights.
“A system that is credible, capable, and trusted. That’s what we need to build,” he says.
“If we believe multilateralism is our best tool for tackling global crises, then we must renovate and strengthen that tool—starting now.”
