The United Nations Secretary-General, Antonio Guterres, has emphasized that the initiative to enhance the organization’s efficiency necessitates difficult changes, including staff reductions. At the same time, he highlighted the critical importance of these reforms. During his presentation to member states regarding the progress made in this direction, Guterres stated:
“Our shared goal has always been to make our organization more effective by streamlining processes, eliminating redundancies, and enhancing transparency and accountability. The liquidity crisis we face is not a new issue, but the current financial and political climate makes our efforts more urgent. We recognize that some of these changes will be painful for the UN family.”
In discussing a realistic framework for restructuring, the Secretary-General expressed his belief that the Departments of Political and Peacebuilding Affairs, as well as Peace Operations, could eliminate 20% of their positions by eliminating functional overlaps and discontinuing tasks performed by other parts of the UN system. He suggested that this percentage should be considered a reference point for the overall “UN 80 Initiative.”
Guterres also mentioned the possibility of relocating positions from New York and Geneva to more cost-effective locations, underscoring the excessive burden of tasks assigned to the secretariat by member states.
He pointed out that over 3,600 mandates were identified throughout this process. Additionally, Guterres urged member states to meet their financial commitments to the organization, particularly in the area of peacekeeping.
At the opening of a ministerial meeting in Berlin focused on UN peacekeeping missions, Guterres remarked, “The funding for all our activities is currently at stake, and peacekeeping is no exception. Therefore, it is essential for all member states to adhere to their financial commitments by paying their dues in full and on time.”