The UN General Assembly (UNGA) approved a budget for the UN Secretariat’s 2025 operations, following deliberations in the UNGA’s Fifth Committee (Administrative and Budgetary) that concluded on 24 December 2024.
The regular budget for 2025 will be USD 3.72 billion – around USD 120 million more than the USD 3.6 billion figure unveiled by UN Secretary-General António Guterres in October 2024 – and USD 130 million greater than the Organization’s 2024 budget. The total budget appropriation for 2025 amounts to USD 3,717,379,600.
Having considered the report of the Fifth Committee on the ‘Proposed programme budget for 2025’(A/C.5/79/L.26), the UNGA adopted the budget on 24 December without a vote.
The Committee did not give the Secretary-General the USD 8.5 million appropriation he had requested to begin carrying out the Pact for the Future, approving an additional USD 2.9 million appropriation for 2025 instead. The USD 2.9 million appropriation, along with the establishment of seven new posts on 1 January 2025, are included in Part X of the resolution, ‘Special subjects relating to the proposed programme budget for 2025” (A/C.5/79/L.24).
Per a UN press release, “[t]he regular budget funds UN programmes across key areas, including political affairs, international justice and law, regional cooperation for development, human rights and humanitarian affairs, and public information.”
Other budget-related resolutions adopted by the UNGA on 24 December include:
- Questions relating to the proposed programme budget for 2025;
- Unforeseen and extraordinary expenses for 2025;
- Working Capital Fund for 2025 (A/C.5/79/L.9); and
- Revision of the terms of reference of the Peacebuilding Fund (A/C.5/79/L.15).
Also adopted were resolutions on, inter alia: financial reports and audited financial statements, and reports of the Board of Auditors; capital master plan; programme planning; pattern of conferences; report on the activities of the Ethics Office; UN pension system; administration of justice at the UN; and financing of the International Residual Mechanism for Criminal Tribunals.
In addition, the UNGA adopted a resolution on the scale of assessments for the apportionment of the expenses of UN peacekeeping operations. The fiscal cycle for this distinct budget runs from 1 July to 30 June, while the regular budget cycle aligns with the calendar year. [Meetings Coverage: 24 December 2024] [UN News Story]