UN Secretary-General António Guterres issued a report on Workstream 3 of the UN80 Initiative, outlining options for structural changes and programme realignments across the UN system. The report shares proposals to strengthen the UN’s delivery and collaboration across the three pillars of its work – peace and security, sustainable development, and human rights.
Titled, ‘Shifting Paradigms: United to Deliver,’ the report was published on 18 September 2025, ahead of the High-Level Week of the 80th session of the UN General Assembly’s (UNGA), with the aim to inform Member States’ deliberations on how to strengthen the UN system.
Cautioning against “change for its own sake,” the report calls for reform that is “purposeful,” with “clear ends and measurable improvements in people’s lives.” Therefore, the Secretary-General’s proposals contained in the report rely on the following principles:
- Advance the purposes and respect for the UN Charter in a balanced manner;
- Strengthen the system’s capacity to support countries in delivering on the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and in responding effectively to emerging issues, including those identified in the Pact for the Future;
- Maximize concrete impact of activities and services;
- Optimize efficiencies and effectiveness;
- Build on past reforms; and
- Ensure that all reforms are undertaken in accordance with the applicable rules and procedures.
The report launches a New Humanitarian Compact – “a six-step blueprint to deliver faster, leaner and more accountable support to people in crises; restore trust in multilateral action; and maximize impact from every dollar.” It establishes a systemwide Human Rights Group to ensure “human rights considerations are systematically integrated into UN policies and activities.” It also proposes the creation of a UN System Data Commons to better link data, statistics, and insights, and the establishment of a Technology Accelerator Platform to modernize practices and “guide the transformation toward better solutions.”
The report draws on UN system-wide consultations across seven thematic clusters: peace and security; development (Secretariat); development (system); specialized agencies; human rights; humanitarian activities; and training and research.
The report complements the efforts under the other two workstreams of the UN80 Initiative. The revised programme budget estimates for 2026, published on 15 September 2025, include initial proposals under Workstream 1 to drive efficiencies and improvements. The Secretary-General’s report on the mandate implementation review, circulated on 31 July, and the establishment by the UNGA of an Ad Hoc Working Group, contribute to efforts under Workstream 2.
Going forward, the Secretary General will consult with the UNGA President to identify opportunities for further consultations “with a view to deciding the actions that may be appropriate to advance Workstream 3.” The report indicates that as the UN80 Initiative unfolds, its three workstreams “will progressively converge.” Underscoring that “[t]his is a work in progress,” the report looks to Member States as owners of the process to deliver a more coherent and effective UN system. [Publication: Shifting Paradigms: United to Deliver] [UN80 Initiative: Workstream 3] [UN Press Release]