Briefing the UN General Assembly (UNGA) on the UN80 initiative, UN Secretary-General António Guterres laid out system-wide reform plans to make the UN more effective, nimble, and fit for the challenges of today and tomorrow. Amid “real threats to the very fabric, values, principles, and sustainability of multilateralism,” he urged Member States to intensify efforts to deliver the SDGs and implement the Pact for the Future, “with its many pathways to strengthen multilateralism.”

The Secretary-General highlighted priority areas for action under UN80’s three workstreams: identifying efficiencies and improvements under current arrangements; mandating implementation review; and considering the need for structural changes.

Under efficiencies and improvements, he said a Working Group for the Secretariat, led by Under-Secretary-General Catherine Pollard, “is developing a management strategy to design a new business model for the Organization.” The Working Group’s goal is to: develop proposals to reduce costs and enhance efficiency in management and operations across the UN Secretariat; and “review[] administrative functions to identify redundancies, streamline processes, and design integrated solutions.” Functional and structural consolidation, workforce streamlining, relocating services from high-cost duty stations, centralizing information technology and support services, and expanding automation and digital platforms are among the Working Group’s priorities.

The workstream on mandating implementation review, the Secretary-General indicated, seeks to simplify and optimize the way the UN system carries out mandates given to it by Member States. He said the review will look at “the entire universe of mandates, and at the entirety of their implementation,” starting with the UN Secretariat. With more than 3,600 unique mandates for the Secretariat alone, its goal is to identify duplications, redundancies, and opportunities for greater synergy in implementation.

“It is as if we have allowed the formalism and quantity of reports and meetings to become ends in themselves,” lamented Guterres, suggesting Member States themselves consider conducting a review of the mandates, with the value, purpose, and aim of the work of the UN serving as the measure of success.

According to the Secretary-General, proposals for structural changes are expected to emerge from the mandate implementation review, and close to 50 have already been received from UN senior leaders.

To advance efforts in these three workstreams, the Secretary-General has established seven UN80 clusters, coordinated by the UN80 Task Force in close cooperation with the Secretariat’s Working Group. Responding to the calls contained in the Pact for the Future and intended to serve as “the locomotive force for concrete proposals,” these clusters are:

• Peace and security, coordinated by the Department of Political and Peacebuilding Affairs (DPPA), the Department of Peace Operations (DPO), the Office of Counter-Terrorism (OCT), and the Office for Disarmament Affairs;
• Development (the Secretariat), coordinated by the UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs (DESA), UN Trade and Development (UNCTAD), the UN Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA), and the UN Environment Programme (UNEP);
• Development (the UN System), coordinated by the UN Development Programme (UNDP), the UN Office for Project Services (UNOPS), the UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF), and the Development Coordination Office;
• Humanitarian, coordinated by the Emergency Relief Coordinator, the World Food Programme (WFP), UNICEF, the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), and the International Organization for Migration (IOM);
• Human rights, coordinated by the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR);
• Training and research, coordinated by the UN University (UNU) and the UN Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR); and
• Specialized agencies, coordinated by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) and the International Labour Organization (ILO).

Guterres said his objective is to “move as quickly as possible” in all three workstreams, with initiatives impacting the 2026 proposed programme budget to be included in the revised estimates to be presented in September. “We expect meaningful reductions in the overall budget level,” he stated.

The Secretary-General underscored that the UN80 initiative is an opportunity to “strengthen the UN system and deliver for those who depend on us” while implementing the Pact for the Future and advancing the SDGs. Its success, he said, depends on Member States’ active engagement and support, to ensure efforts are inclusive, innovative, and representative of the needs of all countries. Acknowledging that “uncomfortable and difficult decisions lie ahead,” Guterres called on Member States to “work together to build the strongest and most effective United Nations for today and tomorrow.” [Video Recording of the Briefing] [UN News Story] [SDG Knowledge Hub Story on 26 March 2025 Update on UN80]