UN80 Report Proposes Structural Reforms for Global Impact

The corner-stone of the UN headquarters building was laid on UN Day at a special open-air General Assembly meeting held on 24 October 1949.

The UN Secretary-General shared a progress report on Thursday under the UN80 Initiative, outlining proposals to make the organization more coherent, effective, and capable of responding to global challenges.

The report, Shifting Paradigms: United to Deliver, presents potential adjustments in UN structure, inter-agency collaboration, and operational methods. It is the third major output of the Initiative, following earlier reports on efficiency measures and mandate implementation. Released ahead of the General Assembly’s High-Level Week, it is intended to inform Member States’ deliberations.

“This is a work in progress,” said António Guterres. “We aim for a UN system that is more coherent, effective, and better equipped to serve ‘We the Peoples.’”

Peace and Security: Consolidate offices and leadership layers, establish centres of excellence for peacebuilding, and create leaner, integrated peace operations.

Humanitarian Action: Launch a New Humanitarian Compact to streamline planning, integrate global supply chains, and serve over 100 million people efficiently.

Sustainable Development: Assess agency mergers, pool expertise via joint knowledge hubs, and reconfigure regional and country-level operations.

Human Rights: Create a UN Human Rights Group led by the High Commissioner to coordinate system-wide action and reduce duplication.

System Enablers: Introduce a UN System Data Commons, Technology Accelerator Platform, unified back-office services, and strengthened funding mechanisms.

Some proposals can be advanced immediately by the Secretary-General, while most require approval from Member States. Guterres is scheduled to brief the General Assembly on 15 October 2025.