The revised estimates, communicated Monday to the Advisory Committee for Administrative and Budgetary Questions (ACABQ), offer discounts of 15.1% of resources and 18.8% of positions in the regular budget compared to 2025. The support account for peacekeeping operations – which finances staff and services of the world around the world – is also subject to reductions in the period 2025/26.
The Acabq, a subsidiary body advising the general meeting, will examine the proposals before transmitting its recommendations to the fifth committee of the General Assembly, where the 193 Member States decide administrative and budgetary issues.
Targeted discounts
In a letter to the Member States, Secretary General António Guterres said the discounts followed an in -depth examination of how the mandates are delivered and allocated resources. While ensuring the balance between the three pillars of Charter of the United Nations – Peace and security, human rights and sustainable development – The secretarial entities have explored how to improve delivery to optimize the use of resources. Mr. Guterres stressed that the discounts have been carefully calibrated and are targeted, not in all areas.
Programs and activities directly supporting the Member States, in particular the least developed states, without coastline and the developing states of small islands, and advocacy for the development of Africa have been protected from reduction. Support for the Peace Construction Fund and the resident coordinator system has been maintained. Regional economic commissions will be faced with smaller adjustments, while the regular technical cooperation program will continue to grow, strengthening the support for capacity building for developing countries.
“Discounts of this magnitude will lead to compromises. Entities have identified probable impacts on deliverables – such as narrowed scope, adjusted deadlines or reduced frequency. We will also take attenuation measures to protect basic mandates and the quality of services, including by prioritizing high impact results, the pooling of expertise through entities and recourse on green terms and automation, “wrote the SECRETARY-GENON expertise.
The UN operates today in a world of increasing political and financial uncertainty. In this difficult environment, the UN80 initiative aims to create a stronger and more efficient United Nations. The revised estimates reflect this ambition and include proposals to improve the operation of the organization.
Reform measures
In this context, in parallel with reductions, the revised estimates also introduce the first set of proposals for the United Nations Secretariat as part of the workflow 1 of the UN80 initiative, focused on management and operations. The measures include the creation of new administrative centers in New York and Bangkok, by consolidating the payroll in a single world team in New York, Entebbe and Nairobi, and by moving certain functions of high -cost service stations such as New York and Geneva to service stations at lower cost.
Other savings are planned by real estate. The organization will cancel two buildings rented in New York by 2027, with annual savings planned from 2028. Collectively, these measures aim to reduce duplication, improve quality and protect the delivery of the mandate, while responding to the call of the Member States for greater efficiency.
The UN80 Initiative
Launched in March 2025, the initiative was built around three work components.
- Work cromotor 1Proposals on efficiency and management improvements are reflected for the first time in these revised estimates, with additional reform proposals to follow later.
- Work cromotor 2 On the examination of the implementation of the mandate, with a report presented in August now under study by a new ad hoc informal working group, which meets on September 16.
- Record 3 WORK Focus on the exploration of possible structural and programmatic realignments via clusters at the system scale, the initial proposals which should be presented to the Member States later this week.
Together, the three work titles mark a significant reorientation of the UN operation, aimed at ensuring that the organization remains effective, credible and sustainable, said the secretary general.
Following steps and staff support
The revised estimates will first be examined by the Acabq, which should hold hearings from this week. The proposals will then go to the fifth committee of the General Assembly, where the 193 Member States negotiate and decide administrative and budgetary issues. A decision is expected by December.
If adopted, the changes would begin to take effect in 2026 with the progressive implementation. Other modifications resulting from the various rivers will be reflected in future budgetary submissions.
In a letter to the UN staff, Mr. Guterres acknowledged that changes would affect their daily work and their professional life, but assured them that they would not face them alone. “You will be fully committed and supported throughout the process,” he said, promising regular communication, consultation opportunities and practical advice at each stage.
The secretary general acknowledged that the choices involved in the revised budget had been difficult. He declared that the responsibility of the decisions began with him as secretary general, but also extended to managers and staff of the organization. He pointed out that changes must be made equity, empathy and professionalism, and that everyone has a role to play in maintaining the United Nations values as the process advances.
Originally published at Almouwatin.com
