UNITED NATIONS, Could 07 (IPS) – The UN’s proposed plans for restructuring the world physique, at present below dialogue on the highest echelons of the Secretariat, have provoked a protest from the UN Workers Union (UNSU) in New York which claims it’s being not noted of the continued negotiations.
The proposed restructuring–together with workers cutbacks, the elimination of redundant departments and the merging of a number of UN businesses below one roof– is predicted to be an integral a part of Secretary-Common Antonio Guterres’ highly-ambitious UN80 challenge.
In a memo to staffers on Worldwide Labour Day Could 1, UNSU President Narda Cupidore says: “We stand in solidarity with all our colleagues globally; and we see you and help you in Geneva at your gathering on the Place des Nations in Geneva to denounce the austerity measures affecting your complete United Nations system”.
“UN80 Initiative from the seems to be of what we’re seeing from the media could have far-reaching implications of this initiative—notably when it comes to job features, relocations, and potential abolishment of posts.”
Workers Representatives and, by extension, workers at massive, she identified, weren’t consulted or concerned in shaping the path of this course of.
“This exclusion just isn’t solely disheartening, nevertheless it additionally runs counter to the ideas of participatory decision-making and the commitments made below the Workers-Administration Committee framework”.
Workers have persistently proven resilience, dedication, and flexibility within the face of repeated structural modifications, all whereas persevering with to uphold the values and mandates of the Group.
“It’s appalling that when once more, those that can be most affected by such measures are the final to be told and the least concerned in contributing to the method”.
Requested for a response, UN Spokesperson Stephane Dujarric informed IPS: “We totally perceive that the present state of affairs is a reason for concern, and nervousness, for a lot of of our workers.”
“It is very important word that we’re within the preliminary section of formulating positions and proposals. Consultations have taken place, and they’ll proceed to take action, because the insights of workers are valued and can be fastidiously thought-about.”
On the world city corridor assembly in March 2025, the Secretary-Common emphasised that the UN80 Initiative is a management-led effort. Nonetheless, he in fact dedicated to consulting with workers representatives by way of the Workers-Administration Committee (SMC) on selections impacting the workers.
In April, in the course of the annual assembly of the SMC, administration briefed the workers representatives on the UN80 Initiative. Additionally in April, a devoted UN80 Initiative web page was created on iSeek, inviting workers at massive to submit concepts through a suggestion field. The responsive was spectacular as over 1,400 ideas have been obtained. Administration will evaluate all the ideas, mentioned Dujarric.
A devoted extraordinary SMC assembly can be held in June to additional amplify session with workers representatives on the UN80 Initiative, he assured.
Ian Richards, an economist on the Geneva-based UN Convention on Commerce and Growth (UNCTAD) and former President of the Coordinating Committee of Worldwide Workers Unions and Associations (CCISUA), informed IPS: “Sure, two issues. One is that there hasn’t been session on the path of those reforms. The one provide thus far has been to suggest that there be session as soon as all is determined, which isn’t session. The suggestion field can be a solution to justify sure modifications put up facto by mentioning that one or different workers member might have additionally made that suggestion.”
Second, he identified, the proposals being circulated and leaked appear considerably random and accomplished from a place of panic slightly than coherent reflection on how the UN can higher play to its strengths and higher affect folks day-after-day.
Some sections of the doc seem to have been written by AI and the principle thrust included merging the IMF into the UN. How can this be severe? requested Richards.
In analyzing the disaster additional, the UNSU mentioned what’s even worse, is discovering all this information, developments, memos mentioning detailed relocations of jobs, instantly from the press and articles in numerous social media platforms.
“We name upon our Secretary Common and senior management to reaffirm its dedication to transparency, collaboration, and respect for employees voices.
“As we transfer ahead, we’ll proceed to advocate for our inclusion in all selections that affect our roles, livelihoods, and futures. Now greater than ever, it’s important that we stay united, knowledgeable, and engaged,” mentioned Cupidore.
In the meantime, the Workplace for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), the UN’s humanitarian company, is going through vital price range cuts attributable to a funding hole, primarily stemming from a discount in US funding. This has led to plans for a 20% discount in workers and a scaled-back presence in a number of international locations, in keeping with OCHA.
Moreover OCHA, the price range cuts have additionally impacted on the World Meals Program (WFP), UNICEF and the UN Excessive Fee for Refugees, who’re both closing workplaces, lowering workers or ending packages attributable to a pointy lower in US funding
Based on one revealed report final week, the three Rome-based meals businesses, the Worldwide Fund for Agricultural Growth (IFAD), the Meals and Agriculture Group (FAO), and the World Meals Program (WFP), are more likely to be merged right into a single UN company.
Within the well being sector, one potential transfer can be to dissolve UNAIDS and soak up it inside the World Well being Group (WHO).
The identical restructuring could possibly be a actuality with the merger of three businesses that deal with refugees and migration: the workplace of the UN Excessive Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), the Worldwide Group for Migration (IOM), and the UN Aid and Works Company for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA).
Requested concerning the affect of recent US price range cutbacks, UN Deputy Spokesperson Farhan Haq informed reporters Could 6: “We’re not going to invest on the brand new US price range and what it will be, as a result of, as you understand, the form of that price range modifications over the course of the yr as a means of the dialogue between, particularly, the manager and legislative branches of the US system.”
“And so, we’ll proceed to observe, as that occurs. However from our standpoint, we’re taking steps to determine making easy methods to make the UN extra environment friendly and simpler whereas working with the type of constraints when it comes to price range and when it comes to liquidity that we have been going through.”
So, we’re actually persevering with to work on these types of measures, mentioned Haq.
In the meantime, the Chief Executives Board the Secretary-Common is assembly with in Copenhagen will talk about the UN 80 initiative, “and we’re taking steps alongside these traces to take care of how we are able to make extra efficiencies inside present preparations, how we are able to take care of the mandates that we obtain from Member States – to implement those that may be accomplished whereas eradicating a certain quantity of duplication within the work that we do – and naturally, how we’ll pursue down the road any structural modifications and programme realignment that can be wanted.”
“These can be designed to make us extra environment friendly, however they may also assist take care of the prospect of much less cash coming in, which is one thing that, to be trustworthy, we have been getting an increasing number of used to within the final years, no matter what’s occurring within the US proper now,” declared Haq.
In introducing UN80 final month, Guterres mentioned the United Nations stands out because the important one-of-a-kind assembly floor to advance peace, sustainable improvement and human rights.
However sources are shrinking throughout the board – they usually have been for a very long time. For instance, for no less than the previous seven years, the United Nations has confronted a liquidity disaster as a result of not all Member States pay in full, and lots of additionally don’t pay on time.
“From day one among my mandate, we launched into an bold reform agenda to strengthen how we work and ship. To be simpler and cost-effective. To simplify procedures and decentralize selections. To boost transparency and accountability. To shift capacities to areas akin to knowledge and digital.”
And this eightieth anniversary yr of the United Nations, Guterres mentioned, “is a major second to develop all our efforts, recognizing the necessity for even better urgency and ambition”.
“That’s the reason I’ve knowledgeable UN Member States that I’m formally launching what we name the UN80 Initiative. I’ve appointed a devoted inner Activity Pressure led by Below-Secretary-Common Man Ryder – and composed of principals representing your complete UN system,” he mentioned.
The target can be to current to Member States proposals in three areas:
First, quickly figuring out efficiencies and enhancements in the best way we work. Second, totally reviewing the implementation of all mandates given to us by Member States, which have considerably elevated in recent times.
Third, a strategic evaluate of deeper, extra structural modifications and programme realignment within the UN System, declared Guterres.
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