UNITED NATIONS, Might 13 (IPS) – A six-page inside doc, marked “STRICTLY CONFIDENTIAL” on each single web page – indicating restricted entry to guard delicate information– is among the most complete “compilation of non-attributable recommendations by the UN80 Process Power” on the proposed restructuring of the world physique.
The memo says “the progressive proliferation of UN companies, funds, and applications has led to a fragmented improvement system, with overlapping mandates, inefficient use of sources, and inconsistent supply of providers”.
Excerpts from the doc.
• Outdated working strategies resulting in inefficiencies whereas intergovernmental conferences don’t make use of recent instruments and applied sciences.
• Overlapping agendas – similar to between ECOSOC and its practical commissions and knowledgeable our bodies, and people of the Normal Meeting and its Second and Third Committees – resulting in duplication of efforts.
• Geopolitical shifts and substantial reductions in international support budgets difficult the legitimacy and effectiveness of the Group and
• the continued inflation of Below-Secretaries-Normal (USG), Assistant Secretaries-Normal (ASG) and Administrators (D) positions.
“It’s obscure why the lengthy overdue structural and programmatic reforms of the UN system have to be timed with the group’s eightieth anniversary. Expectedly, such anniversary-rationaled and liquidity-crunch-panic-driven, window-dressing reform agenda would face main challenges earlier than it takes off.”
Because it was launched at first of final March, the UN80 initiative has not been mentioned with the UN Member States who would resolve its destiny or civil society, or most significantly, , its workers the spine of the group, and its workers members who’re anticipated to be most immediately affected in a serious approach, stated Ambassador Chowdhury, who was additionally the Chairman of the UN Normal Meeting’s Administrative and Budgetary Committee (1997-1998)
“These so-called structural reforms have been on the agenda of at the very least for the final 4 Secretaries-Normal however with out having a lot vital affect, besides acronym-changing, mandate-creeping and structure-tweaking”.
The interior confidential memo has recognized systemic dysfunctions, specifically, mandate overlap, bureaucratic sprawl, gradual decision-making, and a disconnect between headquarters and subject realities.
The multiplication of senior posts and competitors amongst entities have undermined collaboration and confused companions on the bottom, he stated.
“I imagine the UN is resilient sufficient to beat the a number of crises it has been dealing with for years. The SG wants to point out dedication and solidarity with the workers underneath his management with out succumbing to the undue pressures.”
DOGE-UN like efforts must be dodged successfully by the management of the UN. It isn’t a make-or-break state of affairs. The SG wants to talk overtly and publicly with the workers as part of the initiative to wither the storm, stated Ambassador Chowdhury.
As a senior UN official conversant with the problems stated not too long ago “Restructuring and merging UN entities are usually not a panacea for the UN’s issues. They need to be embarked upon provided that they result in a simpler and environment friendly group.”
“I agree absolutely with him and emphasize that the UN ought to take this problem as a chance to alter”, he declared.
Samir Sanbar, a former Assistant Secretary-Normal and head of the UN’s one-time Division of Public Data (DPI) informed IPS: “Reform and Restructuring” had been phrases habitually and conveniently used to erode worldwide civil service and undercut related potential initiatives by the Secretary-Normal whose imprecise function within the Constitution permits for various interpretations by totally different Secretaries Normal.
The “large 5” everlasting members (P5) could disagree in politics but discreetly comply with affect fundamental selections contained in the Secretariat. The United Nations clearly wants the massive powers to outlive but it wants the creating international locations to succeed, he argued.
In the meantime, the doc additionally refers to Systemic options:
• Advance a extra streamlined, impactful, and fiscally accountable group by constructing on three core ideas: integration to foster better mandate coherence, consolidation to enhance practical effectivity, and coordination to boost general effectiveness.
• Transfer in direction of a extra built-in and collaborative mannequin whose footprint displays fiscal duty.
• Rationalize programmes/entities implementing comparable mandates to remove redundancy and guarantee a strategic discount of the UN’s presence in high-cost areas to make sure long-term monetary sustainability.
• Place reforms as proactive measures to boost UN agility and responsiveness that extends past measures for cost-cutting or austerity.
• Guarantee a system-wide dedication to delivering the UN’s mandate in methods which are principled, forward-looking, modern and efficient.
• Enhance scale for better affect.
• Scale back variety of high-level posts (D1 and above)
Peace & Safety
Merge a number of entities right into a single Peace and Safety entity.
— Set up a UN Peace & Safety Division managing political, peace & peacebuilding engagement globally, together with DPPA, DOS, DPO, ODA, UNODC, OCT, OSAA.
— Set up a single Division of Political Affairs and Peace Operations by merging DPPA and DPO, headed by a single USG. Consolidate substantive/technical help features for peace in a single structural location.
— Complete restructuring of DPO and DPPA, additional consolidating their regional divisions and coverage divisions to remove redundancies, enhance coordination, and improve the relevance of insurance policies.
–Contemplate transferring Peace and Safety sources nearer to the sector.
— Contemplate a regional strategy and decentralisation coverage for Secretariat entities. Ship the regional and coverage workplaces for DPA, DPKO, OCHA to their respective areas to be nearer the areas they cowl, identical to the Businesses, Funds and Programmes have executed. The USG, ASG with respective entrance workplaces, in addition to workplaces that immediately help the GA, numerous committees and the Safety Council, ought to stay in New York.
— Contemplate strategic relocation of peace and safety personnel nearer to subject missions to enhance responsiveness and effectiveness.
— Decentralize a major share of political, peace & peacebuilding sources to regional ranges and UNCTs.
— Consolidate Particular Envoy and Particular Advisor mandates to remove overlaps, similar to UNOCA overlapping mandate with MINUSCA and MONUSCO; and, the SRSG for Horn of Africa and SRSG for the Nice Lakes’ overlapping mandates with the international locations they cowl. Contemplate a attainable merger of UNOAU and the Nice Lakes Workplace.
–Set up a single Workplace for Counter-Terrorism, by merging OCT and UNODC’s counterterrorism associated coverage features or a broader merger of the 2 entities.
— Set up a single Workplace for Disarmament Affairs with USG/Excessive Consultant for Disarmament relocating and in addition serving as Director-Normal of UNOG. Combine ODA’s regional programmatic capacities into UN’s regional hubs or broader regional UN presences.
–Strengthen coordination between UNIDIR and OPCW. Contemplate merging UNIDIR with UNITAR and additional consolidate with different analysis & coaching institutes.
Humanitarian Affairs
Merge a number of entities right into a single humanitarian entity.
— Create a streamlined “UN Humanitarian Response and Safety Group”, by integrating OCHA, UNHCR and IOM, leveraging WFP’s experience for materials help procurement, distribution and logistics.
— Set up a UN Humanitarian Operations Division managing UN-wide humanitarian preparedness and response, together with OCHA, WFP, UNRWA and a UN Refugee & Migration Company (merging UNHCR and IOM). Contemplate whether or not UNDP Disaster Bureau ought to be consolidated into Division.
— Merge operational tasks and capabilities of main operational companies (WFP, UNHCR, UNICEF, WHO) in humanitarian and battle affected contexts.
–Merge Rome-based companies’ operational capability.
–Align programmes for overlapping companies: UNHCR and IOM; WFP and FAO; and so forth.
–Contemplate whether or not OCHA ought to stay in New York or transfer to make sure subject operations are far more localized with implementing companions.
Sustainable Growth
–Consolidate and scale back the variety of UN improvement system entities.
— Set up a UN Sustainable Growth Division that consolidates related entities to make sure cohesive and built-in help for the 2030 Agenda and the SDGs, together with: (Secretariat entities) DCO, DESA, UNDRR, UN-OHRLLS and (different entities) UNDP, UNCDF, UNV, UNRISD, FAO, IFAD, UN-Habitat, WHO, UN-Girls, UNESCO, UNICEF, UNEP, WB, IMF, WTO, UNOPS, UNICEF, UNIDO, UNESCO.
— Migrate financially non-viable entities. For instance, UNAIDS, underneath extreme monetary strain and with a sundown clause of 2030, might transition into one other, bigger entity similar to WHO or UNDP.
— Merge UNDP and UNOPS, making a single entity to seamlessly combine strategic planning with venture implementation. Combine the Worldwide Computing Centre (ICC) to supply environment friendly and tailor-made IT help.
–Combine UNFCCC into UNEP to create a stronger international surroundings authority and consolidating the executive features underneath UNON’s present help construction for UNEP. Contemplate whether or not COP in present type ought to be discontinued.
— Strategic integration of UNAIDS into WHO, making a extra unified and environment friendly international well being authority. o Merge UN WOMEN and UNFPA to create a strong new entity centered on advancing gender equality and reproductive well being and rights.
–Align choose UNICEF programmes with this new entity, particularly these centered on adolescent ladies’ well-being and gender-based violence prevention and response. o Heart the structural reform proposals round our 4 fundamental pillars, every with a geographic focus (Nairobi/ Africa ought to be the middle of improvement companies, together with UNDP/ UNICEF/ UNFPA).
Strengthen coordination amongst improvement entities, together with:
— Improve coordination between the UNEP and UN-Habitat to advertise sustainable city improvement.
— Improve coordination between UNCTAD and ITC to successfully combine coverage experience with capacity-building, leading to extra impactful programmes.
–Reorganizing UNDP’s Regional Bureaux round international locations’ shared improvement challenges relatively than conventional geographic areas would enhance programme relevance, useful resource allocation, and partnerships with multilateral banks.
— Consolidate Practical Commissions underneath ECOSOC; rotate Practical Fee conferences to be held amongst Regional Commissions or maintain them in Nairobi; think about changing annual with biennial periods.
Human Rights
–Merge a number of entities right into a single human rights entity.
— Set up a unified “Workplace for the Safety of Weak Populations” by consolidating workplaces coping with safety points affecting susceptible populations (CAAC, SVC, VAC, SEA) inside OHCHR.
— Consolidate the specialised safety mandates and workplaces in OHCHR, with every space headed at Director degree, reporting to ASG/OHCHR.
— Set up a UN Human Rights Division led by Excessive Commissioner for Human Rights, coordinating human rights promotion and safety throughout the UN system, together with servicing the UN human rights mechanisms and integrating human rights into sustainable improvement, peace & safety and humanitarian engagement.
–Merge safety mandates (CAAC, SVC, VAC, Genocide Prevention & Duty to Shield into the Division. Scale back senior posts by changing present 4 USGs + 1 ASG with 1 ASG + 1 D2 + 2 D1s, thereby reducing prices, and redistribute present sources from respective workplaces throughout the Division – prioritizing use of RB sources to meet present mandates
Resident Coordinators system
–Streamline coordination preparations at nation, regional and international ranges by transitioning present coordination preparations, together with mounted RCs, RCOs with rigidly outlined workers capacities and a big DCO headquarters and regional presence right into a smaller and extra centered help construction.
–Discover rotational management amongst UN Nation Staff heads to keep up UN coherence with out mounted infrastructure, supported by an agile and lean DCO that might help the UNSDG as its Secretariat. Solely in circumstances of humanitarian emergencies, devoted RC/HCs could be essential to deploy, given the complexity of those settings.
–Enhance coordination/management function of RC/HC, together with clearer oversight of companies in nation and a prioritised nation technique. • Strengthen coordination between the UN Resident Coordinator System and the Regional Financial Commissions to foster built-in regional improvement methods, enhance information sharing and improve coverage advocacy.
–Contemplate a strategic discount of the Resident Coordinator System’s presence in international locations to optimize useful resource allocation and promote better nationwide possession of improvement initiatives.
–Contemplate a elementary re-orientation of the UN system’s country-level engagement, together with by folding in peace and political missions and guaranteeing that RCs can make the most of pooled funds to reconfigure and tailor engagement based mostly on modifications on the bottom.
Cross-cutting proposals Structural
–Set up an Govt Secretariat supporting the Secretary-Normal’s management and coordination of the UN system by managing all company providers, together with: administration, administration, communications, human sources, coverage, strategic planning, secretariat help to Constitution-based organs. The Govt Secretariat would come with EOSG, DGACM, DGC, DMSPC, OLA, DSS, OIOS, Ethics Workplace, Ombuds, Administration of Justice, UNON, UNOV, UNOP & UNOG.
–Set up a unified ‘Normative Coverage Hub’, which might consolidate a number of features: o Parts of OHRLLS centered on improvement advocacy, into different entities’ international coverage features.
— Different small Secretariat workplaces with thematic mandates on human rights, civic house, migration coverage, and innovation, the place mandate complementarity exists.
–Streamline/merge thematic Particular Envoy workplaces, together with the Workplace of the Particular Envoy for Africa and the Workplace of the SRSG to the African Union; the Workplace of the Tech Envoy; Workplaces of Particular Envoys / Advisers with slender or duplicated mandates, e.g. Indigenous Points, Small Island States.
–Conduct cost-benefit analyses for merging entities serving comparable sectors or audiences (e.g., digital, youth-focused initiatives); think about integrating them into unified items with shared sources.
Different proposals
–Revisit the frequency of intergovernmental conferences; streamline reporting processes; discover various information-sharing instruments and codecs similar to coverage briefs or dashboards like SDG instruments as an alternative of written annual studies by the Secretary-Normal; digitize processes utilizing real-time platforms and information instruments, to raised help hybrid and digital conferences.
–Earlier than creating new workplaces, make all efforts to delegate features to present buildings.
–Keep away from creating new coordination mechanisms (particularly multi-layer coordination) and strengthen present coordination mechanisms.
–Extra coherent strategy to future: local weather change/AI/cyber/large tech/information: consolidate numerous items into centralized capability underneath a USG for the longer term.
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