United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres launched his term in early 2017 with the ambition to create a more efficient — and less bureaucratic — U.N. Since then, the words “U.N. reform” have peppered new policies and internal changes throughout the global body.
The organizational restructuring is intended to make the U.N. more transparent, reduce redundancies, and create an organization more fit to achieve the far-reaching 2030 agenda.
But along with Guterres’ goal of focusing more on people and less on process comes a series of difficult questions about funding and the necessity for a broader culture shift across the system.
Over the past several months, Devex has explored how the U.N. is approaching this tipping point. The organization is in some ways showing its 75 years, out of touch with the needs of junior staffers and struggling to keep agencies like UNESCO relevant. The new resident coordinator system is a big part of the development reform Guterres is pushing for, but it is not yet clear how much success these changes will bring.
Can the U.N. successfully revamp its work to match the world’s toughest challenges?
Catch up on our UN: A Tipping Point series and watch the video to find out more about U.N. reform.
About the author
Amy Liebermanamylieberman
Amy Lieberman is the U.N. Correspondent for Devex. She covers the United Nations and reports on global development and politics. Amy previously worked as a freelance reporter, covering the environment, human rights, immigration, and health across the U.S. and in more than 10 countries, including Colombia, Mexico, Nepal, and Cambodia. Her coverage has appeared in the Guardian, the Atlantic, Slate, and the Los Angeles Times. A native New Yorker, Amy received her master’s degree in politics and government from Columbia’s School of Journalism.
