UN 
(SDGTALKING) – By Bunyamin Surmeli – UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres announced sweeping reforms to the UN’s operations during an informal meeting at the General Assembly as part of the UN80 Initiative. “Authority is yours, we are only the implementers,” said Guterres, who presented concrete proposals on efficiency, accountability, and resource utilization.
“More than 40,000 decisions create conflicts”
Guterres pointed out that there are more than 40,000 decisions in force in the UN system, which leads to repetition and conflicts. He proposed AI-supported digital authority registration systems and said that authority management should be simplified.
“Fewer meetings, more effective reports”
Guterres pointed out that the UN held 27,000 meetings and prepared 1,100 reports last year, drawing attention to the waste of resources. “Three out of five reports are repetitive, and most are not read,” said Guterres, recommending that meetings be prioritized with simple, focused, and effective reports. Guterres stated that voluntary and earmarked contributions lead to ineffectiveness in the UN system. He called for an increase in joint funding mechanisms.
“Authorities should be reviewed regularly”
The Secretary-General said that most authorities have continued without revision for years, with only 15% containing instructions for review or termination. He highlighted the lack of effective and regular oversight mechanisms. Guterres emphasized the dedication of UN staff on the ground, saying, “They are the ones who turn orders into action. We must support them.”
“The decision is yours; we are ready to implement”
Concluding his remarks by stating, “Authorities are your authority and responsibility. As the Secretariat, we are obligated to serve you,” Guterres urged the General Assembly to consider his reform proposals.
