António Guterres, United Nations Secretary-General, on the General Assembly plenary meeting (80th session), stated clearly that taking the UN80 Initiative forward is a shared responsibility, and the change is inevitable. Factually, decisions on changes to the structure of the UN still rest with Member States, who have the final say on priorities and implementation.
UN80 initiative is a work in progress that sustained engagement. It is the way to create a more coherent and effective UN system. In fact, the initiative continues to evolve, its different strands are expected to come together to form a unified framework delivering stronger, more coordinated action. It was launched in March 2025 with an aim seeking to ensure that every mandate, dollar and decision deliver greater impact for people and the planet – at a time of growing demands and constrained resources. This project is a paradigm shift in how the UN system organizes its work and collaborates for greater impact. Currently, the project enters its critical new phase of decision-making and delivery
A progress update released on Tuesday, 26 May 2026, highlights ongoing work with national governments to improve transparency, reduce reporting burdens and better align mandates with resources and results. With tens of thousands of mandates guiding how UN operates with emphasizing that the review process is intended to ensure remain relevant, coherent and focused on delivering measurable outcomes. The initiative has identified its need for fewer silos and more integrated approaches, alongside new tools such as shared data platforms and strengthened coordination mechanisms to improve efficiency. In brief, the summary is as follow:
- To review how mandates are implemented and explore changes to the internal structure system, including potential merger of some UN bodies.
- To streamline operations within the UN Secretariat and beyond – including measures to reduce duplication and improve coordination. These efforts are to modernize how the organization operates.
- To simplify administrative processes and strengthen services across the UN system, with a focus on delivering faster and more cost-effective support to Member States.
- To reform how to manage mandates and tasks as assigned by Member States.
- To align UN structure including closer alignment across departments and agencies for a stronger collaboration across the entities concerned with peace and security, development and human rights.
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