UN Chief Urges Renewed Support For UN Development Reforms

The UN Secretary-General on Monday said reforms to the UN development system have made it more coherent, accountable and closely aligned with national priorities, but warned that shrinking funding could put progress at risk.

Speaking to the agenda-setting Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC), he said 94 per cent of governments now view UN development support as effective, while recognition of Resident Coordinators as key custodians in individual countries rose from 62 per cent in 2019 to 90 per cent in 2025.

“The UN Development system delivered in 2025 – 121 million people were reached with food assistance, 191 million children were vaccinated against measles, often in war-like conditions, social protection was extended to 80 million people and over a half a billion more people were covered by central health services since 2018,” said Stéphane Dujarric, UN Spokesperson.

Call for funding
While noting progress, the Secretary-General warned that declining development financing is leaving the UN system increasingly under-resourced.

“But with less than 1,700 days until the 2030 deadline, many countries face growing pressures – slowing growth, rising vulnerabilities and debts, greater exposure to shocks, and shrinking fiscal space,” he warns.

The UN chief urged Member States to provide more stable and flexible funding, including meeting the 30 per cent core funding target under the Funding Compact.