UN Reports Largely Ignored, Says New Study
A recent UN-commissioned report aimed at enhancing efficiency and cutting costs among global agencies highlighted a troubling trend: UN reports aren’t widely read. In a statement, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres discussed the findings from the reform initiative known as UN80, which emphasizes the implementation of directives from bodies like the General Assembly and the Security Council.
Guterres, who previously served as Portugal’s prime minister, pointed out that the UN system supports numerous conferences—27,000, to be exact—across 240 bodies. Interestingly, the UN Secretariat has prepared about 1,100 reports, marking a 20% rise since 1990.
With 37,000 employees in 193 countries, the United Nations stands as the largest multilateral organization globally, which some might view as a lucrative space for administrators.
Despite the extensive meetings, discussions, and committees that generate millions of words, one fact continues to stand out to Guterres: many reports go unread.
A small fraction, around 5%, accumulate over 5,500 downloads; however, one in five reports gets fewer than 1,000. Notably, just because a report is downloaded doesn’t mean it’s actually read.
In light of these challenges, Guterres initiated the UN80 task force in March, coinciding with the UN’s 80th anniversary and the organization’s ongoing liquidity crisis that has persisted for at least seven years. Recent reports indicated that the UN is seeking $47 billion in donor assistance for 2025, while concerns about funding cuts from Western nations loom large.
America’s new humanitarian chief, Tom Fletcher, recently expressed a sense of urgency, remarking that “the world is on fire.” His apprehension mirrors the grim outlook often shared by Guterres.
The latest report from the task force explores one of several reform avenues under consideration. Among the proposals from Guterres is the reduction of meetings and reports, all while ensuring that the organization can still fulfill its mission requirements.
