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This South Centre Analytical Note provides a brief background of UN reform since the start of UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan’s tenure in 1997. It outlines tensions that underscore the UN reform process, highlights current UN Reforms and offers developing country perspectives on each. It concludes with some recommendations regarding UN reform.

August 2006 - South Centre

Link to the full report

Executive Summary

The United Nations has had institutional reform initiatives ever since its inception in 1945. The challenges to countries, especially those that are developing, and the changes wrought by globalization in terms of global economic, political, social and environmental relations mean that a stable system of global governance needs to be maintained. As the only intergovernmental body with universal State membership that lies at the core of the entire global governance architecture, the UN is essential and needs to be strengthened.

In this background paper, key reforms that have been and are taking place in the UN system are summarized beginning from current UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan’s assumption of office in 1997 and his first reform proposal. The discussion of these reforms are placed in the context of fundamental underlying global issues such as the maintenance of national sovereignty, divisions between the North and South, and growing inequality both within and between countries.  The paper then reflects and offers developing country perspectives on each of eleven current reform topics that are currently underway in the UN.

These include:
1. Human Rights Council
2. Peacebuilding Commission
3. Secretariat/Management reform
4. Development/ECOSOC reform
5. Security Council Reform
6. System-Wide Coherence
7. General Assembly Revitalization
8. HIV/AIDS
9. UN Democracy Fund
10. Central Emergency Response Fund
11. UNCTAD
The paper concludes by offering four recommendations that developing countries should consider when addressing issues of UN reform.

These include:
1. Stronger cohesion and unity among the developing country group.
2. Strengthening the UN’s core global governance role.
3. Strengthening international economic and social cooperation through the UN.
4. Preventing abuse of the power of the purse.
5. Placing the UN at the core of global governance coherence.

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