PERSPECTIVES ON INTERNATIONAL PUBLIC SECTOR REFORM BECAUSE
Latest News in UN Governance & Reform
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​Week of
May 19, 2025
The World Health Assembly
meets from 19 to 27 May. As the main legislative body, made up of all member states, it will address the impact of funding cuts, review the proposed restructuring of the World Health Organization (WHO) and also discuss non-payment of assessed funding by its member states.
Key reform initiatives under discussion
While WHO is struggling to adapt to the funding challenges posed by the withdrawal of the United States, it also has a significant problem of late payments by member states in 2024 and 2025. WHO is still missing $215 million of assessed (mandatory) payments for 2024. 25% of those 2024 arrears stem from the United States, which was still a member of WHO in 2024. At the same time, 75% of the arrears are from other member states, indicating there is a larger problem than just the new US administration.
​Week of
May 5, 2025
UNGA's Fifth Committee
holds its second resumed session from 5-30 May, focused on agreeing on the funding for peacekeeping missions. It will also take up deferred discussions on the liquidity crisis from the previous session.
Key reform initiatives under discussion
A leaked early memo from the US State Department indicates a desire to slash all funding for international peacekeeping and to reduce contributions to all international organizations to $169 million from $1.5 billion, which would likely also eliminate most of its funding to the UN regular budget. It will be challenging to try and negotiate a consensus at the second resumed session, if it is unclear whether a key member state will uphold its commitments made during the session.
​Week of
May 5, 2025
The WFP Executive Board
holds its next discussion on the updated Management Plan for 2026-2028 on 8 May.
Key reform initiatives under discussion
WFP is one of the only UN entities to have a separate management plan to support the Strategic Plan.WHile highlighting the actual complexities of managing a global humanitarian agencies, it also ensure transparency and accountability for how money is spent and where cuts need to be made. Interestingly, during the past WFP Governance Review, several member state stakeholders complained that it was a very complicated technical document.