Latest news with #AntonioGuterres
News18
14 hours ago
- Business
- News18
United Nations To Cut 20% Jobs Amid Fund Crunch. Is Trump's America To Blame?
Last Updated: According to Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, UN resources over at least the past 7 years have been shrinking, as not all member states pay yearly dues & many don't pay on time The United Nations (UN) seems to be no stranger to the global affliction with cost cutting. Over 60 UN offices, agencies, and operations have been instructed to submit plans by mid-June to reduce their staff by 20 per cent in an effort to consolidate operations amid a severe funding shortfall. The Associated Press quoted UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric as saying that the cuts affect about 14,000 posts covered by the regular budget, or about 2,800 posts, including staff in the UN's political and humanitarian offices, and its agencies helping refugees, promoting gender equality and dealing with international trade, the environment and cities. The UN agency supporting Palestinian refugees, UNRWA, is also on the list. In a memo to the affected agencies, UN Controller Chandramouli Ramanathan said the staff cuts are part of Secretary-General Antonio Guterres' goal of achieving a reduction of between 15-20 per cent in the UN's current budget of $3.72 billion. The World Food Programme (WFP) may reduce its workforce by up to 30 per cent, while the head of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) informed of plans to cut costs by 30 per cent and reduce senior-level positions by 50 per cent, according to internal memos obtained by the AP. In addition to WFP and UNHCR, United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) and United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) are expected to make cuts, the report said. Reuters reported that as of May 2025, 41 member countries have not paid their full assessed contributions to the UN's regular budget. This has resulted in a projected $740 million deficit in the organisation's core $3.72 billion budget. The world's biggest economy, United States, is expected to pay 22 per cent of the regular budget, while No.2 China recently had its share raised to 20 per cent. Last year, 152 of the UN's 193 member nations paid their dues in full, including China, but 41 countries did not, including the United States. On one hand, as many countries grapple with domestic economic challenges, inflation, and post-pandemic fiscal constraints, making it harder for them to meet international financial obligations, on the other, escalating crises—from wars in Sudan, Gaza, and Ukraine, to climate emergencies and mass displacement—have placed higher demands on an already stretched budget. IS TRUMP TO BLAME? Though Guterres has denied any connection between the job cuts and the withdrawal of foreign aid by US President Donald Trump, numbers tell a different story. Trump, at the start of his second term, issued an executive order seeking a general review of all US contributions to the United Nations. What followed was his decision to not resume funding for UNRWA. He also issued an executive order halting most US foreign aid for 90 days and announced withdrawal from the World Health Organisation (WHO), stating it 'continues to demand unfairly onerous payments from the United States"— a move that proved to be a body blow for the organisation. Data on the UN Chief System Executives Board for Coordination reveals that the United States has remained the largest contributor to the UN since its founding in 1945. In 2023, the United States contributed nearly $13 billion, accounting for more than a quarter of the total funding for the UN's overall budget. This is exactly why when the US reduces or delays funding, it creates immediate cash flow problems for UN agencies that depend heavily on predictable contributions to plan and sustain operations. While there's no denying the significant contribution of the US in the funding of the United Nations, 41 member states have reportedly not fulfilled their financial obligations to the UN as of May 2025, contributing to a $740 million shortfall in the regular budget. Many countries are grappling with economic slowdowns, inflation, or shifting domestic priorities, leading to broader underfunding. Structural issues within the UN funding model—for instance reliance on voluntary rather than assessed contributions for many programmes—also make the system vulnerable. WHAT CAN UN DO? The United Nations can encourage countries, especially high-income nations like the United States, to pay their dues on time and in full. It can increase transparency about the impact of delayed contributions to pressure governments and probably use forums like the G20 to urge coordinated funding support, particularly for urgent humanitarian operations. top videos View all It can introduce instruments like green bonds, social impact bonds, or climate funds to raise capital for specific programmes. The UN's fund crunch is a crisis of political will and outdated financial architecture, not just economics. By combining short-term funding recovery with long-term reforms and innovation, the UN can emerge more resilient, efficient, and capable of addressing today's global challenges. tags : Antonio Guterres donald trump news18 specials United nations United states world food programme Location : New York, United States of America (USA) First Published: May 31, 2025, 15:03 IST News explainers United Nations To Cut 20% Jobs Amid Fund Crunch. Is Trump's America To Blame? | Explained
Mint
16 hours ago
- Politics
- Mint
United Nations to cut 20% jobs amid funding shortfall - What US contributes and how UN budget works?— EXPLAINED
Over 60 offices, agencies, and operations of the United Nations have been asked to submit proposals by mid-June to reduce their staff by 20%. This initiative is part of a significant reform effort aimed at consolidating operations due to a severe funding shortfall, AP reported. The UN Secretary General, Antonio Guterres, highlighted that the proposed job cuts are a result of diminishing UN resources over the past seven years, as several member countries either fail to pay their annual dues or do not pay them on time. A funding shortfall is compelling the UN to reduce expenditure and freeze recruitment, affecting its capacity to implement mandated programmes and exposing the it to increasing 'reputational risk,' the fifth committee (Administrative and Budgetary) of UN discussed on May 19, 2025, while exploring the possible solutions as well. Guterres also denied any connection between the job cuts and the withdrawal of foreign aid and other programmes by US President Donald Trump. Notably, the proposal to reduce the workforce comes after President Trump announced funding cuts to the global organisation. After entering the White House for the second time, Trump issued an executive order seeking a general review of all US contributions to the UN. Following this, the administration announced it would not resume funding for UNRWA. Additionally, Trump issued an executive order halting most US foreign aid for ninety days and also announced withdrawal from the WHO, stating it 'continues to demand unfairly onerous payments from the United States.' The US was expected to pay 22% of the regular budget of the UN. In 2024, of the 193 member countries, 152 paid their dues in full, including China, while 41 countries, including the United States, did not. Since its founding in 1945, the US has remained the largest contributor to the UN. In 2023, the US contributed almost $13 billion, making up over a quarter of the total funding for the collective budget of the global body, according to the latest available data on the UN Chief System Executives Board for Coordination. Nearly 24 per cent of this total was assessed, 75 per cent was voluntary, while the rest came from other activities. According to the UN Charter, all 193 member states of the United Nations must make payments to specific sections of the organization as a requirement for membership. This amount, paid annually, is known as the assessed contribution, which differs across countries based on a formula that considers gross national income, debt burden, and population and other factors. These payments fund the regular budget of the UN, covering the administrative costs and expenses of core activities such as special political missions and peacekeeping operations. In addition to these mandatory payments, countries can also make voluntary contributions. Several UN organisations, including the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF), the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), and the World Food Programme (WFP), primarily depend on these contributions, which are viewed as discretionary funding. The job cuts include nearly 14,000 posts under the regular budget or 2,800 posts, AP quoted UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric. This includes staff in the UN political and humanitarian offices, along with its agencies that assist refugees, promote gender equality, and address issues related to international trade, the environment, and urban development. UNRWA, the agency supporting Palestinian refugees is also included. Multiple UN agencies were preparing to reduce their workforce or implement other cost-cutting measures. Officials have highlighted funding cuts primarily from the United States, cautioning that essential relief programs will be significantly impacted as a consequence. The World Food Programme (WFP) may reduce its workforce by up to 30%, while the head of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) informed of plans to cut costs by 30% and reduce senior-level positions by 50%, according to internal memos obtained by the AP. In addition to WFP and UNHCR, United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) and United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) are expected to make cuts, the report said.
Yomiuri Shimbun
21 hours ago
- Business
- Yomiuri Shimbun
UN Seeks 20% Cut in Staff to Help Deal with a Funding Shortfall
Reuters U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres attends a press conference with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz (not pictured), in Berlin, Germany, May 14, 2025. UNITED NATIONS (AP) — More than 60 United Nations offices, agencies and operations have been ordered to submit proposals by mid-June to cut 20% of their staff, as part of a major reform effort to consolidate operations in the face of a critical funding crunch. The cuts affect about 14,000 posts covered by the regular budget, or about 2,800 posts, U.N. spokesman Stephane Dujarric told reporters Friday. These include staff in the U.N.'s political and humanitarian offices, and its agencies helping refugees, promoting gender equality and dealing with international trade, the environment and cities. The U.N. agency supporting Palestinian refugees, UNRWA, is also on the list. U.N. Controller Chandramouli Ramanathan said in a memo to the affected agencies that the staff cuts are part of Secretary-General Antonio Guterres' goal of achieving a reduction of between 15% and 20% in the U.N.'s current budget of $3.72 billion. The cuts are part of the UN80 reform initiative launched by Guterres in March as the world body approaches its 80th anniversary later this year. The U.N. chief has dismissed any relationship with the cuts to foreign aid and other programs by U.S. President Donald Trump. Instead, he has pointed to shrinking U.N. resources over at least the past seven years as not all member states pay their yearly dues and many don't pay on time. The U.S., with the world's biggest economy, is expected to pay 22% of the regular budget, while China, with the second-largest economy, recently had its share raised to 20%. Last year, 152 of the U.N.'s 193 member nations paid their dues in full, including China, but 41 countries did not, including the United States. In an executive order dated Feb. 4, Trump ordered a review within 180 days of U.S. participation in and funding for all international organizations, including the United Nations. The controller's memo, obtained Thursday night by The Associated Press, gives advice to the heads of agencies on which posts to cut: 'Assess functions based on efficiency; Prioritize based on impact; Target redundant, overlapping or non-critical functions or roles for consolidation or abolition.' Guterres and his predecessors in past decades have struggled to reform the United Nations, which was established following World War II, and bring it into a modern era with different powers, new technology and greater global divisions. One key problem is that while the secretary-general is the U.N.'s chief executive, power rests with the 193 member nations, which have very different ideas about the U.N. and the world. The proposed cuts must be submitted to the controller by June 13. Dujarric said they will be incorporated into Guterres' proposed 2026 budget, to be adopted by the General Assembly in December. The U.N.'s 11 peacekeeping missions are financed by a separate budget, and many of its far-flung agencies and operations are funded entirely by voluntary contributions, including the Rome-based World Food Program, known as WFP. Several U.N. agencies were already planning to slash jobs or cut costs in other ways, with officials pointing to funding reductions mainly from the United States and warning that vital relief programs will be severely affected as a result. WFP is expected to cut up to 30% of its staff, and the head of the U.N. refugee agency UNHCR said it would downsize its headquarters and regional offices to reduce costs by 30% and cut senior-level positions by 50%, according to internal memos obtained by the AP. Other agencies, including UNICEF, the U.N. children's agency, and OCHA, the U.N. humanitarian agency, have also announced or plan to make cuts.
Associated Press
a day ago
- Business
- Associated Press
UN seeks 20% cut in staff to help deal with a funding shortfall
UNITED NATIONS (AP) — More than 60 United Nations offices, agencies and operations have been ordered to submit proposals by mid-June to cut 20% of their staff, as part of a major reform effort to consolidate operations in the face of a critical funding crunch. The cuts affect about 14,000 posts covered by the regular budget, or about 2,800 posts, U.N. spokesman Stephane Dujarric told reporters Friday. These include staff in the U.N.'s political and humanitarian offices, and its agencies helping refugees, promoting gender equality and dealing with international trade, the environment and cities. The U.N. agency supporting Palestinian refugees, UNRWA, is also on the list. U.N. Controller Chandramouli Ramanathan said in a memo to the affected agencies that the staff cuts are part of Secretary-General Antonio Guterres' goal of achieving a reduction of between 15% and 20% in the U.N.'s current budget of $3.72 billion. The cuts are part of the UN80 reform initiative launched by Guterres in March as the world body approaches its 80th anniversary later this year. The U.N. chief has dismissed any relationship with the cuts to foreign aid and other programs by U.S. President Donald Trump. Instead, he has pointed to shrinking U.N. resources over at least the past seven years as not all member states pay their yearly dues and many don't pay on time. The U.S., with the world's biggest economy, is expected to pay 22% of the regular budget, while China, with the second-largest economy, recently had its share raised to 20%. Last year, 152 of the U.N.'s 193 member nations paid their dues in full, including China, but 41 countries did not, including the United States. The controller's memo, obtained Thursday night by The Associated Press, gives advice to the heads of agencies on which posts to cut: 'Assess functions based on efficiency; Prioritize based on impact; Target redundant, overlapping or non-critical functions or roles for consolidation or abolition.' Guterres and his predecessors in past decades have struggled to reform the United Nations, which was established following World War II, and bring it into a modern era with different powers, new technology and greater global divisions. One key problem is that while the secretary-general is the U.N.'s chief executive, power rests with the 193 member nations, which have very different ideas about the U.N. and the world. The proposed cuts must be submitted to the controller by June 13. Dujarric said they will be incorporated into Guterres' proposed 2026 budget, to be adopted by the General Assembly in December. The U.N.'s 11 peacekeeping missions are financed by a separate budget, and many of its far-flung agencies and operations are funded entirely by voluntary contributions, including the Rome-based World Food Program, known as WFP. Several U.N. agencies were already planning to slash jobs or cut costs in other ways, with officials pointing to funding reductions mainly from the United States and warning that vital relief programs will be severely affected as a result. WFP is expected to cut up to 30% of its staff, and the head of the U.N. refugee agency UNHCR said it would downsize its headquarters and regional offices to reduce costs by 30% and cut senior-level positions by 50%, according to internal memos obtained by the AP. Other agencies, including UNICEF, the U.N. children's agency, and OCHA, the U.N. humanitarian agency, have also announced or plan to make cuts.
The Independent
a day ago
- Business
- The Independent
UN seeks 20% cut in staff to help deal with a funding shortfall
More than 60 United Nations offices, agencies and operations have been ordered to submit proposals by mid-June to cut 20% of their staff, as part of a major reform effort to consolidate operations in the face of a critical funding crunch. The cuts affect about 14,000 posts covered by the regular budget, or about 2,800 posts, U.N. spokesman Stephane Dujarric told reporters Friday. These include staff in the U.N.'s political and humanitarian offices, and its agencies helping refugees, promoting gender equality and dealing with international trade, the environment and cities. The U.N. agency supporting Palestinian refugees, UNRWA, is also on the list. U.N. Controller Chandramouli Ramanathan said in a memo to the affected agencies that the staff cuts are part of Secretary-General Antonio Guterres' goal of achieving a reduction of between 15% and 20% in the U.N.'s current budget of $3.72 billion. The cuts are part of the UN80 reform initiative launched by Guterres in March as the world body approaches its 80th anniversary later this year. The U.N. chief has dismissed any relationship with the cuts to foreign aid and other programs by U.S. President Donald Trump. Instead, he has pointed to shrinking U.N. resources over at least the past seven years as not all member states pay their yearly dues and many don't pay on time. The U.S., with the world's biggest economy, is expected to pay 22% of the regular budget, while China, with the second-largest economy, recently had its share raised to 20%. Last year, 152 of the U.N.'s 193 member nations paid their dues in full, including China, but 41 countries did not, including the United States. The controller's memo, obtained Thursday night by The Associated Press, gives advice to the heads of agencies on which posts to cut: 'Assess functions based on efficiency; Prioritize based on impact; Target redundant, overlapping or non-critical functions or roles for consolidation or abolition.' Guterres and his predecessors in past decades have struggled to reform the United Nations, which was established following World War II, and bring it into a modern era with different powers, new technology and greater global divisions. One key problem is that while the secretary-general is the U.N.'s chief executive, power rests with the 193 member nations, which have very different ideas about the U.N. and the world. The proposed cuts must be submitted to the controller by June 13. Dujarric said they will be incorporated into Guterres' proposed 2026 budget, to be adopted by the General Assembly in December. The U.N.'s 11 peacekeeping missions are financed by a separate budget, and many of its far-flung agencies and operations are funded entirely by voluntary contributions, including the Rome-based World Food Program, known as WFP. Several U.N. agencies were already planning to slash jobs or cut costs in other ways, with officials pointing to funding reductions mainly from the United States and warning that vital relief programs will be severely affected as a result. WFP is expected to cut up to 30% of its staff, and the head of the U.N. refugee agency UNHCR said it would downsize its headquarters and regional offices to reduce costs by 30% and cut senior-level positions by 50%, according to internal memos obtained by the AP. Other agencies, including UNICEF, the U.N. children's agency, and OCHA, the U.N. humanitarian agency, have also announced or plan to make cuts.
