More than 60 offices, agencies and activities of the UN were asked to submit proposals to reduce their employees by 20%by mid -June. This initiative is part of a significant reform effort focused on consolidation operations as a result of a serious lack of funding, etc.
Why are the UN faced with lack of funding?
The UN Secretary General, Antonio Guterres, stressed that the proposed cuts are the result of a reduction in UN resources in the last seven years, because several Member States will either not pay their annual fees or do not pay them in time.
Lack of financing forces the UN to reduce the expenses and freezing of recruitment that affected its ability to carry out authorized programs and expose IT to increase the “reputation risk”, the Fifth Committee (administrative and budget) of the UN discussed on May 19, 2025, while exploring possible solutions.
Guterres also denied any connection between the restriction of employment and withdrawal of foreign aid and other programs by US President Donald Trump.
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How many funds have we been reduced from the UN?
In particular, the proposal to reduce the workforce comes after President Trump announced cuts of financing the global organization.
After entering the White House, Trump issued a executive order for the second time, looking for a general review of all USA contributions to the UN. Then the administration announced that it will not restore financing for Unrwa.
In addition, Trump issued an executive order stopping most of the US foreign aid for ninety days and also announced withdrawal from the WHO and stated that “still requires unjustly difficult payments from the United States”.
The US was expected to pay 22% of the UN regular budget. In 2024 of 193 Member States 152 paid their fees in full, including China, while 41 countries, including the United States, no.
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How many UNs pay us?
Since its foundation in 1945, the US remained the largest contributor to the UN. In 2023, the US contributed nearly $ 13 billion, which was more than a quarter of the total funding of the Global Budget, according to the latest data available on the UN head of the Coordination System Council. Almost 24 % of this total were evaluated, 75 % were voluntary, while the rest came from other activities.
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What contributes to the UN budget?
According to the UN Charter, all 193 Member States of the UN must make payments to specific sections of the organization as a requirement for membership. This amount, paid annually, is called an evaluated contribution that differs across countries based on a formula considered by gross national income, debt load and population and other factors.
These payments are funded by a regular UN budget and covers administrative costs and expenditures of basic activities such as special political missions and peacekeeping operations.
In addition to these compulsory payments, the country can also contribute voluntary contributions. Several UN organizations, including the UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF), the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and the World Food Program (WFP), depend primarily on these contributions, which are considered discretion financing.
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About the cuts of the UN tasks
Reducing jobs includes almost 14,000 contributions under a normal budget or 2,800 posts, AP quoted UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric.
This includes employees in the UN political and humanitarian authorities, along with agencies that help refugees, support the equality of women and men and address questions about international trade, environment and city development. Also included is an agency supporting Palestinian refugees.
Several UN agencies were preparing to reduce their workforce or to carry out other measures to reduce costs. Officials emphasized the cuts of financing primarily from the United States and warn that, as a result, basic relief programs will be significantly affected.
The World Food Program (WFP) program can reduce its workforce by up to 30%, while the head of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) informed about plans to reduce costs by 30%and reduced positions at a higher level of 50%, according to internal notes obtained AP.
In addition to WFP and UNHCR, the UN (UNICEF) and UN Children Fund (UNICEF) and the UN for the coordination of humanitarian matters (OCHA) are expected to cut cuts.
(Tagstotranslate) UN job reduction
