Reforming UN Management

United Nations management reform has been a U.S. government priority for many years. GAO has reported on some progress toward addressing needed improvements in ethics, oversight, procurement and management operations. Nevertheless, the UN has made little progress overall in

• establishing an independent procurement bid system,
• reforming its internal justice system,
• improving certain budgetary and financial management functions,
• delivering certain services,
• reviewing programs and activities, and
• adjusting funding arrangements that constrain the independence of its internal oversight agency.
  
  Highlights of GAO-06-575 (PDF), Highlights of GAO-08-84 (PDF)

Also, the Department of State needs to address factors that have slowed the pace of reform, including

• disagreements among member states on the priorities and importance of UN management reform efforts,
• the lack of comprehensive implementation plans for some management reform proposals,
• administrative policies and programs that continue to complicate the implementation process, and
• competing UN priorities that limit the capacity of UN General Assembly members to address management reform issues.
  
  Highlights of GAO-07-14 (PDF), Highlights of GAO-08-84 (PDF)

^ Back to topWhat Needs to Be Done

To encourage UN member states to continue to pursue the reform agenda of the 2005 World Summit, State should include in its annual U.S. Participation in the United Nations report an assessment of the effectiveness of the ongoing reforms.

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