“The aim is to bring structure, transparency and coherence and an operational framework to progress all aspects of the UN80 initiative – and also to enable you to see how each element will evolve: who is responsible for what, and on what timeline,” Mr Ryder told member states at an informal meeting of the General Assembly.
A plan for how the UN is changing
The Action Plan is at the heart of the UN80 initiative, a bold, system-wide transformation to make the UN system work better – so that every dollar, every decision and every mandate delivers greater results for people and the planet.
Launched in March 2025 and welcomed by the General Assembly resolution 79/318the Initiative is not about redefining what the UN system does. The focus is on how it is structured, managed and coordinated: modernizing outdated arrangements, reducing bureaucracy, fragmentation and duplication, and strengthening impact.
The UN80 initiative is progressing through three work streams – all united in the Action Plan: proposals to improve efficiency across the UN system, with initial proposals reflected in the revised estimates for the 2026 program budget proposed by the secretariat; the Report of the Mandate Implementation Reviewwhich is now being considered by the Member States under the leadership of the Commission Informal ad hoc working group; And “Shifting Paradigms: United to Deliver”, the Secretary-General’s report outlining possible structural and programmatic realignments.
The Action Plan brings these three workstreams under one roof and translates their recommendations into a clear structure that identifies responsibilities, timelines and the intergovernmental bodies that will consider the proposals.
“If we keep the momentum going and approach this initiative in the right spirit, the coming months can be a moment of real transformation,” Mr Ryder told member states.
From three reports to 31 work packages
In practical terms, the Action Plan is a roadmap. It takes the dense architecture of the UN80 initiative and divides it into work packages ranging from discrete technical changes to far-reaching system shifts.
Some of the most consequential packages focus on what senior officials call the “big ticket items” for a more coherent U.N. system. On the peace and security side, this means new models for peace operations, including how tasks and resources are delegated to entities best able to deliver results. On the humanitarian front, it promotes the New Humanitarian Compact to simplify emergency response plans, integrate supply chains, and expand shared services so that every dollar can deliver more.
Another cluster of work packages focuses on how the UN development system is configured, including a ‘reset’ of regional capacities and a reconfiguration of UN country teams that better combine expertise and cost-effectiveness.
The plan will also promote the assessment of possible mergers between the two UNDP and UNOPS, and UNFPA And UN womenand the path forward UNAIDS.
Crucially, the Action Plan gives prominence to bringing together all the “operational factors” that underpin the day-to-day work of the UN system: common data; shared technology platforms; unified services for supply chains and all other back-office functions; and a simpler approach to training and research.
Steering group and task force form the center
A new Steering Committee, chaired monthly by the Secretary General, will provide strategic direction and coherence among the leaders of the UN system.
Under this, the UN80 Task Force, chaired by Mr Ryder, will meet weekly to coordinate implementation, monitor timelines and prepare recommendations for Steering Committee review.
“As a basic principle, all actions will be taken in accordance with the applicable rules and procedures, as set out in the Charter, as well as the decisions, resolutions and established practices of the competent intergovernmental bodies,” Mr. Ryder recalled.
He noted that the action plan contains proposals that fall under three different decision-making scenarios. The first scenario concerns proposals that fall under the authority of the Secretary General. The second concerns proposals that require further work, including the potential mergers outlined in the Workstream 3 report. The third scenario concerns proposals involving financial considerations related to the peacekeeping program and budgets shall be submitted to the General Assembly for review and approval in accordance with standard procedures.
Not a cure for the financial crisis, but part of the answer
The plan is being rolled out at a time when the UN system continues to struggle with severe budget cuts, with system resources estimated to decline by 25 percent (from $66 to $50 billion) in 2026 compared to 2024.
The Secretary-General has made it clear that the UN80 initiative is not a solution to the financial crisis of the UN system, but a commitment to protect maximum impact, including in the most vulnerable environments.
A public dashboard for a complex overhaul
To provide insight into a reform that touches almost every corner of the UN system, the Secretariat has launched an interactive tool Dashboard of UN80 initiative actions.
The online platform allows users to see at a glance each work package, its objectives and leadership, and how it aligns with the three foundational reports. The dashboard will be expanded to include timeline and milestones and updated regularly as work progresses.
For an initiative whose success will ultimately be measured not in new documents but in practice, the Action Plan is a turning point: moving from design to a phase where progress, gaps and results are tracked in one place.
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