The budget approved by the 193 members of the General Assembly allocates $3.45 billion for the upcoming year, supporting the UN’s core areas: peace and security, sustainable development, and human rights. This budget aligns with the Secretary-General’s proposed 15 percent reduction in financial resources and nearly 19 percent staff reduction. It funds essential UN activities, such as political affairs, international justice, regional development, human rights, humanitarian efforts, and public information, separate from the UN peacekeeping budget, which runs from July 1 to June 30, unlike the regular budget that follows the calendar year.
Consensus after intense negotiations
UN Comptroller Chandramouli Ramanathan commended the Fifth Committee as it concluded negotiations, highlighting their efforts in finalizing a complex budget process under tight deadlines, involving extensive data compilation and numerous inquiries from oversight bodies and Member States. Despite difficult negotiations, the Committee achieved consensus, a notable aspect of the budget process.
The challenges ahead
The Comptroller cautioned that the budget adoption is merely the start of a challenging implementation phase. By January 1, 2026, 2,900 positions will be cut, with over 1,000 staff already completing departures, requiring careful management to ensure continued payment of salaries and benefits during the transition. Mr. Ramanathan also acknowledged the record potential advances from Member States for the 2026 budget and urged for ongoing prompt payment of assessed contributions.
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