UN study reveals inadequate dissemination of UN reports worldwide
The United Nations, under the leadership of Secretary-General António Guterres, is addressing the issue of under-read reports and excessive meetings by implementing reforms aimed at reducing both the number and volume of U.N. meetings and reports.
Guterres, through the UN80 reform initiative launched in 2025, has emphasised the need for "fewer meetings, fewer reports" while ensuring that these documents fully meet their intended tasks and mandates.
A key measure of these reforms is the formation of a special task force, UN80, to reform operations and improve efficiency. The task force focuses on reducing unnecessary workload and enhancing the quality and impact of reports.
The UN80 task force report, issued late on Thursday, proposes reducing the number of meetings and reports to avoid administrative overload and increase meaningful engagement with the documentation. The report also suggests streamlining report formats and monitoring report usage to ensure relevance and better communication of outcomes.
The push towards quality over quantity is driven by the fact that despite producing approximately 1,100 reports annually to support around 27,000 meetings, most reports are rarely read. Only 5% were downloaded more than 5,500 times, and many received fewer than 1,000 downloads.
The United Nations faces a liquidity crisis for at least the seventh year in a row, and the sheer number of meetings and reports is pushing the U.N. system to the breaking point. Addressing financial shortfalls, partly due to some member states not paying dues fully or on time, adds urgency to the efficiency reforms.
Guterres has suggested fewer meetings and reports in the U.N., but ones that can fully meet all mandates. The UN80 task force report covers only one of several reform angles being pursued.
On Friday, Guterres briefed countries on the report, highlighting the need to prioritise cutting down on redundant and less impactful meetings and reports, refining processes, and ensuring resources are focused on achieving real-world outcomes. The United Nations report focuses on improving efficiency and cutting costs within the organization.
- The United Nations, under Secretary-General António Guterres, is pursuing reforms in policy-and-legislation, such as through the UN80 initiative, with a focus on reducing the number of meetings and reports, while ensuring their quality and relevance to mandates – a key aspect emphasized in the UN80 task force report.
- Guterres' emphasis on fewer meetings and reports, as part of the UN80 reforms, extends beyond just the task force report. In politics and general news discussions, there's a growing focus on this push for quality over quantity, aiming to streamline UN operations, reduce administrative overload, and prioritize meaningful engagement with documentation.
