‘Need for UN has never been greater,’ UN chief says, proposing slimmer $3.3 billion budget for 2027

Amid climate disruption, an AI revolution, war and growing hunger, “the need for the United Nations has never been greater,” Secretary-General António Guterres said on Tuesday, presenting a $3.3 billion programme budget proposal for next year – a cut of $40.8 million.Key pointsThe proposed 2027 programme budget is 1.2 per cent below the 2026 approved levelUN80 Initiative reforms will continue, with more cuts, staff relocations and the abolition or downgrading of some postsPredictable cashflow and timely payment of dues are essential as efficiency gains will not be sufficient to resolve the liquidity crisisDivisions deepening“The challenges before us are profound,” Mr. Guterres told the General Assembly’s Fifth Committee, comprising all 193 UN Member States that handle administrative and budgetary matters at UN Headquarters in New York.“Geopolitical divisions continue to deepen, conflicts persist across regions and humanitarian needs are soaring, international law is trampled, climate disruption is hitting every continent and artificial intelligence is reshaping economies and societies,” said the Secretary-General. Moreover, the planet’s collective Sustainable Development Goals (SDG...