United Nations Delivering as One

The world is changing, and with it the demands on the United Nations.

The United Nations is therefore engaged in a continuous process of change and reform to strengthen its ability to meet new demands and deliver its vital services in the most effective and efficient ways.
To improve programmes, reduce transaction costs for governments, and lower overheads, the United Nations is improving on-the-ground coordination. Since 2007, eight pilot countries are making reforms based on four principles: one leader, one budget, one programme and one office.

These changes respond to varied needs while drawing on all parts of the UN system, whether based in the country or not. The exercise has already helped to align programmes and funding more closely to national priorities. It has strengthened government leadership and ownership. It’s ensuring that governments have access to the experience and expertise of a wider range of United Nations organizations to respond to their national priorities. Several issues we work on have seen increased emphasis, most notably being support to the productive sector, employment, trade, protection of the environment, adaptation to climate change, the global food crisis, and the financial crisis. This improvement has emerged from a process where UN agencies that aren’t physically present in the pilot countries have been able to spend more time advising their governments without having to set up costly offices.

“Delivering as One” is piloted in 8 countries (Albania, Cape Verde, Mozambique, Pakistan, Rwanda, Tanzania, Uruguay and Vietnam) and a number of countries have subsequently adopted the exercise on a self starter basis.

Visit the website of the United Nations Development Group to learn more.