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Promoting and Defending Multilateralism

The Promoting and Defending Multilateralism Program seeks to defend and promote the values of multilateralism amid rising global tensions and polarization. This work is guided by the belief that collaborative, multilateral approaches are essential to solving pressing global issues.

Program Areas

Building the Case for Action
Through high-level convenings and cross-regional dialogues, this workstream supports coalitions advocating for shared global solutions. Programming focuses on aligning multilateral reforms with the realities of the current geopolitical and economic landscape, looking to find ways to bolster the system’s ability to respond to the ongoing polycrisis, financing shortfalls, and the sense of a system that does not serve all equally and fairly.
Strengthening UN-IFI Collaboration
This workstream aims to bridge gaps between the UN, IFIs, and regional multilateral development banks (RMDBs), by ensuring their efforts are aligned to address both the macroeconomic risks and socio-political tensions that threaten global stability, and that these institutions can leverage their comparative advantages.
UN80
The initiative offers a rare opportunity to re-shape how the United Nations governs itself, so it can respond more effectively to today’s crises and deliver on its core mandates in a fast-changing world.
Multilateral Solutions for Fragility, Conflict, and Violence
By focusing on advocating for progress on financing mechanisms and governance reforms, this workstream aim to promote solutions that enable long-term peace and development in fragile settings.
People-Led Accountability Framework for FfD4
This non-governmental initiative complemented governmental and UN monitoring mechanisms by tracking how effectively the FfD4 agreement and its commitments translate into actual development outcomes and financing flows for developing countries. When progress stalls, this effort can provide a basis for advocacy and action.

Our Latest Resources

All Resources

Blog October 13, 2025 Promoting and Defending Multilateralism

Reform Meets Code: UN80’s Unique Opportunity to Harness AI and Reboot the UN

Joris de Mooij
Publication: Policy Brief October 8, 2025 Promoting and Defending Multilateralism

The Process for Selecting the Secretary-General of the United Nations

This policy brief provides an overview of the process for the selection of the UN Secretary-General (SG). In short, the process has evolved from a non-transparent closed-door exercise almost exclusively dominated by the Security Council to a more transparent, inclusive process involving more active and engaged participation of the General Assembly.
Publication: Policy Brief October 2, 2025 Promoting and Defending Multilateralism

Why Member State Engagement Needs to be at the Heart of UN80 to Unlock its Success

This paper offers a practical toolkit of 10 recommendations for strengthening member state engagement in UN80.
Blog September 19, 2025 Promoting and Defending Multilateralism
UN80 Mandate Review: Promising Momentum to Overcome the Mandate Maze

Thibault Camelli, Betty N. Wainaina, Fernando Marani
Publication: Analysis September 16, 2025 Promoting and Defending Multilateralism

Unlocking Reform Capacity

What does the UN80 reform initiative reveal about the limits of United Nations (UN) reform, and how can member states, UN staff, and policymakers avoid ritualized repetition while unlocking actionable reform pathways? This paper proposes 10 recommendations to shift from reactive reform to institutional stewardship and structured intergovernmental engagement

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Promoting and Defending Multilateralism

Program Areas

Building the Case for Action

Strengthening UN-IFI Collaboration

UN80

Multilateral Solutions for Fragility, Conflict, and Violence

People-Led Accountability Framework for FfD4

Key Partners and Funders

Betty N. Wainaina

Thibault Camelli

Joris de Mooij

Our Latest Resources

Reform Meets Code: UN80’s Unique Opportunity to Harness AI and Reboot the UN

The Process for Selecting the Secretary-General of the United Nations

Why Member State Engagement Needs to be at the Heart of UN80 to Unlock its Success

UN80 Mandate Review: Promising Momentum to Overcome the Mandate Maze

Unlocking Reform Capacity

Stay Connected