As the United Nations (UN) celebrates its 80th anniversary, the Secretary-General has launched “UN80,” the most wide-ranging internal reform plan in over a decade. The initiative offers a rare opportunity to re-shape how the organization governs itself, so it can respond more effectively to today’s crises and deliver on its core mandates in a fast-changing world.
Like past reform cycles, however, declarations and structural proposals alone are not enough: progress will depend on sustained political ownership, transparent processes, and mechanisms that turn commitments into real institutional improvements. UN80 is also unusually complex, spanning multiple workstreams, processes, and working groups that make the landscape harder to navigate for member states and observers alike.
This page gathers CIC’s analysis and resources to clarify the UN80 process and provide practical insights on how reform can build the political traction it needs.
Navigating the Next Secretary-General Selection Process
This event is designed as an introductory and accessible briefing on the Secretary-General selection process. It will provide a clear overview of:
- The historical evolution of the selection process, from its early closed-door practices to today’s more inclusive approach.
- The reforms introduced in 2015 and 2021, and their impact on transparency and participation.
- The new provisions contained in resolution 79/327, which will govern the upcoming process.
The session is intended for all those who are new to the process or wish to refresh their understanding of the key milestones, rules, and ongoing debates.
Featured Analysis: 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
Additional Resources
-
-
-
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.
-
-
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.
-
Managing Peace Operations: How to Exit the Groundhog Day Time Loop of Peace Operations Reform
United Nations peace operations currently face a crisis of confidence. No large mission has been launched in over a decade, existing missions struggle to implement their mandates, and the UN is increasingly marginalized from political processes.
-
UN80 Mandate Review: Promising Momentum to Overcome the Mandate Maze
-
-
-
-
Stay Connected
Subscribe to our newsletter and receive regular updates on our latest events, analysis, and resources.
"*" indicates required fields