External publications

The triple disconnect. Power, money, and voice in the UN development system: mapping influence and informality

Schönrock, Philipp / Frederik Matthys / Arelys Bellorini / Anna Novoselova
External Publications (2026)

Bogotá/Columbia: Cepei

Open access

The UN Development System sits at the heart of global development cooperation - not because it controls the most resources, but because it shapes the norms, priorities, and legitimacy of multilateral action. Yet behind the formal architecture of boards, committees, and mandates lies a more complex reality: decisions are increasingly shaped by informal power, financial leverage, and unequal access to influence. This report published by Cepei in cooperation with IDOS maps where power actually resides inside the UN Development System, revealing how governance works in practice and why current dynamics are eroding legitimacy at a critical moment for UN reform.(Executive Summary)

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