The United Nations in development: Fit for the 2030 Agenda?

The United Nations (UN) are a central actor in multilateral development cooperation and policy. The UN plays a crucial role when it comes to negotiating, implementing, and monitoring international agreements like the “2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development”. This new development agenda aims at eradicating poverty and achieving economic and social progress on the basis of ecological sustainability – and this no longer just for developing states, but for all countries. The UN provides around 34 billion USD annually for development cooperation. For many states but also private actors the UN are an indispensable partner because of its neutrality, experience, and global reach. 

What will be the contribution of the UN to the implementation of the 2030 agenda? And how do the organisations of the UN system need to be positioned to get the job done effectively, efficiently, and in an integrated manner? It is increasingly clear that a fundamental adjustment of structures and capabilities is needed. Norm-setting and operations need to be integrated at the local level, individual agencies interlocked. Mandates and structures need to be reviewed so that forms follow new functions and are “fit for purpose”. 

The German Institute of Development and Sustainability (IDOS) works on the role of the UN in development and its future positioning. This special provides some of the outcomes of this work.

Team

Bauer, Steffen
Baumann, Max-Otto
Haug, Sebastian
Janus, Heiner
Loewe, Markus
Novoselova, Anna

Publications

Plea for a stronger role for the UN Convention to Combat Desertification
Brüntrup, Michael (2024)

The Current Column of 17 June 2024

Mutual legitimation attempts: the United Nations and China's Belt and Road Initiative
Haug, Sebastian (2024)

in: International Affairs, 100 (3), 1207-1230

Why a new quantum must go hand in hand with higher quality
Aleksandrova, Mariya / Svea Koch (2024)
The Current Column of 27 May 2024

Universality in action: why and how United Nations development work should engage with high-income countries
Baumann, Max-Otto / Sebastian Haug

Discussion Paper 5/2024

Financing the United Nations: status quo, challenges and reform options
Baumann, Max-Otto / Haug, Sebastian (2024)

New York: Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung

Synergising digital public infrastructure and digital commons for sustainable development: the governance of digital resources in India and the EU
Dang, Vy / Aliasger Bootwalla / Eva Maria Lynders / Wulf Reiners (2024)

published on gatewayhouse, 28.03.2024

Pooled funding supports best practices in UN development work
Baumann, Max-Otto / Abualghaib, Ola (2024)

published on devpolicy.org, 21.03.2024

Conflict and unconstitutional change of government in Africa: is there still a role for the EU-AU Partnership?
Caruso, Francesca / Lidet Tadesse Shiferaw / Kawsar Laanani / Marta Driessen / Carola García-Calvo / Rukia Mohamed Bakari / Latyr Tyne / Benedikt Erforth / Julian Bergmann (2024)

ETTG Collective Report 1/2024, Brüssel: European Think Tanks Group (ETTG)

Deutschlands Engagement in der UN-Entwicklungspolitik: Erwartungen an eine Mittelmacht
Baumann, Max-Otto (2023)

published on dgvn.de, 20.12.2023

The EU Global Gateway and North Africa: Practical and Moral Challenges
Furness, Mark / Annabelle Houdret (2023)

published on megatrends-africa.de, Blog Joint Futures 31, 4.12.2023

The European Union’s governance approach to tackling disinformation – protection of democracy, foreign influence, and the quest for digital sovereignty
Kachelmann, Matthias / Wulf Reiners (2023)

in: L'Europe en Formation 396, 11-36

Goethe goes UNO: Forschungsorientierte Lehre im Bereich der Vereinten Nationen
Ruppel, Samantha / Julia Leib (2023)

in: Christiane Hof/ Susanne Boehm (Hrsg.), Forschungsorientiert lehren und lernen, Bielefeld: wbv Publikation, 145-156

Die Integrität des UN-Multilateralismus schützen
Baumann, Max-Otto (2023)

in: Vereinte Nationen 5/2023, 214

Accelerating the SDGs through the 2024 Summit of the Future
Beisheim, Marianne / Silke Weinlich (2023)

published on sdg.iisd.org, 01.02.2023

Germany and Namibia as co-leads for the United Nations: chances and challenges on the road to the 2024 UN Summit of the Future
Beisheim, Marianne / Silke Weinlich (2023)

in: SWP-Comment 03 2023

International organizations and differentiated universality: reinvigorating assessed contributions in United Nations funding
Haug, Sebastian / Nilima Gulrajani / Silke Weinlich (2022)

in: Global Perspectives 3 (1), article 39780

Partnerships for policy transfer: how Brazil and China engage in triangular cooperation with the United Nations
Waisbich, Laura Trajber / Sebastian Haug (2022)

Discussion Paper 15/2022

China's expanding engagement with the United Nations development pillar: the selective long-term approach of a programme country superpower
Baumann, Max-Otto / Sebastian Haug/ Silke Weinlich(2022)
Bonn: Friedrich Ebert Stiftung / German Institute of Development and Sustainability (IDOS), November 2022

Re-discovering assessed contributions in the UN system: Underexploited, yet full of potential
Weinlich, Silke / Nilima Gulrajani / Sebastian Haug(2022)
in: Dag Hammarskjöld Foundation and UN Multi-Partner Trust Fund Office (eds.), Financing the UN Development System: Joint Responsibilities in a World of Disarray, Uppsala/ New York: Dag Hammarskjöld Foundation, 127-130

Trouble at the UN: Western member states push back against Chinese-led FAO
Baumann, Max-Otto (2022)

published on thediplomat.com, 30.07.2022

Das UN-Entwicklungssystem im Umbruch?
Weinlich, Silke / Max-Otto Baumann(2022)
in: Vereinte Nationen (4), 147-152

Reinforcing United Nations funding: how the G7 can strengthen multilateralism
Weinlich, Silke / Nilima Gulrajani / Sebastian Haug(2022)
in: T7 Task Force International cooperation for the global common good, 03.05.2022

The G7 and multilateralism in times of aggression: Maintaining and strenghtening cooperative and inclusive approaches for the global common good
Beisheim, Marianne / Axel Berger / Lars Brozus / Adolf Kloke-Lesch / Ronja Scheler / Silke Weinlich(2022)
in: T7 Task Force International cooperation for the global common good (March 2022)

How can the G7 and the UN make multilateralism sustainable?
Weinlich, Silke / Marianne Beisheim (2022)
The Current Column of 14 February 2022

New rules, same practice? Analysing UN Development System reform effects at the country level
Weinlich, Silke / Max-Otto Baumann / Maria Cassens-Sasse / Rebecca Hadank-Rauch / Franziska Leibbrand / Marie Pardey / Manuel Simon / Anina Strey (2022)

Discussion Paper 3/2022

Fixing UN financing: a pandora’s box the World Health Organization should open
Gulrajani, Nilima / Sebastian Haug / Silke Weinlich (2022)

in: ODI Briefing/Policy Paper, published on odi.org, 26.01.2022

Our Common Agenda – Impetus for an inclusive and networked multilateralism for sustainable development. Statement
Schnappauf, Werner / Imme Scholz / Alexander Bassen et al.(2022)
Berlin: Rat für Nachhaltigkeit, published 20.01.2022

Our Common Agenda – Momentum für einen inklusiven und vernetzten Multilateralismus für nachhaltige Entwicklung
Schnappauf, Werner et al. (2022)

Stellungnahme des Rates für Nachhaltige Entwicklung; Berlin, 20.01.2022

Der Zweck der UN-Reform ist noch nicht überall angekommen
Weinlich, Silke / Baumann, Max-Otto(2022)
in: Welt-Sichten, 2/2022, 50-51

UN General Assembly voting on Ukraine – What does it tell us about African states’ relations with external partners?
Keijzer, Niels / Silke Weinlich / Sven Grimm(2022)
published on blogs.die-gdi.de, 04.03.2022

Beyond mainstreaming? Past, present and future of UN support for South-South and triangular cooperation
Haug, Sebastian(2022)
in: Asian Journal of Peacebuilding 10 (1), 15-44

Policy advice in UN development work: high expectations and practical constraints
Baumann, Max-Otto(2022)
in: Global Governance 28(3), 382-404

The EU-UNDP partnership and added value in EU development cooperation
Lundsgaarde, Erik (2021)
Discussion Paper 20/2021

Whither global public goods? No one is safe until everyone is safe
Hendra, John / Weinlich, Silke(2021)
in: Dag Hammarskjöld Foundation / UN Multi-Partner Trust Fund Office (Hrsg.), Financing the UN Development System: Time to Meet the Moment, Uppsala, New York: Dag Hammarskjöld Foundation, 141-144

Reformoptionen für eine effektive UN-Nachhaltigkeitsgovernance
Beisheim, Marianne / Cornelia Füllkrug-Weitzel / Lisi Maier, Imme Scholz / Silke Weinlich / Heidemarie Wieczorek-Zeul(2021)
Berlin: Rat für Nachhaltige Entwicklung

Reform options for effective UN sustainable development governance
Beisheim, Marianne / Cornelia Füllkrug-Weitzel / Lisi Maier / Imme Scholz / Silke Weinlich / Heidemarie Wieczorek-Zeul(2021)
Berlin: German Council for Sustainable Development

The review of the resident coordinator system: give UNDS reform a chance!
Weinlich, Silke(2021)
published on blogs.die-gdi.de, 21.06.2021

Beyond the single story: ‘Global South’ polyphonies
Trajber Waisbich, Laura / Supriya Roychoudhury / Sebastian Haug(2021)
in: Third World Quarterly 42 (9), 2086-2095

Deutschlands Multilateralismus – Der Status quo ist nicht genug
Weinlich, Silke(2021)
in: Global Policy Forum (Hrsg.), Baustellen des Multilateralismus, Bonn: Global Policy Forum, 57-64

Mainstreaming South-South and triangular cooperation: work in progress at the United Nations
Haug, Sebastian (2021)
Discussion Paper 15/2021

Wie die USA den Schaden an den Vereinten Nationen beheben können
Hendra, John / Silke Weinlich(2021)
German Development Institute / Deutsches Institut für Entwicklungspolitik (DIE), Die aktuelle Kolumne vom 18.01.2021

The case for greater project-level transparency of the UN’s development work
Baumann, Max-Otto (2021)

Briefing Paper 5/2021

Towards more policy advice: maximizing the UN’s assets to build back better
Hendra, John / Max Baumann (2020)
Briefing Paper 24/2020

Deutschlands Finanzierung des UN-Entwicklungssystems: Eine bessere Mischung für einen stärkeren Multilateralismus
Weinlich, Silke / Max-Otto Baumann / Erik Lundsgaarde (2020)
Analysen und Stellungnahmen 14/2020

Germany’s funding to the UNDS: towards a better mix for stronger multilateralism
Weinlich, Silke / Max-Otto Baumann / Erik Lundsgaarde (2020)
Briefing Paper 17/2020

Earmarked funding for multilateral development cooperation: asset and impediment
Baumann, Max-Otto / Erik Lundsgaarde / Silke Weinlich (2020)
Briefing Paper 16/2020

Funding the UN: support or constraint?
Baumann, Max-Otto / Silke Weinlich (2020)
in: Stephen Browne / Thomas G. Weiss (Eds.), Routledge handbook on the UN and development, Oxon, New York: Routledge, 151-164

Chinas Finanzierung des UN-Entwicklungssystems
Mao, Ruipeng / Weinlich Silke(2020)
in: Vereinte Nationen 68 (6), 261-266, Print/Online

How earmarking has become self-perpetuating in UN development co-operation
Baumann, Max-Otto(2020)
in: Development Policy Review 39 (3), 343-359

Multilateralism needs action, not celebrations
Hendra, John / Silke Weinlich (2020)
The Current Column of 21 September 2020

The ocean as a lifeline for the future of the planet
Hornidge, Anna-Katharina (2020)
The Current Column of 8 June 2020

UN reform and the COVID-19 pandemic – what role for the UN to better serve the world?
Baumann, Max-Otto / Silke Weinlich (2020)
International Development Blog vom 28.05.2020

The UN Joint SDG Fund: turning transformational potential into reality
Hendra, John / Silke Weinlich(2020)
in: Dag Hammarskjöld Foundation, UN Multi-Partner Trust Fund Office (Hrsg.), Financing the UN development system: time to walk the talk, Uppsala, New York: Dag Hammarskjöld Foundation, 94-97

Earmarking in the multilateral development system: many shades of grey
Weinlich, Silke / Max-Otto Baumann / Erik Lundsgaarde / Peter Wolff (2020)
Studies 101

Shades of grey: earmarking in the UN development system
Baumann, Max-Otto / Erik Lundsgaarde / Silke Weinlich (2019)

in: UN Multipartner Trust Fund Office, Dag Hammarskjöld Foundation (ed.), Financing the UN development system: time for hard choices, Upsala: Dag Hammarskjöld Foundation, 106-109

Current and future pathways for UN system-wide finance
Jens, Bruce/ Silke Weinlich (2019)

in: UN Multipartner Trust Fund Office, Dag Hammarskjöld Foundation (ed.), Financing the UN Development System: time for hard choices, Upsala: Dag Hammarskjöld Foundation, 119-123

The new Franco-German alliance for multilateralism
Kaplan, Lennart / Niels Keijzer (2019)
The Current Column of 16 September 2019

Wichtige Fortschritte, ungelöste Probleme: Bewertung der neuesten UNDS-Reformresolution
Baumann, Max-Otto / Silke Weinlich (2018)
Analysen und Stellungnahmen 10/2018

Repositioning but where – Is the UNDS fit for middle-income countries?
Schulz, Nils-Sjard (2018)

Briefing Paper 14/2018

Unfinished business: an appraisal of the latest UNDS reform resolution
Baumann, Max-Otto / Silke Weinlich (2018)
Briefing Paper 13/2018

Trump und die Zukunft der VN-Weltordnung: Was kann Deutschland tun?
Baumann, Max-Otto (2017)
Published on: International Development Blog, 08.03.2017

Betrug und Korruption bei den Vereinten Nationen: Bericht empfiehlt mehr Prävention
Mahn, Timo Casjen (2016)
in: Transparency Deutschland: Scheinwerfer 21 (73), 18

From QCPR to corporate strategy? The 2030 Agenda and the UN development system
Mahn, Timo Casjen / Andreas Grantner (2016)
Published on: SDG Knowledge Hub, 24.10.2016

UN-Gipfel für Wohnen und nachhaltige Stadtentwicklung: Was steht auf dem Spiel?
Dick, Eva / Maria-Theres Haase (2016)
Die aktuelle Kolumne, 17.10.2016

Vom Welthungertag zum Welternährungstag
Brüntrup, Michael (2016)
Die aktuelle Kolumne, 12.10.2016

An executive authority for the UN Development System: why this is necessary and how it could work
Baumann, Max-Otto (2016)
Briefing Paper 18/2016

Der UN-Gipfel zu Flucht und Migration: Warme Worte – und sonst?
Grävingholt, Jörn / Benjamin Schraven (2016)
Die aktuelle Kolumne, 26.09.2016

UN development system reform: an unnecessary setback
Baumann, Max-Otto / Andreas Grantner (2016)
published on Deliver2030.org September 1, 2016

Fragmentierte Entwicklungszusammenarbeit im Zeitalter der 2030 Agenda
Klingebiel, Stephan / Timo Mahn / Mario Negre (2016)
Die aktuelle Kolumne, 11.07.2016

The fragmentation of aid: concepts, measurements and implications for development cooperation
Klingebiel, Stephan / Timo Casjen Mahn / Mario Negre (eds.) (2016)
Basingstoke: Palgrave Macmillan

ECOSOC Dialogue: a federal structure for the UN Development System?
Baumann, Max-Otto
Briefing Paper 1/2016

Den multilateralen Schwung nutzen – Die Vereinten Nationen und die 2030-Agenda
Baumann, Max-Otto / Silke Weinlich (2015)
Die aktuelle Kolumne, 07.09.2015

Mehr als 60 Jahre deutsche Entwicklungspolitik: noch keine Aussicht auf den Ruhestand
Guido Ashoff (2014)

Die aktuelle Kolumne, 03.09.2014

Nachhaltige Entwicklungsziele – der zweite Schritt ist getan!
Scholz, Imme (2014)

Die aktuelle Kolumne, 21.07.2014

Drastischer Umbau des UN-Entwicklungsprogramms: bereit für neue Aufgaben?
Mahn, Timo Casjen / Sophie Hermanns

Externe Publikationen (2014)

Post-2015: The future of the United Nations in Development?
Mahn, Timo / Kristinn Sv. Helgason

Die aktuellen Kolumne, 12.05.2014

Zur Zukunft des ODA-Konzepts: die politischen Aspekte einer scheinbar technischen Diskussion
Klingebiel, Stephan (2014)

Analysen und Stellungnahmen 8/2014

Post 2015: enter the UN General Assembly: harnessing Sustainable Development Goals for an ambitious global development agenda
Bauer, Steffen / Ines Dombrowsky / Imme Scholz (2014)

Briefing Paper 12/2014

Conflicting objectives in democracy promotion: avoiding blueprint traps and incomplete democratic transitions
Leininger, Julia / Sebastian Ziaja (2014)

Briefing Paper 11/2014

Wie soll Entwicklungszusammenarbeit gestaltet werden? Die Globale Partnerschaft und das Development Cooperation Forum
Janus, Heiner / Stephan Klingebiel / Timo Casjen Mahn (2014)

Analysen und Stellungnahmen 5/2014

Shaping the architecture of global development cooperation
Janus, Heiner / Stephan Klingebiel / Timo Casjen Mahn
(2014)
Externe Publikationen (2014)

Post 2015: wie sollten Ziele für (inter)nationale Politik entworfen werden?
Janus, Heiner / Niels Keijzer
(2014)
Analysen und Stellungnahmen 2/2014

A strong voice for global sustainable development: how China can play a leading role in the Post-2015 Agenda
Ye, Jiang / Thomas Fues
(2014)
Briefing Paper 2/2014

A resolution for a quiet revolution: taking the United Nations to sustainable development ‘beyond aid’
Wennubst, Pio / Timo Casjen Mahn (2013)
Discussion Paper 22/2013

Post 2015: why the development finance debate needs to make the move from quantity to quality
Dafe, Florence / Renate Hartwig / Heiner Janus
(2013)
Briefing Paper 22/2013

Too Big to Fail? Ein entwicklungspolitisches Regierungsprogramm für die Vereinten Nationen
Mahn, Timo Casjen / Pio Wennubst (2013)

Die aktuelle Kolumne, 23.09.2013

Post 2015: what it means for the United Nations development system
Wennubst, Pio / Timo Casjen Mahn (2013)

Briefing Paper 13/2013

Post-2015: how emerging economies shape the relevance of a new agenda
Hackenesch, Christine / Heiner Janus
(2013)
Briefing Paper 14/2013

Country-level aid coordination at the United Nations: taking the Resident Coordinator system forward
Mahn, Timo Casjen (2013)

Studies 77

Am Gängelband der Geber: der große Anteil zweckgebundener Mittel schadet der UN-Entwicklungshilfe
Mahn, Timo Casjen (2013)

in: Welt-Sichten 2/2013, 8-9

More is not always better: reflections on the Post 2015 Agenda
Loewe, Markus
(2013)
Externe Publikationen (2013)

Millennium Development Goals and beyond 2015: a strong EU engagement study for the European Parliament's Committee on Development
Morazán, Pedro / Arno Behrens / Monica Alessi / Heiner Janus
(2013)
Externe Publikationen (2013)

Finanzierung der Entwicklungszusammenarbeit der Vereinten Nationen: steigende Beiträge, aber weniger Multilateralismus
Mahn, Timo Casjen (2012)

Analysen und Stellungnahmen 8/2012

Nach 2015: wie lassen sich die Millennium Development Goals mit den in Rio beschlossenen Sustainable Development Goals verbinden?
Loewe, Markus
(2012)
Analysen und Stellungnahmen 14/2012

Post 2015: how to reconcile the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)?
Loewe, Markus
(2012)
Briefing Paper 18/2012

European Report on Development 2013: Post-2015: global action for an inclusive and sustainable future
Mackie, James / Stephan Klingebiel / Pedro Martins (eds.)
(2012)
Books Brussels: European Commission

Die Post-2015 Entwicklungsagenda: erster Spatenstich für eine neue globale Entwicklungsagenda
Janus, Heiner / Stephan Klingebiel
(2012)
Die aktuelle Kolumne (2012)

Back to the future: die neue globale Entwicklungspartnerschaft gehört in die UN
Mahn, Timo Casjen / Silke Weinlich (2012)

Die aktuelle Kolumne, 21.05.2012

New challenges, new partners, a new UN development system?
Mahn, Timo Casjen

Wilton Park Conference Report (WP1183)

Reforming development cooperation at the United Nations: an analysis of policy position and actions of key states on reform options
Weinlich, Silke
(2011)
Studies 59 (2011)

Was macht man mit einer Tüte heißer Luft? – Konsequenzen des VN-Gipfels in New York für die Umsetzung der Millenniumentwicklungsziele
Loewe, Markus
(2010)
Die aktuelle Kolumne (2010)

The implementation of the Paris Declaration on aid effectiveness by the United Nations: progress to date and need for further reforms
Vatterodt, Martina (2008)

Studies 35

Towards a post-2015 development framework: contribution of DIE to the public consultation of the European Commission
Loewe, Markus / Steffen Bauer / Clara Brandi / Michael Brüntrup / Mark Furness / Alejandro Guarín / Heiner Janus / Stephan Klingebiel / Svea Koch / Timo Mahn / Nicole Rippin / Imme Scholz / Peter Wolff

Projects

Events

Panel Discussion
Designing the new UN climate finance goal - ambition, additionality and an extended contributor base?

Bonn and Online, 4 June 2024

Panel Discussion
Science in support of combatting land degradation

Bonn, 18 June 2024

Panel Discussion
Designing the new UN climate finance goal

Bonn and Online, 4 June 2024

Expert workshop
Funding the UN system

Bonn, 06 November until 7 November 2023

Virtual Event
Financing the UN Development System: Embracing Change

Online, 29.11.2022

Virtual Event
Financing the future of multilateralism: lessons from the WHO for reforming the UN

Online, 12 July 2022

Virtual Event
The UN@75 and South-South cooperation
Online, 16 February 2021

Virtual Event
Financing the UN Development System
Online, 29 October 2020

Podiumsdiskussion
Die Vereinten Nationen zwischen Anspruch und Wirklichkeit
Düsseldorf, 27 October 2020

Expert Workshop
Better Funding - Stronger multilateralism? Arming multilateral development organizations for the Agenda 2030
Bonn, 19 - 20 March 2019

Workshop
Financing UN Development Cooperation
Bonn, 6 December 2016

Forschungskolloquium
Die Vereinten Nationen zwischen Fragmentierung und Kohärenz

Bonn, 09.05.2014 bis 11.05.2014

Focus Session
South-South Cooperation and the Post-2015 Agenda for Global Development

Mexico City, 16.04.2014

Public Lecture & Panel Discussion
The post-2015 agenda: The role of Social Protection

Bonn, 15.04.2014

Workshop
Green and social in the Post-2015 agenda

Bonn, 14.03.2014

Public Panel Discussion
Universal, inclusive, sustainable - Shaping the EU's contribution to a global public policy in the Post-2015 world

Bruxelles, 06.03.2014

Workshop
Realizing the Sustainable Development Agenda and the role of the United Nations Development System

New York, 10.12.2013

Conference
Fragmentation or Pluralism? The organisation of development cooperation revisited

Bonn, 10.10.2013 bis 11.10.2013

Public Lecture and Discussion
Incorporating equity in the Sustainable Development Goals

Bonn, 19.08.2013

Konferenz
Internationale Zusammenarbeit Post-2015: Perspektiven aus Europa und den Schwellenländern

Shanghai, 12.01.2013 bis 13.01.2013

International Workshop
The Millennium Goals and Beyond: Reflections on an international development policy agenda after 2015

Bonn, 21.11.2011 bis 22.11.2011

Highlight

Why a new quantum must go hand in hand with higher quality
Aleksandrova, Mariya / Svea Koch (2024)
The Current Column of 27 May 2024

Highlight

Financing the United Nations: status quo, challenges and reform options
Baumann, Max-Otto / Haug, Sebastian (2024)
New York: Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung

Video: Multilateral cooperation

#99SecondsWith Anna-Katharina Hornidge

What type of leadership for the United Nations?

Highlight

China's expanding engagement with the United Nations development pillar: the selective long-term approach of a programme country superpower
Baumann, Max-Otto / Sebastian Haug/ Silke Weinlich (2022)

Bonn: Friedrich Ebert Stiftung / German Institute of Development and Sustainability (IDOS), November 2022