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Investing.com -- The United Nations Secretariat is readying to trim its budget by 20%, a move that will impact approximately 6,900 jobs, as reported by Reuters on Thursday. This information comes from an internal UN memo quoted by Reuters, which reportedly set a deadline of June 13 for staff to outline the proposed cuts.
This financial tightening comes in the wake of a financial crisis, partly instigated by the United States, a nation that typically contributes nearly a quarter of the global body’s finances. The U.S., under President Donald Trump’s administration, has made significant reductions to its foreign aid contributions, which has adversely affected U.N. humanitarian agencies. Currently, the U.S. has an outstanding debt of close to $1.5 billion, a sum that includes arrears and dues for the current fiscal year.
The internal memo was penned by U.N. Controller Chandramouli Ramanathan, who did not directly attribute the financial strain to the U.S.’s failure to fulfill its monetary obligations. Ramanathan pointed out that these budget and staffing cuts are part of an ongoing review process known as "UN80", initiated in March.
Ramanathan described the "UN80" initiative as "an ambitious effort to ensure that the United Nations is fit for purpose to support 21st-century multilateralism, reduce human suffering and build better lives and futures for all". He also expressed his expectation for cooperation from all members, acknowledging the aggressive timelines of the initiative.
The proposed budget cuts and job reductions are slated to take effect from January 1, marking the beginning of the next budget cycle.
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