Reforming UN Management
United Nations management reform has been a U.S. government priority for many years. GAO has reported on some progress toward addressing needed improvements in ethics, oversight, procurement and management operations. Nevertheless, the UN has made little progress overall in
- establishing an independent procurement bid system,
- reforming its internal justice system,
- improving certain budgetary and financial management functions,
- delivering certain services,
- reviewing programs and activities, and
- adjusting funding arrangements that constrain the independence of its internal
oversight agency.
Highlights of GAO-06-575 (PDF), Highlights of GAO-08-84 (PDF)
Also, the Department of State needs to address factors that have slowed the pace of reform, including
- disagreements among member states on the priorities and importance of UN management reform efforts,
- the lack of comprehensive implementation plans for some management reform proposals,
- administrative policies and programs that continue to complicate the implementation process, and
- competing UN priorities that limit the capacity of UN General Assembly
members to address management reform issues.
^ Back to topWhat Needs to Be Done
To encourage UN member states to continue to pursue the reform agenda of the
2005 World Summit, State should include in its annual U.S. Participation
in the United Nations report an assessment of the effectiveness of the
ongoing reforms.
^ Back to topKey Reports
- United Nations Peacekeeping: Lines of Authority for Field Procurment Remain Unclear, but Reforms Have Addressed Some Issues
- GAO-08-1094, September 18, 2008
- Summary (HTML) Highlights Page (PDF) Full Report (PDF, 53 pages) Accessible Text
- United Nations: Management Reforms and Operational Issues
- GAO-08-246T, January 24, 2008
- Summary (HTML) Highlights Page (PDF) Full Report (PDF, 21 pages) Accessible Text
- United Nations: Progress on Management Reform Efforts Has Varied
- GAO-08-84, November 14, 2007
- Summary (HTML) Highlights Page (PDF) Full Report (PDF, 55 pages) Accessible Text Recommendations (HTML)
- United Nations Organizations: Oversight and Accountability Could Be Strengthened by Further Instituting International Best Practices
- GAO-07-597, June 18, 2007
- Summary (HTML) Highlights Page (PDF) Full Report (PDF, 91 pages) Accessible Text Recommendations (HTML)
- United Nations: Management Reforms Progressing Slowly with Many Awaiting General Assembly Review
- GAO-07-14, October 5, 2006
- Summary (HTML) Highlights Page (PDF) Full Report (PDF, 69 pages) Accessible Text Recommendations (HTML)
- United Nations: Additional Efforts Needed to Increase U.S. Employment at U.N. Agencies
- GAO-06-988, September 6, 2006
- Summary (HTML) Highlights Page (PDF) Full Report (PDF, 65 pages) Accessible Text Recommendations (HTML)
- United Nations: Funding Arrangement Impede Independence of Internal Auditors
- GAO-06-575, April 25, 2006
- Summary (HTML) Highlights Page (PDF) Full Report (PDF, 62 pages) Full Report (HTML) Accessible Text Recommendations (HTML)
- United Nations: Procurement Internal Controls Are Weak
- GAO-06-577, April 25, 2006
- Summary (HTML) Highlights Page (PDF) Full Report (PDF, 48 pages) Full Report (HTML) Accessible Text Recommendations (HTML)
- United Nations: Reforms Progressing, but Comprehensive Assessments Needed to Measure Impact
- GAO-04-339, February 13, 2004
- Summary (HTML) Highlights Page (PDF) Full Report (PDF, 64 pages) Accessible Text Recommendations (HTML)
