Funding the UN system

Event Type
Expert workshop

Location / Date
Bonn, 06.11.2023 until 07.11.2023

Co-hosted by German Institute of Development and Sustainability (IDOS), the Overseas Development Institute (ODI) and the University of Glasgow

The workshop explored how the UN system is currently funded, what challenges UN financing faces, and what the future of UN financing could and should look like. It brought together academic researchers and pundits to discuss the latest research and new ideas in an intimate setting. Workshop discussions are embedded in the general context of Our Common Agenda and preparations for the 2024 UN Summit of the Future.

The workshop was held under the Chatham House rule. Paper presentations, inputs and comments by the discussants were limited to 8 minutes. A beamer was available for presentations. We kindly requested authors to share papers with all participants by 2 November. Based on workshop discussions, we will explore options for engaging with policy processes in 2024.

Organizers

• Max-Otto Baumann, IDOS, max-otto.baumann@idos-research.de
• Nilima Gulrajani, ODI, n.gulrajani@odi.org.uk
• Sebastian Haug, IDOS, sebastian.haug@idos-research.de
• Bernhard Reinsberg, University of Glasgow, bernhard.reinsberg@glasgow.ac.uk

Agenda

Monday, 6 October 2023

Welcome

• Stephan Klingebiel, Head of Programme “Inter-and Transnational Cooperation”

Session 1. Setting the scene: UN funding patterns and challenges

Financing the UN system: patterns and reform options

• Max-Otto Baumann
• Sebastian Haug

Financing the UN in the context of global change

• Barbara Adams

Comments

• John Hendra

Chair

• Nilima Gulrajani

Session 2. Back to the roots? Assessed and core contributions

Multilateral options for mobilizing core finance

• Nilima Gulrajani
• Erik Lundsgaarde

Not a silver bullet: The push for assessed contributions for African-led peace support operations

• Eugene Chen

Financing sustainable development (and the UN) in the age of immateriality

• Claudio Fernandes

Tuesday, 7 October 2023

Session 3. False promise? The potential and pitfalls of tied contributions

Pathologies in the United Nations Development System: the role of funding structures

• Max-Otto Baumann
• Bernhard Reinsberg

The geopolitics of voluntary funding in the UN System: The case of UNRWA from 1949-2023

• Ronny Patz

Comments

• Eugene Chen

Chair

• Claudio Fernandes

Session 4. Looking ahead: the future of UN funding Panel

Financing for development

• Bodo Ellmers

Funding compact

• John Hendra

UN reform proposals

• Silke Weinlich

Moderator

• Roberto Bissio

Hinweis

Während unserer Veranstaltungen werden z.T. Foto- und/oder Filmaufnahmen gemacht, die für Zwecke der Veranstaltungsberichterstattung und allgemeinen Öffentlichkeitsarbeit in verschiedenen Medien veröffentlicht werden. Sie haben jederzeit das Recht, die Foto- oder Videograf*innen darauf hinzuweisen, dass Sie nicht aufgenommen werden möchten. / During our events photos and/or videos may be taken which may be published in various media for the purposes of documentation and PR activities. You have the right at any time to point out to the photographer or videographer that you do not want to be photographed or filmed.