External publications

Universalizing UN Development: a forgotten task for effective multilateralism

Baumann, Max-Otto / Kloke-Lesch, Adolf
External Publications (2024)

published on multilateralism.sipa.columbia.edu, 14.10.2024

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As the United Nations is embracing an ever more universal development agenda, it needs to transform and expand its operational functions accordingly. Currently, the UN’s operational activity in global sustainable development is directed exclusively at developing countries – in contrast to its other pillars. Human rights, peace and security are organized universally and not along an outdated North-South dichotomy. If the UN with its quasi-universal reach wants to effectively address the challenges of global sustainable development, it must build up an operational cooperation function within high-income countries. For the growing number of middle-income countries, where traditional development cooperation approaches have become increasingly inappropriate, a universal UN development function might also provide answers.