Financing the UN development system and the future of multilateralism

Abstract

This article seeks to accomplish four tasks. It explores the historical relationship between the financing instruments that dominated different phases of the evolution of the UN development system and the understanding of the concept of multilateralism. Bearing in mind this historical context, it seeks to analyse the defining characteristics of multilateral finance in the context of the UN, in particular the characteristics that make a financial instrument more or less multilateral. It then explores a number of new financial instruments and their possible impact on the future shape multilateralism takes in the UN system. The article concludes with some thoughts on financing for a new multilateralism. In order to go beyond the core/non-core stalemate, it is necessary to develop a new variable geometry based on function, which brings into play assessed, negotiated pledges, voluntary core and non-core instruments.

Keywords:

• United Nations
• sustainable development
• multilateralism
• overseas development assistance
• variable geometry

Notes

1. Jenks and Jones, United Nations Development at a Crossroads, 22–27.

2. See, for example, Mitrany, A Working Peace System; and Mitrany, The Functional Theory of Politics.

3. Claude, Jr., Swords into Ploughshares, 17.

4. United Nations, A Capacity Study; Murphy, The UN Development Programme; and Browne, The United Nations Development Programme.

5. United Nations, Report of the Expert Group.

6. Jenks and Jones, United Nations Development at a Crossroads, 27.

7. oecd, Reshaping the 21st Century.

8. oecd, Paris Declaration.

9. This section draws on an informal paper produced by New York University’s Center on International Cooperation in 2014 to support intergovernmental dialogue mandated by General Assembly resolution 67/226.

10. United Nations, Quadrennial Comprehensive Policy Review, para 41.

11. Gates, Innovation with Impact. See also Mohieldin, Financing.

12. This discussion draws from an informal paper on non-state sources of income submitted by Bruce Jenks to the Office of the Secretary-General in 2013.

13. unicef, Private Fundraising.

14. who, Voluntary Contributions.

15. Jenks and Jones, United Nations Development at a Crossroads, 116.

16. United Nations, Delivering as One.

17. United Nations, Report of the Secretary-General on the Implementation.

18. See undp, Multi-Partner Trust Fund Office, http://mptf.undp.org.

19. See World Bank and undp, Climate Finance Options, http://www.climatefinanceoptions.org/cfo/node/59.

20. United Nations, Report of the Secretary-General on the Funding.

21. Jenks and Jones, United Nations Development at a Crossroads, 118–119.