NEW YORK, Dec 31 — The United Nations (UN) General Assembly on Tuesday adopted the organisation’s 2026 programme budget, totalling US$3.45 billion (RM14.01 billion).
Xinhua reported that the budget largely reflects UN Secretary-General António Guterres' proposed 15 per cent reduction in financial resources and a nearly 19 per cent cut in staffing.
Earlier in the day, the General Assembly's Fifth Committee, responsible for administrative and budgetary matters, approved the budget.
Negotiations on the 2026 programme budget highlighted both the ongoing financial constraints and the broader UN80 initiative, which aims to improve efficiency, reduce duplication, and better align resources with mandates.
Member states debated sharply over the size and scope of the budget, including proposed reductions in staff posts, funding for special political missions, and resource allocations for new reform priorities.
Discussions were further complicated by concerns about cash-flow challenges, delayed or incomplete contributions from member states, and the need to balance fiscal discipline with the organisation's operational requirements.
UN Assistant Secretary-General for Programme Planning, Finance and Budget and Controller Chandramouli Ramanathan said that approximately 2,900 positions will be abolished as of Wednesday.
The United Nations ended 2024 with arrears totalling US$760 million (RM3.08 billion). As of December 1, 2025, US$709 million (RM2.87 billion) from 2024 remained unpaid, while an additional US$877 million (RM3.56 billion) in 2025 dues had yet to be received, bringing total arrears to US$1.586 billion (RM6.44 billion).
