Context

• The United Nations (UN) was established after the Second World War to create predictability, dialogue and rules in international relations.
• In a world historically marked by mistrust and conflict, it provided an institutional framework for diplomacy, international law and collective action.
• However, its effectiveness increasingly depends on restoring trust among member states and global citizens.
• The 81st UN General Assembly's theme, Restoring Trust, Managing Transformation: a UN that delivers for all, reflects concerns over the organisation's effectiveness, accountability and representativeness.

Surveys about the UN

• A UN Foundation poll found that 52% of respondents believed the organisation was struggling to deliver results and supported deep structural reform.
• More than half felt that the UN struggled to enforce international law and protect human rights and was dominated by powerful countries.
• Another poll found that only 58% believed the UN could lead efforts to solve global problems. Several factors explain this erosion of confidence.

Reasons Behind Erosion of Confidence

• Security Council Deadlock
  • The deadlock has weakened faith in collective international action.
  • The frequent use of the veto by permanent members can prevent decisive responses to crises.
  • The General Assembly's requirement that permanent members explain their vetoes reflects growing dissatisfaction with this imbalance.
• Concerns over Institutional Accountability
  • Problems involving recruitment, procurement, resource allocation and peacekeeper misconduct reveal weaknesses in oversight.
  • Punishing individuals without addressing systemic failures creates doubts about the organisation's commitment to accountability.
• Excessive Dependence on Financially Powerful States
  • It raises concerns about the neutrality and independence of UN institutions.
  • Financial contributions can translate into disproportionate influence within the UN system. Wealthier countries may shape recruitment, programme funding and institutional priorities.
  • Heavy dependence on particular donors can create doubts about whether recommendations to developing countries are completely neutral.
  • Financial dependence may also encourage bureaucratic risk aversion, particularly when officials fear upsetting powerful contributors.
  • Greater transparency in programme expenditure is therefore essential, especially for citizens of beneficiary countries.
• Unequal Representation
  • Developing countries constitute about 84% of the world's population but hold only 44% of UN civil-service leadership positions.
  • This creates a disconnect between where the UN delivers programmes and where institutional power is concentrated.
  • Greater participation of the Global South in leadership, decision-making and institutional locations would make the UN more representative.

The Way Forward

• Reverse the shrinking space
  • Despite its shortcomings, the UN remains a major provider of humanitarian assistance.
  • It delivered humanitarian assistance and protection to approximately 98 million people in 2025–26, demonstrating its continuing importance.
  • However, questions remain regarding aid effectiveness and the role of local actors in programme delivery.
  • In conflicts such as Ukraine, Gaza and Iran, the UN has undertaken tactical interventions to address humanitarian and environmental risks.
  • Yet such interventions have not consistently developed into sustained peacebuilding and dialogue between belligerents.
  • One concern is the excessive centralisation of peace-making.
  • Greater authority for regional offices, field personnel and local actors could allow the UN to identify opportunities for dialogue more rapidly and develop context-specific peace initiatives.
• Restoring Trust, Funding Arrangements, Equal Representation
  • Restoring trust requires greater transparency, stronger oversight and meaningful accountability.
  • Recruitment, procurement and resource allocation must become more open and independently scrutinised.
  • Funding arrangements should reduce excessive dependence on individual donors.
  • The UN must also address the representation deficit of the Global South and give developing countries greater influence in leadership and decision-making.
  • Local communities and organisations should receive a larger role in humanitarian and development programmes.
  • Finally, the organisation should strengthen preventive diplomacy, decentralised peacebuilding and conflict mediation.
  • Its credibility will increasingly depend on its ability to convert humanitarian interventions into sustained political dialogue.

Conclusion

• The UN's trust deficit reflects concerns over effectiveness, accountability and representation.
• Yet declining confidence makes institutional renewal more necessary, not less.
• The organisation remains humanity's most important framework for replacing unilateral power politics with rules-based international cooperation.
• The transformation envisaged by the 81st General Assembly must therefore begin with restoring institutional trust.
• A more transparent, representative, accountable and responsive UN can better serve global citizens and strengthen the foundations of international peace and cooperation.