The General Assembly has approved a regular budget of $3.45 billion for the United Nations for 2026, following weeks of intensive negotiations. Moreover, the decision comes alongside UN80, one of the Organisation’s most significant reform initiatives in recent years.
Approved by the 193-member Assembly on Tuesday, the budget authorises funding of $3.45 billion for the year ahead. Additionally, it supports the UN’s three core pillars of work: peace and security, sustainable development, and human rights.
Negotiations and Reform Pressures
Addressing delegates as the Fifth Committee concluded its work, UN Controller Chandramouli Ramanathan acknowledged the complexity of the process. “It has been a year of challenges,” he said, noting that the Secretariat was required to prepare a full budget in less than six weeks while producing hundreds of tables and responding to extensive oversight queries.
However, he emphasised that consensus was once again achieved despite demanding negotiations. “That is something remarkable that you should not underestimate,” he told delegates. Therefore, the outcome reinforced the resilience of the UN’s budgetary process under compressed timelines.
Implementation and Funding Outlook
Looking ahead, Ramanathan cautioned that budget approval marks the start of a challenging implementation phase rather than its conclusion. As a result, sustained coordination and discipline will be required throughout 2026.
Moreover, he welcomed what he described as a record level of potential advance payments by Member States toward the 2026 budget. He also urged continued prompt payment of assessed contributions, highlighting their importance in maintaining financial stability and ensuring uninterrupted delivery of mandated programmes.
