propensity for high overhead costs has continued since that paper was published. The most extreme among the latter are UNDP and UNFPA, who actually spend more on administrative costs than aid disbursements (129% and 125%, respectively).” According to the assessment cited above, “Bilaterals have lower overhead costs than multilaterals, who in turn have lower cost ratios than UN agencies.

One reason for this inefficiency is that a large portion of funding is consumed internally for salaries and associated staff costs and operational expenses. In fact, the study concluded, “We rate donor agencies from best to worst on aid practices… The biggest difference is between the UN agencies, who mostly rank in the bottom half of donors, and everyone else.” development entities among the worst and least effective performers. A 2011 study assessing the best and worst practices among aid agencies ranked U.N. Unfortunately, this has not been the case. system would have great impact on development. With all these entities and resources, you would think that the U.N. development activities in these countries and territories totaled over $38 billion in 2019. Sustainable Development Group, which includes 37 separate entities, “guides, supports, tracks and oversees the coordination of development operations in 162 countries and territories.” Funding for U.N. system that include development within their mandates and activities. This has resulted in a profusion of organizations, funds, programs, offices, and other entities in the U.N. Pointing to the United Nations Charter, which expresses the determination to “promote social progress and better standards of life in larger freedom,” the General Assembly has adopted numerous resolutions focused on development and instructing the organization to promote higher standards of living and other development related objectives highlighted in Article 55 of the Charter. Encouraging development has been on the agenda of the United Nations for decades.

Un 2030 agenda