New York — June 2, 2026 — The United Nations (UN) has presented new reports to Member States highlighting significant progress in global development during 2025, despite mounting challenges such as rising debt, climate shocks, conflicts, and declining financing.
According to the reports, UN support helped deliver food assistance to 121 million people, return 27 million children to school, expand healthcare access for 567 million people, and provide electricity to 284 million people. Millions more benefited from justice services, social protection, and climate resilience initiatives.
Presenting his report on the Quadrennial Comprehensive Policy Review (QCPR), UN Secretary-General António Guterres emphasized that reforms launched in 2017 have made the UN development system more coherent, accountable, and aligned with national priorities. “The future of work will not be determined by technology alone, but by the policies, institutions and social dialogue that guide it,” he said, underscoring the importance of human-centred approaches.
Governments are reporting record satisfaction with UN support, with 94% assessing it as effective and 90% recognizing Resident Coordinators as strengthened entry points to the system. The Resident Coordinator system has become a cornerstone of coordinated UN action, helping countries tackle interconnected challenges from food insecurity to digital transformation.
UN Deputy Secretary-General Amina Mohammed, chair of the UN Sustainable Development Group (UNSDG), noted that “dedicated, independent and impartial development coordination delivers,” with satisfaction levels rising nearly 30 percentage points since 2019.
The reports also highlight the role of the Joint SDG Fund, which unlocked more than $8 billion in financing for country-led priorities, including social protection, health systems, and climate-smart agriculture.
However, both reports warn of growing resource constraints. The Resident Coordinator system faced a $46 million shortfall in 2025, while global development financing continues to decline at an unprecedented pace. Sustained political support and predictable funding are seen as critical to maintaining progress as the world approaches the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals deadline.
