UN Spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric stated on Thursday that the Organization will continue to carry out its mandates from Member States following the release of a White House Memorandum.
The memorandum, issued on Wednesday, indicates that the US administration is "ceasing participation in or funding to those entities to the extent permitted by law." Several bodies listed in the memo receive funding either principally or partially from the regular UN budget, suggesting that voluntary funding may be affected, while central funding is expected to continue.
The White House also noted that its funding review of international organizations "remains ongoing," and the full impact of the announcement is currently unclear.
The memorandum mentions 31 UN entities with diverse functions worldwide. These include:
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African Affairs
- Office of the Special Adviser on Africa: Provides advice on the continent and ensures coherence of UN actions with regional needs.
- Permanent Forum on People of African Descent: Works to improve the safety, quality of life, and development of people of African descent, offering advice to the UN Human Rights Council.
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Climate and Environment
- UN Collaborative Programme on Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation in Developing Countries (UN-REDD): Offers technical assistance, policy guidance, and financing for sustainable forest management.
- UN Energy: Coordinates 30 UN agencies and international organizations to promote access to affordable, reliable, sustainable, and modern energy.
- UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC): Organizes climate COPs/summits, facilitating international cooperation, transparency, and accountability in addressing climate change.
- UN Oceans: Strengthens UN collaboration on ocean issues, including marine ecosystem protection, sustainable ocean use, and global ocean governance.
- UN Water: Coordinates efforts on water and sanitation issues and promotes sustainable water resource management.
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Coordination
- UN System Chief Executives Board for Coordination: Gathers heads of UN organizations to ensure unified action on global challenges and effective mandate delivery.
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Development
- UN Human Settlement Programme (UN Habitat): Promotes sustainable towns and cities, providing technical and policy advice for improved living conditions and reduced urban poverty.
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Education and Training
- UN Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR): Provides training and capacity-building for individuals, organizations, and countries (especially developing nations) in areas such as diplomacy, sustainable development, climate change, and crisis management.
- UN System Staff College: Offers learning, training, and advisory services to UN personnel to foster a capable, adaptable, and collaborative workforce.
- UN University: Functions as the UN’s global think tank and postgraduate teaching institution, conducting research and providing policy advice on global issues.
- Education Cannot Wait: A global fund dedicated to education in emergencies and protracted crises, ensuring children and youth affected by conflict, displacement, and disasters access safe, quality education.
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Gender
- UN Women: The agency for gender equality and the empowerment of women, working to eliminate discrimination against women and girls, promote gender equality, and empower women globally.
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Health
- UN Population Fund (UNFPA): Promotes sexual and reproductive health and rights, gender equality, and collates population data for development efforts, aiming to reduce maternal mortality and expand access to family planning.
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International Law
- International Law Commission: Mandated to develop and codify international law by drafting legal instruments and clarifying principles, fostering the rule of law, and supporting peaceful relations among states.
- International Residual Mechanism for Criminal Tribunals: Carries out essential functions of former International Criminal Tribunals for Rwanda and the former Yugoslavia, completing cases, protecting witnesses, and preserving archives to ensure accountability for serious international crimes.