Reinventing the Capacity to Act: Introduction to Reinventing the United Nations

The United Nations is expected to address problems that cross borders, but it must do so in a world very different from that of 1945. Power, knowledge and resources are distributed differently, while Security Council paralysis, fragmented authority and the disproportionate influence of a few donors through earmarked funding constrain the Organisation’s capacity to act. Management reform alone cannot overcome these constraints. The eight policy briefs introduced here examine how the Organisation can strengthen its legitimacy and recover its capacity to act. They consider how knowledge and professional judgement can inform political decisions and how the UN system can put those decisions into practice. Their recommendations combine fuller use of existing authority with wide-ranging institutional change. The transition to a new Secretary-General offers an opportunity to pursue this agenda for reinvention without waiting for Charter amendment.