Stakeholder consultations

Consultations with the United Nations stakeholders* reveal that a more accountable UN would be desirable. The idea of enhancing the UN System’s accountability resonates strongly with nearly all interested parties.

But there are also diverging views on important aspects of this topic. Broadly, stakeholders tend to associate the concept of accountability with the following: transparency, inclusiveness and participation, responsiveness to the needs of beneficiaries, relevance of mandates, quality assurance, compliance, ethical behavior, duty of care, and the efficient use of resources. These differences are important in understanding what kind of accountability framework could work.

*The stakeholders consulted are a) Member States from the Global North and Global South, at Permanent Mission and capital levels; b) staff members from UN entities at HQ and in the field, at junior, senior and executive levels; c) executive-level staff from non-UN international organizations, global and regional; d) non-state actors (private sector consultancies, civil society organizations on economic, social, development areas, farmer associations, academics, media, UN staff associations, international lawyers defending the interests of UN staff, local and regional governments, women organizations); and e) evaluation and oversight offices.