Under-Secretary-General for Policy, Guy Ryder briefs Civil Society on UN80 Initiative

Under-Secretary-General Guy Ryder convened the first interactive Town Hall with Civil Society for the UN80 Initiative. Close to 700 Civil Society representatives participated online.

The discussion focused on how the proposed actions can strengthen the impact of the UN system amid unprecedented geopolitical and financial pressures, and how Civil Society can engage and contribute as the initiative moves forward.

USG Ryder outlined the core pillars of the UN80 Initiative, including optimizing the mandate lifecycle, realigning structures and programmes, and improving overall efficiency in operations.

Guy underscored how the UN80 Initiative supports the Pact for the Future by complementing political commitments with practical improvements in delivery.
He emphasized that working with Civil Society is essential as the UN80 Initiative moves from design to implementation, underscoring the importance of structured, ongoing engagement and transparency through the UN80 Action Plan.

Reform is a collective process, and it must be shaped with Civil Society. As USG Ryder emphasized, "this engagement cannot be a one-off, but must be supported by clear structures, information channels, and sustained dialogue as UN80 advances."

For future dialogues, consultations, and feedback opportunities, Civil Society organizations may share their ideas at: un80contact@un.org