UN80: Secretariat update on the UN80 Initiative – Regional Reset, Shared Platform Initiative and Joint Knowledge Hubs
Statement by H.E Mr James Larsen, Ambassador and Permanent Representative of Australia to the United Nations
29 April 2026
President, Excellencies, colleagues,
We thank the Secretary-General for the Guide to UN80 Initiative Work Packages, and the briefers for their updates today.
From a CANZ perspective we have five initial reflections.
First, we support, as we’ve said before, a more coherent UN presence that protects key normative functions.
The status quo – 244 regional offices globally and an average of 23 UN entities per country – is simply not sustainable and needs to be fixed.
We need to streamline operations, reduce duplication and better use expertise more effectively to deliver stronger results for people and communities most in need.
This includes reducing administrative burdens and combining back-office functions, where overlap exists.
Second, efficiency must not weaken the United Nation’s ability to deliver its normative work on the ground.
Advancing human rights, gender equality, disability equity and sexual and reproductive health requires UN staff who understand local needs and have the capability and community relationships to meet those needs.
Reforms must not disproportionately disadvantage specific regions or groups, including Small Island Developing States.
Third, Resident and Humanitarian Coordinators are fundamental to a more effective United Nations at the regional and country levels.
They strengthen advocacy and coordination on normative areas such as human rights and gender equality; facilitate more integrated responses to crises; and serve as a single-entry point to the United Nations at a country level.
We want to see a stronger brokerage role for Resident Coordinators and Humanitarian Coordinators, including helping determine what expertise is best placed in-country and what can be delivered regionally.
Fourth, on the Shared Platform Initiative, we welcome efforts to simplify and assist the work of Resident Coordinators and Humanitarian Coordinators and their teams.
We support, in principle, co-location of their offices; common performance management; clearer accountability; and joint strategies for transitions and advocacy.
Shared solutions must remain flexible, reliable and responsive to local contexts, and be developed in close consultation with host governments.
Fifth, Joint Knowledge Hubs could add value by bringing together knowledge across UN entities on key themes, to provide more joined-up policy support.
We would welcome further clarity on how these Hubs align with the Regional Reset, and how duplication will be avoided.
President,
We request the Secretariat to advance this work in a phased, consultative, and evidence‑based manner – drawing on lessons from pilots, listening to country-based staff, and maintaining a clear focus on impact.
CANZ stands ready to continue our engagement as this work progresses.
We look forward to the Secretary-General’s forthcoming report on the UN80 Initiative in May and encourage the report to clearly set out progress, results, decision pathways, and intergovernmental considerations.
We encourage the report to identify next steps for UN80, given criticality of ongoing nature of reform.
Thank you.