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  4. UN At 80: The Role of ECOSOC In Leading Action For a Stronger and More Effective Multilateral System

UN at 80: the role of ECOSOC in leading action for a stronger and more effective multilateral system

2025 marks the United Nations’ 80th anniversary, a milestone amid pressing global challenges such as inequality, poverty, climate change, and conflicts. This moment calls for reflection on the future of multilateralism and solidarity. In March 2025, the Secretary-General launched the UN80 Initiative to evaluate the Organization’s fitness for purpose. With the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals deadline approaching, efforts to modernize the UN are accelerating to address increasingly complex global challenges.

The Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) plays a crucial role in coordinating UN responses and promoting inclusive, agile multilateralism in support of the 2030 Agenda. ECOSOC will celebrate its 80th anniversary in January 2026, coinciding with the General Assembly’s review of ECOSOC and the High-Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development (HLPF). These events, together with assessments of ECOSOC’s Functional Commissions and Expert Bodies, provide opportunities to align UN80 priorities with Member States’ goals.

This session of the ECOSOC High-Level Segment will facilitate dialogue among UN entities, Heads of Government, and Ministers. It aims to explore ways to revitalize ECOSOC’s leadership and functions, enhancing its effectiveness and dynamism in advancing multilateral solutions to global challenges in today’s rapidly evolving international environment.

Proposed guiding questions:

  • As the United Nations commemorates its 80th anniversary, what opportunities and challenges lie ahead for ECOSOC in reinforcing its leadership and core functions?
  • How can ECOSOC and its subsidiary machinery deliver more transformative solutions to strengthen multilateral cooperation, enhance global solidarity, and effectively address emerging global challenges?
  • Looking at strengthening ECOSOC during the intergovernmental review exercise to be undertaken by the General Assembly at its 80th session and the Council’s upcoming assessment on strengthening its Functional Commissions and Expert Bodies, how can ECOSOC discharge its functions more effectively in addressing complex challenges in uncertain times?

Chair:   

  • H.E. Mr. Krzysztof Szczerski, Vice-President of ECOSOC

Interactive panel discussion 

Moderator:   

  • Mr. Sherwin Bryce-Pease, Bureau Chief and Correspondent, South African Broadcasting Corporation 

Panellists: 

  • Mr. Guy Ryder, United Nations Under-Secretary-General for Policy  
  • Mr. Gilbert F. Houngbo, Director-General, International Labour Organization (ILO)
  • Ms. Kitty van der Heijden, Deputy Executive Director, United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF)
  • Mr. Tomas Lamanauskas, Deputy Secretary-General, International Telecommunication Union (ITU)

Respondents:    

  • H.E. Ms. Robinah Nabbanja, Prime Minister of Uganda
  • H.E. Mr. Abdulaziz bin Nasser bin Mubarak Al-Khalifa, Secretary General of the National Planning Council, Qatar 

Interactive discussion: 
Due to limited time and to maximise participation, interventions in interactive discussions should be limited to two to three minutes. The time limit will be strictly implemented, using a timing device and/or microphone cutoff as necessary. Depending on the number of requests for the floor in a given discussion, the time limit may be adjusted downward, as necessary. Participants are discouraged from reading prepared statements; instead, they are encouraged to make informal remarks and engage in an interactive discussion. Priority will be given to ministerial-level interventions.