We are currently experiencing one of the most challenging periods in the history of the UN due to funding cuts and a liquidity crisis within the UN system's organizations. Consequently, we anticipate staff layoffs, relocations, program consolidations, abolishment of posts, recruitment freezes, and other significant measures.

 

These changes will directly impact staff and their families. As a result, staff anxiety levels are higher than usual, and existing biases are exacerbating their fear and uncertainty.

 

To have timely discussion and gain some clarity, the United Nations Asia Network for diversity and Inclusion (UN-ANDI) convened a general meeting, virtually, on 18 June 2025.

 

The meeting specifically focused on the impact of the UN liquidity crisis and the UN 80 Initiative on the staff in the UN system and addressing questions such as:

 

• What would be the criteria for staff cuts, relocations, and other similar measures?

• To what extent would racial discrimination and other biases not be a factor in these staff cuts, relocations and other measures as we observe in the cases of recruitment, selection and all work-related aspects in the UN?

• How would staff be facilitated in navigating these changes with minimal impact on their physical and mental health, financial stability, medical insurance, and pension, etc.?

• Which office or entity would monitor all these aspects to ensure the fair treatment of all staff and prevent biases and discrimination based on race, region, gender, country of origin, etc.?

• Would nationality/regional grouping be a consideration factor in potential staff reductions?

• Would geographical quotas still be maintained in the final decision on the staff cuts?

• Who would represent the concerns of staff from the Global South, in particular Asians, who have been professionally stagnating for decades in the UN system, despite their academic qualifications, work skills, and efficiency?

 

UN-ANDI invited the following three staff union/federation leaders to share their views on what was happening, and what might come next.

• Ms. Narda Cupidore, President, UN Staff Union, New York, and General Secretary, UNISERV

• Mr. Milan Dawoh, President, United Nations Field Staff Union, and Vice President, UNISERV

• Ms. Nathalie Meynet, President, CCISUA

 

Key topics discussed at the meeting included staff layoffs, relocations, geographical distribution, regional diversity, racial discrimination/biases, and physical and mental health.

 

About the Authors:

Shihana Mohamed (Human Resources Policies Officer, ICSC), and Yuan Lin (Chief of Business Relations Management Unit, MONUSCO) who are UN-ANDI Coordinators wrote this article on behalf of UN-ANDI.

 

UN-ANDI is a global network of like-minded Asians of the United Nations system who strive to promote a more diverse and inclusive culture and mindset within the UN system. UN-ANDI is the first ever effort to bring together the diverse group of personnel (staff, retirees, consultants, interns, diplomats, and others) from Asia and the Pacific (nationality/origin/descent) in the UN system. Please visit our website https://www.un-andi.org for more information. We invite all staff and affiliated personnel within the UN system, who are committed to tackling inequality and creating a diverse and inclusive work environment, to join UN-ANDI as members or allies by contacting us at info@un-andi.org