UN Secretary-General Issues ‘UN 2.0’ Policy Brief: A Vision for a Modernized UN System

In response, today, the Secretary-General issued his final Policy Brief on Our Common Agenda, titled “UN 2.0: Cutting-Edge Skills and Forward-Thinking Culture for UN System Impact.” UN 2.0 represents a vision for a rejuvenated United Nations system, better equipped to support member states in the twenty-first century and turbocharge progress on the SDGs.

At the core of UN 2.0 are stronger capabilities in five modern areas of expertise: a dynamic fusion of data, innovation, digital, behavioral science and strategic foresight, which we call our “quintet of change.” To foster environments where these cutting-edge skills thrive, the UN 2.0 will be rooted in a shift towards organizational cultures that put a priority on agility, learning, and creativity.

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres remarked, “As a result, UN 2.0 unlocks novel, impactful approaches and solutions for SDG progress, at a time when it is needed the most.”

A snapshot of the ongoing UN system progress and solutions is available on the new www.un-two-zero.network platform. The site showcases over 500 initiatives from 160 UN Country Teams who utilize the “quintet of change” in their work with member states for SDG impact. These initiatives highlight the immense potential of twenty-first-century expertise for addressing challenges in climate, education, agriculture, gender equality, and beyond.

The UN 2.0 agenda will engage the entire UN system. Every UN entity, team, and colleague will contribute to this transformative organizational shift in learning, job profiles, partnerships, knowledge sharing, technology, as well as programme solutions for member states. While each UN entity will navigate the transformation at its own pace, a joint accelerator program will champion UN 2.0's progression throughout the United Nations system starting in 2024.

For a comprehensive understanding of our forward-looking vision, goals, and transformative strategies, we strongly encourage all stakeholders to delve into the full policy brief: https://www.un.org/en/common-agenda/policy-briefs.