How do you solve a problem like "within existing resources"?
You're doing it wrong
The report on the UN80 mandate implementation review put a spotlight on the ever-increasing use of the phrase “within existing resources” in intergovernmental decisions at the UN. It notes that
…mandating bodies are now also increasingly requesting new tasks without providing corresponding resources. In 2024, more than 15 per cent of General Assembly resolutions mandated new activities “within existing resources”.…Continuing to mandate new activities without resources is unsustainable. It undermines capacity to deliver impact and limits flexibility to allocate resources strategically. Over time, this creates a growing disconnect between expectations and real impact, ultimately eroding trust in the Organization.1
But from how this issue is framed in the report, it is evident that “within existing resources” is being misused by both Member States and the Secretariat in a way that exacerbates its effects. The phrase “within existing resources” is fundamentally budgetary in nature, but today…