The US circulated two diplomatic notes calling for nine “quick-hit” reforms in order to release more funds, independent agency Devex, which covers global development, said in the report.
It said these included:
Overhauling the UN pension system.
Ending long-distance business-class travel for some senior and all mid-level professionals.
Further cuts in the UN’s senior ranks.
A “10% reduction in long-standing, ineffective peacekeeping missions”.
Blocking China from channeling tens of millions of dollars each year to a discretionary fund housed in the office of the UN secretary-general, a move aimed at countering Chinese influence at the UN.
“These reforms will be an indication that the UN is serious about reform,” Devex quoted one of the documents as saying.
The US mission to the UN did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
The US has repeatedly said it will keep pushing for UN reforms after declaring it was withdrawing from dozens of UN bodies this year and having cut millions of dollars in funding last year.
China’s UN mission said it had “taken note” of the Devex report, adding, “The root cause of the financial difficulties the UN is facing in recent years is the substantial arrears in assessed contributions by its largest contributor” – a reference to the US.
“We call on the member state concerned to earnestly fulfill its financial obligations to the UN and demonstrate its support for the organization through concrete actions,” it said in response to a Reuters request for comment.
China had “consistently and faithfully fulfilled its financial obligations, and has engaged in constructive cooperation with the UN,” it said.
“Attempts to block such cooperation not only do not hold any ground, but are also doomed to fail,” it added.
UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric said assessed contributions by UN member states were “a treaty obligation” and UN secretary-general Antonio Guterres was already “leading a pretty heavy reform” of the organisation.
“It involves decisions that member states must take if we want to have a UN that is more effective, that uses its resources in the best way possible,” Dujarric told a news briefing.
“The secretary-general is doing everything he can in that direction,” it added.
In January, Guterres warned that the UN faced “imminent financial collapse” due to unpaid fees, mostly owed by the US.
In February, the UN said the US had paid about US$160 million of the more than US$4 billion it owes.
The US owed US$2.19 billion to the regular UN budget at the start of February, more than 95% of the total then owed by countries globally.
It owed another US$2.4 billion for current and past peacekeeping missions and US$43.6 million for UN tribunals.