UN80 Initiative: Summary of Informal Ad Hoc Working Group (IAHWG) zero draft Mandate Creation, Implementation and Review for an Effective United Nations
Thursday, January 15, 2026 at 12:34PM Key points
It is a General Assembly draft resolution, based on resolution 79/318 and decision 79/571:
1 Agrees the following set of principles for mandate creation, renewal and retirement:
(a) Need for continuous improvement and “enhanced strategic coordination” across the UN system for “effective responses to global challenges”
(b) Mandates to “maximize impact for the people we serve”
(c) Improvements across the three UN pillars (peace and security, sustainable development and human rights)
(d) Stresses throughout that mandates “are the exclusive prerogative of Member States (MS)
(e) Standardized approaches, while taking account of the “diverse nature of mandates”
(f) Need to ensure coherence and avoid duplication
(g) Importance of data, analysis and evidence
(h) Enhanced clarity in mandate creation
(i) Adequate and appropriate resourcing
(j) Regular review including impact assessment
(k) Need for “impartial and structured administrative, technical and substantive secretariat support.”
2 Continuance of IAHWG from 1 April
3 Presidents of GA, ECOSOC and Security Council, with SG and wider UN system requested to review existing mechanisms to develop recommendations on possible improvements to avoid duplication and harmonize enhanced delivery ASAP and by 31 December 2026
4 Commitment to improve MS decision-making throughout mandate life cycle
5 Encouragement to intergovernmental organs bureaux to collaborate on effectiveness and harmonization of working methods
Mandate Creation
6 Concise concept notes on “the context, rationale, expected financial implications and implementation leads” to be provided with zero drafts by proposal proponents in advance of commencement of negotiations and stored in an accessible database
7 Commitment to “clearer and more concise mandates”
8 Exercising restraint by deciding not to mandate the convening of meetings etc unless absolutely necessary
Mandate Implementation
9 Reaffirming MS commitment to pay assessed contributions in full and on time
10 Allocation of resources for implementation of mandates with clear budgetary implications
11 SG’s greater flexibility for effective use of resources for mandate implementation
12 Implementation assessments on outcomes and impacts to be undertaken as well as consistent allocation of resources in mandate budgets
13 Inclusion of evaluation and review clauses in all new mandates in in existing mandates when renewed
14 Development of clear and objective criteria for renewal, adaptation, merger or retirement of mandates
15 Expansion of the use of mechanisms for collective reviews of mandates
16 Mandates remain valid until competed or expired as provided in their original or renewing resolution or decision etc
17 Use opportunities to review frequency with which agenda items are considered
18 Use of every opportunity for taking a more strategic approach to their periodicity
19 Undertake review of existing mandates from GA resolutions to retire “completed, inactive or duplicative resolutions and decisions… before the end of UNGA82”
20 Requests the SG to:
(a) Provide MS decision-making with Secretariat support through mandate lifecycle, including accessible database, of:
(i) identification of “potential gaps and duplications”
(ii) Preliminary financial and budgetary analysis
(iii) Process and drafting guidance
(iv) Preliminary guidance on UN system implementation
(v) Review, monitoring and evaluation
(b) Provide MS with additional and substantive secretariat support, namely:
(i) Resolution and decision templates
(ii) Guidance on using Mandate Registry
(iii) Indicative cost catalogue of mandate activities for resolution proponents and facilitators and chairs of processes
(iv) Capacity-building for proposal facilitators
(v) Designated points of contact with respective secretariats
(c) Interoperable and standardised digital tools… “noting that any tools which use artificial intelligence shall have appropriate safeguards and effective human oversight”
(d) Further development of the UN Mandate Registry
(e) Allocate resources within UN Secretariat for improved mandate implementation, based on (i) consistency with UN Charter…; (ii) MS instructions and guidance; (iii) Justification by “urgent, significant, and clearly defined need to support mandate implementation” with transparency and reporting through accountability mechanisms
(f) Allocate mandated tasks within UN system on basis of comparative advantage
(g) Provide recommendations on specific clusters of mandate activities
(h) Submit recommendation on completed, inactive or duplicative mandates to be merged or retired
(i) Prepare shorter, higher-quality reports...
(j) Review full portfolio of mandated SG Reports for combination or change in periodicity before conclusion of UNGA80
(k) Strengthen and harmonize management for UN system results mechanisms
(l) Regularly review internal UN system mechanisms
21 All intergovernmental UN system organs to take a consistent approach to mandate creation, implementation and review
22 Working Group on Mandate Implementation Review should “remain seized of the matter of matter of mandate creation, implementation and review for a more effective United Nations system.”
UN80