Stockholm, 12 November 2024. ‘The need for innovative financing mechanisms to sustain the United Nations’ operations and maximise its impact’ was one of the key findings in a seminar co-hosted by the Dag Hammarskjöld Foundation and the Swedish MFA brought together key stakeholders to present and reflect on two of the Foundation’s reports: Financing the United Nations Development System: Resourcing the Future and The Art of Leadership in the United Nations: Our duty to find new forms. Current and former UN leaders and international experts participated at a seminar at the Swedish Ministry for Foreign Affairs to discuss transformative approaches to financing the United Nations Development System and reimagining leadership in response to contemporary global challenges.
The opening remarks and introductions were shared by Carl Hartzell, Head of the Department for Multilateral Governance and Humanitarian Policy at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Björn Holmberg, Executive Director at Dag Hammarskjöld Foundation. First up on the programme was Marijana Markotić Andrić, UN Financing Programme Manager at the Foundation presenting an overview of the ‘Financing the UN Development System: Resourcing the Future’ report.
Ozonnia Ojielo, UN Resident Coordinator in Rwanda, share country specific context to the report on financing on-line. He emphasised that the UN must move beyond traditional project-based approaches to forge stable, long-term partnerships at the country level.
‘In an era marked by urgency and polycrisis, the United Nations must transcend traditional approaches to effectively address complex global challenges,’ Ojielo stated.
‘By strategically investing in human resources, leveraging sector-specific interventions, and collaborating with national actors – including small and medium-sized enterprises – we can enhance our support for domestic resource mobilisation and foster sustainable development.’
Ojielo underscored the importance of respecting national contexts and actively engaging with local actors to build trust and legitimacy. He also stressed that clear criteria for engagement are crucial to ensuring the UN’s role as a stabilising and strategic force in complex environments. He provided insights on from the ‘The Art of Leadership in the United Nations: Our duty to find new forms’ report as one of four Resident Coordinators interviewed for the article ‘Conducting “Business as unusual” in an era of urgency and polycrisis – the role of the RC’.
Next in programme was an introduction to the report by Marc Jacquand, Senior Advisor to the Foundation, and Sigrid Gruener, Program Director and Deputy Director. They outlined achievements of the Foundation’s UN Leadership programme and presented the main messages such as the need for adaptive and inclusive leadership to respond to today’s multifaceted challenges.
One of the 14 contributors to the report, Ameerah Haq, former Under-Secretary-General and veteran UN leader, delivered powerful reflections on principled leadership within the UN, highlighting the increasing polarisation of global environments, and called for inclusive negotiation processes and a steadfast commitment to neutrality.
‘Neutrality is foundational to the UN’s credibility and global mandate,’ Haq emphasised. ‘Particularly in polarised and volatile settings, we must maintain principled neutrality to uphold our core values and protect civilian lives.’
Haq also drew attention to the challenges faced by UN staff and leaders on the ground, often working in difficult conditions without consistent support from headquarters. She advocated for institutional mechanisms to bolster the confidence and resilience of field staff, ensuring they have the backing required to navigate crises effectively. Read Ameerah Haq’s article here.
An audience discussion, moderated by Carl Hartzell closed the seminar. The collective commitment to refining the UN’s role in a rapidly changing global landscape underscored the conversation.
Event Details
Date: 12 November 2024
Time: 14:00-15:30
Venue: Lunden, Drottninggatan 4, Stockholm