UN 2.0: Skills and Culture for Better UN System Impact

Halfway through the 2030 Agenda, the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are lagging. To get back on track, all of us need to rethink, refocus and recharge.  

Our contribution to SDG progress is UN 2.0, a vision of a modernized UN system: with cutting-edge skills and forward-thinking culture for stronger results, better Member State support and greater SDG impact.

Leveraging our diversity, we are striving towards this vision with a powerful fusion of data, innovation, digital, foresight and behavioural science expertise – a dynamic combination that we call the “quintet of change”, grounded in a rejuvenated organizational culture.

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We are building a quintet
of cutting-edge skills

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Behavioural Science

Nurturing behavioural science is about fostering our knowledge of how people act and make decisions – to create better choices that work with, not against, the grain of human nature.

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Data

Building modern data expertise is about improving how we collect, handle, govern and use data from more diverse sources for better insights and action.

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Digital

Developing digital expertise means shifting to digitally enabled solutions that improve connectivity, service delivery, collaboration and decision-making.

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Strategic Foresight

Instilling strategic foresight means learning structured methods to navigate change, imagine better futures and make better decisions today.

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Innovation

Cultivating our innovation capacity is about learning to quickly generate, test and scale up novel ideas that create sustainable benefits for people and planet.

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We are fostering
forward-thinking culture

We strive to create a forward-thinking culture that values agility, learning and curiosity – to create an environment in which the cutting-edge skills of the “quintet of change” can flourish and amplify impact.

We will increase collective action on global diversity, inclusion, human rights, gender expertise, young people and environmental sustainability – firmly rooted in our commitments to integrity, humility and humanity.

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António Guterres

Secretary-General

“UN 2.0 is about strengthening our expertise and culture – to build a United Nations system that can better support member states in the twenty-first century.”

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UN 2.0 Progress

55%

UN entities have a UN 2.0 strategy or action plan

61%

UN entities shifted job profiles & skillsets

53%

UN entities assist Member States with UN 2.0 capabilities

Voices on
UN 2.0

How UN leadership, colleagues and youth from across the globe are getting inspired by and sparking action around UN 2.0

UN OCHA

Martin Griffiths

USG for Humanitarian Affairs & Emergency Relief Coord.

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For OCHA, implementing the SG’s vision means a stronger focus on anticipatory action, data science and foresight – to get ahead of crises and mitigating their impacts on the most vulnerable people.

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Martin Griffiths

USG for Humanitarian Affairs & Emergency Relief Coord.

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For OCHA, implementing the SG’s vision means a stronger focus on anticipatory action, data science and foresight – to get ahead of crises and mitigating their impacts on the most vulnerable people.

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UN-Habitat

Maimunah Mohd Sharif

Executive Director of UN-Habitat

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Delivering positive impact on the ground requires data and foresight. The UN of the future is about improving quality of lives in every city and community.

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Maimunah Mohd Sharif

Executive Director of UN-Habitat

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Delivering positive impact on the ground requires data and foresight. The UN of the future is about improving quality of lives in every city and community.

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WFP

Jay Mahanand

Chief Information Officer, WFP

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UN 2.0 charts a common path towards modernizing the UN. It ensures that we are adapting to the cultural and technological shifts transforming the world and that we are strengthening our collective response to emerging challenges.

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Jay Mahanand

Chief Information Officer, WFP

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UN 2.0 charts a common path towards modernizing the UN. It ensures that we are adapting to the cultural and technological shifts transforming the world and that we are strengthening our collective response to emerging challenges.

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UN OHCHR

Volker Türk

UN High Commissioner for Human Rights

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UN 2.0 is about making the organization fit for the future – agile, forward-thinking and effective. UN 2.0 is guiding the direction of the UN Human Rights Office, as we look ahead to the next 25 years and to ensuring human rights are the solution to humanity’s biggest challenges.

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Volker Türk

UN High Commissioner for Human Rights

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UN 2.0 is about making the organization fit for the future – agile, forward-thinking and effective. UN 2.0 is guiding the direction of the UN Human Rights Office, as we look ahead to the next 25 years and to ensuring human rights are the solution to humanity’s biggest challenges.

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WHO

Dr. Tasnim Atatrah

WHO Representative in Bahrain

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Innovation provides an essential component to advance national capacity, giving countries the tools to build a healthier world. The dynamics of UN 2.0 provide a solid evidence base to target information for action, creating a safer, more sustainable future for people everywhere.

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Dr. Tasnim Atatrah

WHO Representative in Bahrain

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Innovation provides an essential component to advance national capacity, giving countries the tools to build a healthier world. The dynamics of UN 2.0 provide a solid evidence base to target information for action, creating a safer, more sustainable future for people everywhere.

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UNEP

Inger Andersen

UN Under-Secretary-General & Executive Director of UNEP

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By putting innovation, data, and digital technologies to work for everyone, the UN can help create a brighter future on a healthier planet.

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Inger Andersen

UN Under-Secretary-General & Executive Director of UNEP

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By putting innovation, data, and digital technologies to work for everyone, the UN can help create a brighter future on a healthier planet.

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Discover UN 2.0 action

UN 2.0 is about leveraging our connections across the globe, with teams and projects active in over 160 countries. Click on the map to learn more.

The location indicators on this map are illustrative and do not necessarily show where entities are based. The depiction and use of boundaries, geographic names and related data shown on maps are not guaranteed to be error free, nor do they imply official endorsement or acceptance by the United Nations.

Explore UN 2.0 Initiatives

WHO
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Digital Human Chatbot for Better Health Outcomes

Florence 2.0 is a WHO developed digital human chatbot that can provide guidance on healthier lifestyle and mental health with topics such as stress management, how to eat right, be more active, quite tobacco, and vaccines.

WFP
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SKAI: Revolutionizing Disaster Response with AI

In collaboration with Google, WFP’s SKAI model leverages AI and satellites to quickly assess disaster impacts, streamlining humanitarian responses and significantly reducing costs and time.

UNDP
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Promoting STEM among Girls

UNDP Maldives utilized behavioral insights to counteract social and cultural barriers inhibiting girls from pursuing STEM careers. Iterative strategies were developed and tested to stimulate confidence, awareness, and readiness.

UN OHCHR
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AI to Protect Human Rights Defenders

An AI model, built in collaboration with Dataminr, extracts information about attacks against human rights defenders with the goal of improve situational awareness and safety measures.

IFAD
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Overcoming Gender Gaps with BeSci

An IFAD study revealing behavioral barriers sustaining gender gaps. It provides a fresh perspective and roadmap for women’s economic empowerment, participatory decision-making, and work redistribution.

ITU
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Giga boosts School Connectivity

An ITU-UNICEF initiative dedicated to connecting every school to the internet using AI, satellite imagery, and blockchain technology.

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Explore UN 2.0 Strategies & Publications

WFP
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Innovating for Big Impact: WFP-X Moonshot Toolkit

WFP’s strategic foresight work in Tanzania resulted in the development of the WFP-X Moonshot Toolkit, applying design-thinking methodologies to design solutions for societal problems in collaboration with local Tanzanian innovators.

UN OCHA
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Centre for Humdata Resource hub

The Centre for Humanitarian Data enhances the utilization and influence of data in the humanitarian sector, providing free data services, promoting data literacy, ensuring data responsibility, and enabling predictive analytics to enable informed decision-making in humanitarian situations.

UNESCO
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UNESCO Principles on Personal Data Protection and Privacy

UNESCO is committed to processing personal data in an accountable, non-discriminatory, and gender sensitive manner.

UN
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UN system-wide Strategy on Gender Parity

The United Nations-wide Strategy on Gender Parity sets targets and monitors: leadership and accountability; senior management; recruitment and retention; creating an enabling environment; and Mission settings

UN
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UN system-wide Youth Strategy

Youth2030, the first-ever UN system-wide strategy on youth, guides joint UN action for and with young people globally.

UNDP
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UNDP Digital Strategy

With this strategy, UNDP puts forth a long-term vision to create a world in which digital is an empowering force for people and planet.

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Explore the UN 2.0 Quintet of cutting-edge skills

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