A coalition of feminist civil society organisations has issued an urgent joint statement warning that the United Nations is facing an “imminent financial collapse” and calling on Member States to fulfil their financial obligations immediately. The statement is open for signatures until 13 February 2026.
UN Photo/Jean-Marc Ferre
Led by the Women’s Major Group, the declaration comes after repeated warnings from UN Secretary-General António Guterres that the organisation’s liquidity crisis could soon disrupt core operations. According to the signatories, austerity measures introduced in 2024 and extended into 2025, including lay-offs and hiring freezes, have failed to close the growing budget gap.
“If the crisis is not addressed urgently, core UN operations may be disrupted within months, including the possible partial closure of UN Headquarters by summer,” the statement says, describing the situation as a direct threat to the multilateral system.
Political Non-Payment
The coalition argues that the crisis stems not only from structural funding challenges but from political decisions by powerful Member States to delay or withhold assessed contributions. Assessed contributions are mandatory payments calculated according to each country’s capacity to pay.
Recent reporting by Reuters noted that the UN has warned of an “imminent financial collapse” because of billions of dollars in unpaid dues. According to figures cited in coverage, more than 95 percent of the regular budget arrears are owed by the United States.
Although 55 of the UN’s 193 Member States had paid their contributions in full by early February, a higher number than in previous years, the coalition says this does not offset the scale of unpaid sums by major contributors. Public statements suggesting that Washington may make an initial payment towards its arrears are welcome, the statement adds, but insufficient.
“What is urgently required is the full and timely payment of assessed contributions, in line with legal obligations,” the groups state.
Multilateralism at Risk
The signatories warn that chronic underfunding is being used as a political tool that weakens global governance, democracy and human rights. They argue that adapting to financial fragility by cutting programmes and staff sets a dangerous precedent at a time of overlapping crises, including climate breakdown, armed conflict, biodiversity loss and rising authoritarianism.
While acknowledging that the UN system requires reform, the coalition maintains that it remains the only universal, rules-based intergovernmental platform capable of coordinating responses to global challenges such as peacekeeping, humanitarian assistance and human rights protection.
Undermining it without a democratic alternative, they warn, risks empowering elite-driven or authoritarian models of governance.
Reform Under Duress
Feminist organisations involved in ongoing UN reform processes, including efforts to strengthen gender equality and accountability mechanisms, say those initiatives risk becoming meaningless if the institution itself becomes inoperable.
The statement stresses that reform must not be driven by financial coercion. “Restructuring global governance under the threat of institutional collapse risks privileging power over participation,” it argues, calling instead for democratic, transparent and inclusive reform processes.
Call for Immediate Action
The coalition calls on Member States with outstanding dues, particularly major contributors, to meet their legal obligations without delay. It also urges other governments to consider temporary measures to stabilise the UN’s core budget, while insisting that such steps must not normalise chronic non-payment by powerful states.
Philanthropic actors are encouraged to consider temporary, unconditional bridge funding to protect essential UN functions, provided such support does not influence mandates or governance structures.
The joint statement remains open for organisations and individuals who wish to add their names, signalling support for what the coalition describes as “a functioning, accountable and democratic multilateral system.”
You can access the form here.