Ex-UN aid chief Martin Griffiths: ‘This is no time for the UN to retreat’

By Stéphane Bussard (Le Temps)
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Summary
In an interview during the UN’s 80th General Assembly, former UN aid chief Martin Griffiths warned that budget cuts alone will not resolve the UN’s financial crisis, stressing the need for strategic vision and cultural change. He argued that humanitarian and development work must merge, responsibilities must shift to local actors, and the UN must prove its relevance through courage and risk-taking.

Geneva, despite recent setbacks, remains vital as a hub for discreet diplomacy. Griffiths acknowledged the Security Council’s dysfunction, the uneven burden of UN financing, and called for more equitable funding models, including private-sector contributions. He also underlined the urgency of electing a woman secretary general in 2026.

Quotes

• “The humanitarian community must now show the world the value proposition that justifies its existence. That means listening more closely to people in need. Maybe they don’t want a tent. Maybe they want a road.”

• “The UN80 reform process is necessary, but not enough. The question is, how do we seize this imposed opportunity to allow the UN to change?”

• “To endure, [the UN] must stay relevant. It’s easy to show how budget cuts affect the fight against HIV in Africa. On issues like that, the UN remains indispensable.”

• “Why have we not elected a woman in 80 years? It’s a shocking record.”