Four Nations Initiative on Governance and Management of the UN

There is a broad understanding that the United Nations must be strengthened to meet the new challenges of today. Change in governance and management systems is one major question to address. In early 2005 four concerned Member States – Chile, South Africa, Sweden and Thailand – decided that the time had come to take an initiative to contribute to this change from the Member State perspective. This was the beginning of the Four Nations Initiative (4NI).The purpose of the 4NI is to contribute to a UN governed and managed in a way that makes it better equipped to respond to tomorrow's challenges. For the UN to truly progress, more of Member States ideas and perspectives are necessary, particularly on governance issues. There are several features of the Initiative that distinguish it from other reform efforts. First, the perspective is that of the Member States; not in the sense of Member States being the clients of a UN, but as being the responsible owners. Second, the objective is not only to point out problems or give complete action plans with solutions, but to involve Member States in consultation and dialogue to create a new culture and compact marked by trust and cooperation. The 4NI believes that Member States must take this opportunity to look forward and come up with constructive solutions, instead of remaining locked into old and unfruitful group formations and rigid standpoints.

The three focus aspects of the 4NI are Budget and Finance; Mandate and Roles; and Governance, Accountability and Transparency.