Multilateralism UNpacked
Multilateralism UNpacked
Podcast Description
Multilateralism UNpacked is produced by the United Nations University Centre for Policy Research. Each month, we take a deep dive into a key challenge facing the United Nations and its Member States; and offer evidence-based solutions that can be adopted in response to help avert crisis and strengthen the multilateral system.
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The podcast covers significant topics related to global governance, climate diplomacy, and sustainable development, with episodes exploring themes such as the challenges of COP30 and insights on economic adaptation in the development sector.

Multilateralism UNpacked is produced by the United Nations University Centre for Policy Research. Each month, we take a deep dive into a key challenge facing the United Nations and its Member States; and offer evidence-based solutions that can be adopted in response to help avert crisis and strengthen the multilateral system.
In this episode, UNU-CPR’s Head of Geneva Office Dr. Adam Day joins Dr. Jack Durrell to discuss the future of UN peace operations at a moment of financial strain, geopolitical fragmentation and declining confidence in peacekeeping effectiveness.
The conversation explores how a worsening liquidity crisis is already driving cuts to missions on the ground, and what this means for civilian protection and operational capacity. It also examines how states are increasingly turning to bilateral and alternative arrangements outside the UN system.
Looking ahead, Dr. Day reflects on whether current reforms such as UN80 represent genuine strategic change or primarily an effort to manage financial contraction, and considers what emerging “lighter” and more bespoke models of peace operations could mean for the UN’s role in conflict settings.
The episode also highlights key missions to watch, including the UN Interim Force in Lebanon, the UN Organization Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and the absence of a robust UN presence in Sudan.

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