Katja @ReformWorks
@reformworks.bsky.social
Managing Director @ReformWorks, aiming to disrupt how we manage international organizations and find new paths to effective performance.
Can small powers set the #UN agenda? @sabrinabarias.bsky.social assembled a #dataset of proposed agenda items & the tenure of small states' #ambassadors from 1946 to 2018 to support her argument that they can. Have a read of her article in the July issue: doi.org/10.1353/wp.2... #research #evidence
There are 2 UN narratives on civil society: in NY, they’re seen as policy advocates; in the field, as #localization partners. Neither connects to reform debates on #performance & #accountability — a surprising gap for a reform that is supposedly evidence-based. Here’s the evidence: buff.ly/RfGCubV
Does the UN Need Civil Society? Exploring UN & Civil Society Dynamics
Explore the evidence and research outlining why an effective and accountable UN needs civil society engagement.
reformworks.org
The U.S. never formally joined the ICC, but now says it is trying to dismantle the court. Carnegie Endowment Dir. Stewart Patrick says the U.S. is escalating its war on multilateralism. This is a path taken by a number of countries who coordinate on policies and collaborate to reach common goals.
What’s Driving the Trump Administration’s Push to Dismantle the ICC?
The move is an escalation of its war on multilateralism.
carnegieendowment.org
The Story of Writing@sownow.bsky.social · 3w agoOn this day in 1998, a diplomatic conference agreed to the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court. It established a path to prosecute those alleged to have committed genocide, crimes against humanity, war crimes, and the crime of aggression. #Legal #Consequences #for #Murder #by #Armies
It was so great to engage with #civilsociety reps at the #GlobalFuturesForum, who still believe the #UN adds value - but they can only help the UN, if it opens the door to them. Too often this is framed as a nice to have, so we ask whether the UN actually needs civil society? 👉
Does the UN Need Civil Society?
Explore the evidence and research outlining why an effective and accountable UN needs civil society engagement.
buff.ly
Tired of doomscrolling about the #UN? Check out our more positive insights - they don't gloss over the current problems, but present constructive tactics for how to navigate them, based on evidence and independent research. 1/4
30,000 ReformWorks research spotlights read — thank you! Grateful for everyone helping build a community that wants to understand and strengthen how international organizations work. Get your ReformWorks spotlights and some new stuff at: buff.ly/0P7kPqM
People worldwide, frustrated by rising geopolitical disorder, want global cooperation. This demand, raised across the Global North & South in two recent polls, can be leveraged by the next #SG thru a few easy actions to show the value of the #UN, as our latest spotlight explains. 👉️ buff.ly/SrB5dRy
Next SG and UN Reform: Public Expectations & Leadership Priorities
Explore recent shifts in global public opinion and the priorities these identify for UN reform and the next SG.
reformworks.org
As governments invoke #sovereignty to ignore global rules, people are seeing the consequences — and they’re not buying it. We explore how new global polling on #multilateralism informs #UNreform and the next SG’s #leadership priorities. buff.ly/OMmNlWe
The Global Public Knows What it Wants from UN Reform & the next SG
Explore recent shifts in global public opinion and the priorities these identify for UN reform and the next SG.
reformworks.org
🗞️ From an analysis of the future of UN #peacekeeping to a high-level symposium on Japan-UN cooperation, the May 2026 edition of #UNUINSIGHTS features the latest news, research, commentaries and jobs from across the UNU system. Read more and subscribe: go.unu.edu/PrHfr
#Germany’s 🇩🇪 failed bid for the #UNSC 🇺🇳shows: Soft power matters! www.dw.com/en/un-securi...
Germany loses vote for UN Security Council seat
Fifteen of the 193 UN member states sit on the UN Security Council. Germany was in competition with Austria and Portugal for two seats in the "Western Europe and Others" group.
dw.com
Governance gaps continue to block real #UNreform — and will impact the UNGA designation of lead actors for new mandates. But Friday’s dialogue with Boards, Executive Heads & the DSG won’t address governance alignment, despite Boards’ central role in accountability and #mergers. 👉️
UN80 Mandates and Governance Disconnect: ReformWorks Blog Analysis
Explore how UN80's Adhoc Working Group is improving mandate information and the extent to which this can effect UN system-wide change in the face of governance disconnects.
reformworks.org
Want to stay informed about how #UN80 is impacting organizations across the #UN system, even with differing governing structures? Subscribe to ReformWorks for concise biweekly updates and analytical research spotlights: buff.ly/nEoaXQu
One way that multilateral cooperation may be evolving…
EUwatch 🇪🇺@euwatch.live · 2mo agoEurope’s concentric circles – the European Political Community and the value of flexible cooperation
Washington told allies it will gradually scale down the number of strategic bombers, fighter jets, drones, submarines and warships dedicated to NATO as it continues pressing Europe to do more for its own defense.
US to pull jets, destroyers and submarines from NATO as part of European drawdown
The U.S. has not given any clear timeline for the withdrawal, as it seeks to pare back its commitments to the alliance.
politico.eu
Join us tomorrow for our annual ceremony with UNA Westminster to pay tribute to the more than 68,000 personnel serving in peacekeeping missions across the globe, and honour all those who have lost their lives in the cause of peace. 📍 1:30pm | The Cenotaph, Whitehall
International Day of UN Peacekeepers 2026 - UNA-UK
una.org.uk
Today the#UNGA discusses templates to cut mandate duplication, incl. naming lead #UN entities to coordinate action. But the UNGA lacks authority over many possible UN leads & their funding to get the job done, which has undermined success of past reforms. But this is fixable 👉️
UN80: Better Mandate Information, Same Governance Disconnect
Explore how UN80's Adhoc Working Group is improving mandate information and the extent to which this can effect UN system-wide change in the face of governance disconnects.
buff.ly
Member States take up the new mandate‑setting templates on Wednesday — but as drafted, they risk repeating the governance gaps that undermined past UN reforms. ReformWorks outlines key questions for Wednesday's dialogue to avoid those pitfalls. 👉 See the questions in our spotlight:
UN80: Better Mandate Information, Same Governance Disconnect
Explore how UN80's Adhoc Working Group is improving mandate information and the extent to which this can effect UN system-wide change in the face of governance disconnects.
reformworks.org
UN80 Is the Wrong Answer to the Right Question passblue.com/2026/04/05/u...
UN80 Is the Wrong Answer to the Right Question
passblue.com
As US contributions to the #UN grow, they’re all still earmarked funding — despite all the inefficiencies that brings. But it also creates space for bureaucratic entrepreneurs and minilateral partners to innovate at the policy and operational levels - as #UNODC has shown. buff.ly/0RoNpOa
UN80 Stagnation and Bureaucratic Entrepreneurs: Opportunities for Reform
Explore how UN80 stagnation creates new opportunities for bureaucratic entrepreneurs and minilateralism to drive change. Discover pathways for UN reform in the face of political gridlock.
reformworks.org
Today’s #UN80 dialogue highlighted a big gap: no shared definition of comparative advantage to guide mandate allocation. #MOPAN offers one — and we applied it to #UNFPA, #UNWomen and #OHCHR. 👉 Spotlight: buff.ly/HLBU9ai
UN80 Insights: Evaluating the UNFPA and UNWomen Merger | ReformWorks
Explore a new analytical tool to assess the benefits of a potential merger of UNFPA, UNWomen and other UN entities using comparative advantage.
reformworks.org
It’s a wrap! Over the weekend, we discussed #blame games in IOs, their protagonists, strategies, determinants, and consequences for #legitimacy and #accountability with a view of beautiful Lake Starnberg.
With #UN80 called a “productive failure,” many say nothing can move amid political divides and unstable funding. But that also creates openings — for bureaucratic entrepreneurs & minilateral coalitions to drive change. 👉 ReformWorks explains how: www.reformworks.org/post/un80-st... #UNreform
UN80 Stagnation: An Opportunity for Bureaucratic Entrepreneurs
Explore how UN80 stagnation creates new opportunities for bureaucratic entrepreneurs and minilateralism to drive change. Discover pathways for UN reform in the face of political gridlock.
reformworks.org
Debate over a #UNFPA–#UNWomen merger is growing, but there’s still no solid way to assess the risks or benefits. @MOPAN’s comparative‑advantage framework offers a practical path — and we tested it across UNFPA, UN Women, and #OHCHR, with surprising new insights for #UN80. 👉️ buff.ly/eFRKCrr
UN80 Insights: Assessing the Value of a Merger of UNFPA & UNWomen
Explore a new analytical tool to assess the benefits of a potential merger of UNFPA, UNWomen and other UN entities using comparative advantage.
reformworks.org
Proud to see our work on how #governance, #diplomacy, and #funding collide at #UN Executive Boards featured in CEPEI’s new analysis of power and influence in the UN development system. Our piece: buff.ly/9ucvDQo CEPEI’s study: buff.ly/j18CCaD
Why Corporate Governance Reforms Clash with UN Boards
4 February 2024By Katja HemmerichThis month our spotlight is on the Joint Inspection Unit’s (JIU) review of governance and oversight effectiveness of the Executive Boards of UNDP/UNFPA/UNOPS, UNICEF…
reformworks.org
Civil society engagement strengthens monitoring, #accountability, and #performance in int'l organizations. @alupel.bsky.social spotlighted this at Tuesday’s youth meeting on Shaping #Multilateralism — drawing on our ReformWorks research. Check it out: 👉️ www.reformworks.org/post/can-int...
Improving Accountability: Tools for International Organizations
17 December 2023By Katja HemmerichIn our UN Governance updates, we have regularly highlighted the monthly briefings that the UNOPS senior management provides to the UNDP/UNFPA/UNOPS Executive Board…
reformworks.org
🆕 In a new @reformworks.bsky.social article, #NYUCIC’s Program Officer @thibaultc.bsky.social explores the #UN Secretariat’s shift from a normative role towards being judged on its ability to deliver results. Read the full piece ⤵️
UN Delivery: The UN Secretariat's Transformation | ReformWorks Blog
Explore the UN Secretariat’s quiet shift from a purely normative role towards being judged on its ability to deliver results. Using UN80 as a lens, the post explains how reforms and financing practices have embedded delivery expectations into mandate governance, creating unresolved institutional tensions at the heart of multilateralism.
reformworks.org
International norms are being challenged daily. It’s unsettling — but the #UN has operated in similar environments for most of its history - and shown #resilience. How? #Adaptability. Our latest research spotlight looks at the tactics and skills for UN adaptation. buff.ly/6Ojf4dR
Adaptability: The UN's Tool for Navigating Hard Power Politics
Explore how the UN has navigated hard power politics through adaptation in the past, and discover the skills and tactics used to facilitate this adaptability.
reformworks.org
UN80 has been criticized for lacking a vision. Yet the process has highlighted a deeper shift from the #UN as a normative body to one with delivery at its core. Thibault Camelli explores the tensions this creates for member state engagement, as the IAWG drops its interim report..
From Norms to Delivery: The UN Secretariat’s Unspoken Transformation
Explore the UN Secretariat’s quiet shift from a purely normative role towards being judged on its ability to deliver results. Using UN80 as a lens, the post explains how reforms and financing…
reformworks.org
At last week’s #UN budget presentation, cuts to the #development pillar sparked controversy. Confusion over #ACABQ calculations led to a promised corrigendum. While 2026 may protect development, the longer funding trend tells another story… 📩 Sign up for more ReformWorks insights: buff.ly/HktOS3O
