Flossi Calls for New U.N. Leadership

The most recent data from 2022 shows that the United Nations employs approximately 37,000 staff across its various organisations globally.

In terms of financial contributions, the United States is the largest donor to the United Nations, contributing more than $18 billion in 2022, which accounted for about one-third of the organisation’s collective budget. This includes both assessed and voluntary contributions. China and Japan follow the U.S. as the second and third most significant contributors.

The top echelon of the United Nations is compensated according to specific guidelines overseen by the International Civil Service Commission (ICSC), which is responsible for ensuring competitive conditions for UN staff.

- Secretary-General Salary: The UN Secretary-General, António Guterres, earns an annual salary of approximately $227,253. Benefits like housing supplement this figure (Guterres resides in a provided townhouse in New York) and diplomatic privileges.

The United Nations Secretary-Genera resides at 3 Sutton Place in Manhattan, New York City. The townhouse was built in 1921 for Anne Morgan and donated to the United Nations in 1972.

Other Senior Officials: Other high-ranking UN officials, such as Under-Secretaries-General and Assistant Secretaries-General, earn between $200,000 and $250,000 annually, depending on their roles and duty stations.

In addition to base salaries, these officials also receive "post adjustments," additional allowances based on the cost of living in their respective duty stations.

Corruption and bribery at the United Nations have been issues of concern over the years, with various scandals highlighting vulnerabilities in the organisation's oversight. One significant case involved John Ashe, a former President of the UN General Assembly, charged in 2015 for his role in a $1.3 million bribery scheme. Ashe solicited and accepted bribes from businesspeople in exchange for advocating their interests within the UN and with senior officials in his home country of Antigua.

Another recurring issue involves sexual misconduct and cover-ups within UN peacekeeping missions and humanitarian operations. Investigations have revealed that some officials used their positions to engage in sexual exploitation or harassment, and there have been cases where these offences were not adequately addressed, leading to a perception of a "culture of corruption".