Secretary-General António Guterres recording a video message in the UNTV studio, in New York, on the pandemic’s effects on children, April 16, 2020. Soon after Guterres recently announced the resignation of the head of the UN staff pension fund, worth $63 billion, he reaffirmed his commitment to its “well-being.” ESKINDER DEBEBE/UN PHOTO
The UN pension fund for staff members has been mired in problems for years. Now, it is slow-walking reforms, says a close observer. Here, a scene at the UN General Assembly opening session, Sept. 28, 2019. CIA PAK/UN PHOTO
Since 2014, when staff members of the United Nations Pension Fund blew the whistle on serious mismanagement in its secretariat, a change in leadership has been made on both sides — assets and liabilities — of the $67.4 billion fund. Yet the turmoil persists.
The General Assembly will review an audit it called for regarding the governance of the UN’s Pension Board, which rejected many of the study’s recommendations. Here, the General Assembly Hall, Dec. 24, 2017. EVAN SCHNEIDER/UN PHOTO
