Revitalizing
Revitalizing the United Nations under the New Secretary-General
By:
Yayasan Pendidikan Indonesia (YPI)
Special Consultative Status with ECOSOC
United Nations
Note:
“As aluminous of UNEM Costa Rica, I support the Costa Rican candidate for Secretary-General of the United Nations. It is time for the UN to be led by a woman.” — MYR Agung Sidayu.
As an Indonesian NGO that has long been actively supporting various United Nations programmes through our special consultative status with ECOSOC, we are pleased to share our views and recommendations regarding the leadership of the new Secretary-General, who will take office in January 2027. We fully agree that the credibility and public trust in the United Nations in maintaining global peace and security must be restored without delay.
In a world that is becoming increasingly insecure—with protracted conflicts in Ukraine, Gaza, Sudan, Myanmar, and many other regions—the UN is too often perceived as a mere spectator, reduced to silence. The Security Council is frequently paralysed by repeated vetoes from major powers. Meanwhile, ordinary citizens worldwide, including in Indonesia, are increasingly asking: “Is the UN still relevant and useful to us?”.
Our fresh and distinctive perspective is as follows:
The challenge is not limited to high-level diplomacy among the leaders of major powers. The core issue is that the United Nations has not yet succeeded in “educating” the hearts and minds of younger generations about the true meaning of peace. Peace is not merely an agreement reached at round-table negotiations; it must grow from within each individual from an early age, through engaging, accessible education that aligns with national values—such as Indonesia’s Pancasila.
If the new Secretary-General focuses solely on shuttling between the capitals of major powers without meaningfully engaging ordinary people—especially young people and teachers—then their efforts will be like building a grand house without a solid foundation. Indonesia has a significant advantage: we are the world’s fourth-largest country by youth population and have long experience living harmoniously amid diversity. This is the ideal moment for the United Nations to learn from Indonesia. Let us transform the UN into an organisation that does not merely “talk about peace,” but truly “educates for peace” down to the most remote villages.
Financial Independence and Funding Sources for the UN: The Key to Revitalization.
During the tenure of Secretary-General António Guterres, the United Nations has faced various political shocks and pressures, including from the United States. These have resulted in funding crises and heavy dependence on certain donors, which have affected the Organisation’s overall performance—from peacekeeping and humanitarian assistance to development activities.
Many valuable programmes have been hindered solely by financial constraints.
Yayasan Pendidikan Indonesia strongly recommends that all four candidates for Secretary-General promptly develop a clear and robust conceptual framework on UN funding and financing. Financial independence is essential to the Organisation’s legitimacy.
Many steps can be taken quickly and concretely:
The United Nations, through its relevant bodies, can immediately conduct a rapid and straightforward assessment to address urgent needs. This assessment should include an open and official appeal to 500 leading global financial institutions and 500 major multinational corporations, encouraging them to allocate a portion of their Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) contributions directly to the UN.
With a clear framework in place, the UN could secure very substantial contributions. Historical data show that companies listed in the Fortune Global 500 collectively spend approximately US$15–20 billion annually on CSR and corporate philanthropy. If only 25% to 50% of this amount were directed to the UN, it would generate tens of billions of US dollars—enough to fund numerous peacekeeping, education, and humanitarian programmes independently, without reliance on one or two major donor countries.
Similar contributions from the world’s 500 largest banks would further enhance this potential, given the banking sector’s substantial capacity for philanthropy and sustainable investment.
At the same time, the UN Secretariat must instruct all UN representatives in Member States to move beyond the role of passive observers. Their presence must deliver real value. They should actively engage in sustained and intensive dialogue with NGOs holding consultative status with the UN, including Yayasan Pendidikan Indonesia. Through such discussions, alternative funding sources can be identified directly from civil society, philanthropy, and the local private sector in a transparent and accountable manner.
With independent, transparent, and diversified funding, the United Nations will be able to operate more freely, courageously, and effectively, without fear of pressure from any party.
Practical and Actionable Recommendations for the New Secretary-General:
1. Make Peace Education the “Heart” of Conflict Prevention Elevate peace education from a peripheral activity to a flagship programme. The Secretary-General could collaborate directly with YPI to develop a simple, engaging global curriculum that teaches non-violent conflict resolution, media literacy to counter disinformation, and wise youth leadership. Concrete example: Equip every UN peacekeeping mission with a “Peace Education Team” that works in local schools, using educational games and activities to instil the values of peace from an early age.
2. Amplify the Voices of Youth and Developing Countries in Everyday Diplomacy In addition to meetings with heads of state, regularly convene “Youth Peace Dialogues,” both online and in person. Invite young people from Indonesia, Africa, Latin America, and the Global South. YPI stands ready to serve as a bridge, leveraging its network of thousands of schools and youth communities across the Indonesian archipelago. The voices of Indonesian youth will make the UN feel closer to and more representative of the people.
3. Promote Transparent, People-Centred Reform Support humane reform of the Security Council and link it to greater financial transparency. Launch a “Global Youth Peace Fund” through the General Assembly, to be co-managed with civil society organisations such as YPI. The fund must be fully transparent, subject to public audit, and used for scholarships, teacher training, and peace-building activities in schools.
Yayasan Pendidikan Indonesia is confident that a new Secretary-General who boldly combines high-level diplomacy, large-scale and engaging peace education, and strong, innovative financial independence will successfully revitalise the United Nations.
This approach will not only resolve current crises but also prevent future ones by nurturing a generation that is wiser, more peaceful, and more united.
We at YPI are ready to cooperate wholeheartedly. Let us together build a United Nations that is more dynamic, more self-reliant, closer to the people, and a true beacon of hope for all future generations.
