Controversy Continues Over Proposed Merger of UN Women and UNFPA
Women's organizations are expressing anxiety over the potential merger of the UN Population Fund (UNFPA) and UN Women, a proposal put forth by Secretary-General António Guterres as part of his UN80 initiative. This initiative aims to streamline operations and cut costs following the United States' funding withdrawal. Guterres briefed the UN General Assembly on the merger, stating that a strategic assessment had been conducted and detailed analyses presented to the respective boards of the two entities. However, the Feminist Cross-Coalition UN80 Working Group, comprising key women's organizations, fears that Guterres may push the merger without fully considering alternatives, as he has previously indicated it is 'the best way.' They also contend that the merger 'lacks the confidence' of the two entities' boards. While an assessment team found the merger 'technically sound' with potential for annual savings of $32-38 million, it stipulated conditions such as preserving mandates and implementing the merger wi... 
