Change in the UN Development System

This chapter sets out the current efforts to reposition the UN Development System (UNDS) to deliver Agenda 2030; it analyzes these changes against previous reform efforts and the theory of change (ToC) adopted by the UN Development Group (UNDG) in early 2016, ¹ and the need to enhance the UN’s impact and contribution toward achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). It begins with the current context and imperative for reform before revisiting earlier efforts. It continues with the current reform approach and practice, assessed against the ToC for the UNDS “as a system.” It concludes by setting out a way forward and action required for accelerated change.