The United Nations is implementing its ‘UN80 Initiative’ to reduce operational costs by relocating functions from high-cost hubs like New York and Geneva.
Highly placed sources aware of the development have told the Sunday Guardian that Nairobi, Istanbul, and Bangkok have emerged as leading contenders to host these operations.
A United Nations memorandum, accessed by the Sunday Guardian dated 25 April from the Executive Office of the Secretary-General, has directed the heads of Secretariat entities in New York and Geneva—the UN’s most expensive duty stations—to conduct functional reviews by 16 May to prepare a groundwork for this reform.
Signed by the Chef de Cabinet, the memo instructs these entities to identify functions that can be relocated to lower-cost locations, streamlined, or eliminated to prepare revised budget estimates for 2026, aligning with the UN80 Initiative’s goal of creating a more cost-effective, efficient, and responsive organization.
However, India, despite its potential to outshine these three potential replacement cities with lower costs, advanced infrastructure, and strategic advantages, bolstered by the National Capital Region (NCR) soon having two international airports, is yet to propose Delhi as a viable alternative.
Allowing this opportunity to pass without even trying comes even as strong voices within the UN believe Delhi would be a strong candidate — a belief India should act on swiftly by pitching Delhi, which would not only enhance its soft power but also demonstrate its readiness for a larger role in global multilateralism
The UN80 Initiative seeks to consolidate management and operational support functions and shift non-Member State-facing roles—such as procurement, human resources, and information technology—to existing lower-cost Secretariat locations.
Sources indicated that Nairobi is a frontrunner. It already hosts the UN Office at Nairobi (UNON), the only UN headquarters in the Global South.
Istanbul, with its transcontinental connectivity, and Bangkok, home to the UN Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP), are also under consideration as regional hubs.
India’s failure to propose Delhi as a candidate has prompted communications for urgent action to position the city as a competitive alternative.
Delhi, which successfully hosted a global event like G-20 meet recently and follows the principle of Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam (world is one family) aligns closely with the UN’s criteria for relocation- cost savings, operational efficiency, mandate alignment, and minimal disruption to program delivery.
Sources pointed out that among the factors that would work in Delhi’s favour is its operational costs, including office space and local salaries, that are significantly lower than those in New York and Geneva. As per data, commercial real estate in areas Delhi, Noida, Greater Noida or Gurgaon, which are connected by a network of roads and metros, costs approximately $20-30 per square foot annually, compared to $80-100 in Manhattan.
Similarly, hiring from India’s vast, skilled, English-speaking workforce will significantly reduce the need for spending a premium on expatriate staff, providing an advantage over Nairobi’s smaller talent pool and Istanbul’s higher urban expenses.
It is pertinent to mention that Delhi’s already hosts multiple UN offices, such as those of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), and World Health Organization (WHO), demonstrating its capacity to support international operations, while world-class infrastructure, including the Indira Gandhi International Airport (IGI) and upcoming Jewar international airport apart from high-speed internet being provided by world class telecom giants like Reliance and Bharti , enabling seamless integration of relocated functions like procurement, human resources, or IT.
The city’s advanced IT capabilities support hybrid meetings, allowing staff to brief intergovernmental bodies remotely, as emphasized in the 25 April UN memorandum.
The Noida International Airport (Jewar Airport), scheduled to open in the coming days will be the region’s second international airport alongside IGI. As per official data, Jewar Airport’s cargo terminal is capable of handling 250,000 tonnes annually which is ideal for supporting UN logistical needs, such as humanitarian aid distribution, making Delhi a superior logistics hub compared to Nairobi’s single major airport, Istanbul’s geopolitical constraints and Bangkok’s smaller regional connectivity.
Compared to the current contenders, Delhi offers distinct advantages. Nairobi’s UNON campus is efficient but faces capacity constraints for large-scale relocations, and its time zone (Eastrapeast Africa Time, UTC+3) is less aligned with Asia-Pacific stakeholders. Istanbul’s time zone (Turkey Time, UTC+3) is similar, but its geopolitical complexities could deter UN planners.
Even though Bangkok’s Indochina Time (UTC+7) suits UN’s Asia-Pacific operations, its smaller UN presence limits its scalability compared to Delhi’s potential for expansion.
Delhi’s geographical location positions it closer to UN’s multiple field operations across Asia, Africa, and the Middle East, enhancing the delivery of development, humanitarian, and peacekeeping programs.
India’s significant contributions to UN peacekeeping, with over 5,000 troops deployed, further strengthen Delhi’s case as a hub for related support functions, such as logistics or training coordination.
What also adds to India’s repertoire is its excellent warm relations with almost all the 190 plus countries. This relationship spans ‘smaller’ countries who have been given extra attention under the present Narendra Modi government.
Moving to Delhi will also address UN’s staff relocation concerns more effectively than its competitors. The city offers international schools, modern healthcare facilities, and safe residential areas. Its established urban infrastructure and cultural diversity make it a more attractive destination for international staff compared to Bangkok’s relatively smaller global profile and Turkey’s political uncertainties.
Proposing Delhi as a UN hub, which would have to be taken up urgently by the Prime Minister’s Office given the speed at which things needs to be set in motion, would yield significant strategic benefits for India, reinforcing its bid for a permanent UN Security Council seat and amplifying its leadership in the Global South.
Hosting a vast network of UN offices and functions would stimulate Delhi’s economy through job creation, increased real estate demand, and growth in service industries, while showcasing India’s readiness to play a central role in global governance.
The move would also position India to counterbalance the influence of other regional powers, including China, which hosts UN operations including UNAIDS in Beijing and Shanghai.
Sources said that to capitalize on this opportunity, India needs to engage the UN Office of the Controller with detailed proposals highlighting why Delhi is an excellent option.
Among the UN bodies that have been asked to comeup with cost saving measures include the Counter-Terrorism Committee Executive Directorate (CTED), Department of Economic and Social Affairs (DESA), Department for General Assembly and Conference Management (DGACM), Department of Global Communications (DGC), Department of Management Strategy, Policy and Compliance (DMSPC), Department of Operational Support (DOS), Department of Peace Operations (DPO), Department of Political and Peacebuilding Affairs (DPPA), Department of Safety and Security (DSS), Economic Commission for Europe (ECE), Office for the Administration of Justice (OAJ), Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), Office of the Special Envoy for Digital Technology (ODET), Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), Office of Internal Oversight Services (OIOS), Office of Legal Affairs (OLA), Office of the Special Adviser on Africa (OSAA), Office of the Special Adviser on the Prevention of Genocide (OSAPG), Office of the Special Coordinator on Sexual Exploitation and Abuse (OSC-SEA), Office of the Special Representative for Children and Armed Conflict (OSRSG/CAAC), Office of the Special Representative on Sexual Violence in Conflict (OSRSG/SVC), Office of the Special Representative on Violence Against Children (OSRSG/VAC), United Nations Alliance of Civilizations (UNAOC), United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD), United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR), United Nations Office of Counter-Terrorism (UNOCT), United Nations Office for Disarmament Affairs (UNODA), United Nations Office at Geneva (UNOG), United Nations Office of the High Representative for the Least Developed Countries, Landlocked Developing Countries and Small Island Developing States (UN-OHRLLS), United Nations Office for Partnerships (UNOP), United Nations Global Compact (UNGC), United Nations Interim Security Force for Abyei (UNIS), United Nations Joint Staff Pension Fund (UNJSPF), United Nations Ombudsman and Mediation Services (UNOMS), and United Nations Youth Office (UNYO).
Failure to take timely decisions will lead to missing a historic opportunity to shape the UN’s operational future and elevate India’s global stature.