Harmonizing Environmental and Social Sustainability Standards Within the UN System

Abstract

Until recently, environmental and social standards have primarily been established within international financial institutions. In recent years, a number of UN entities have put in place or have started to adopt environmental and social standards for programming, including establishing grievance mechanisms to investigate compliance with applicable social and environmental policies and procedures. This paper evaluates the efficiency and effectiveness of UN entities in meeting these requirements. Through an analysis of existing frameworks and practices, it identifies key challenges and gaps, providing recommendations to enhance the integration of environmental and social sustainability standards into UN policies and implementation strategies.