UN Secretary General António Guterres is "very worried" about the ability of the United Nations and its agencies to carry out their core functions in the face of a budget crisis and extensive job losses, according to his spokesperson.
It follows the leak of an internal UN memo containing proposals for sweeping reforms to tackle inefficiencies and consolidate operations.
The confidential document came from the UN80 Task Force - an initiative to overhaul the global body as it approaches its 80th anniversary this summer - and was first reported by US news agencies.
"The Secretary General has been clear in his aim to push forward ambitious reforms to this organisation, not only to save money, but to make it more efficient and more adapted to the world we live in," spokesperson for the UN Secretary General Stéphane Dujarric told reporters.
He said the UN leadership had asked senior officials and others to submit suggestions and how to improve the United Nations.
"That's what this leaked memo is," he said, "it's just part of the process".
The organisation has been roiled by sudden funding cuts made to the United States main foreign aid agency, USAID by the Trump administration. In February, US President Donald Trump also ordered a full review of US funding and ties to the United Nations.
The United States was the largest single donor to the UN's annual budget as well as individual agencies.
In the wake of USAID cuts, the UN refugee agency, UNHCR, said it would be forced to close offices, downsize operations and cut jobs for up to 6000 workers.
The World Food Programme, which previously received nearly half of its total budget from the United States, is also set to reduce its staff by 25% to 30%.
On Thursday, hundreds of UN and agency staff protested outside the UN’s European headquarters in Geneva over further job cuts.
In response to a question from RTÉ News, Mr Dujarric said the UN chief was "focused on ensuring that we can keep doing our work and that our staff can keep their jobs as well".
"He has a duty of care for staff and for the monies that are given to this organisation and he's trying to balance all of it," he added.
The United Nations was already dealing with a liquidity crisis due to member states paying their annual dues "later and later, if they pay at all," Mr Dujarric said.
Asked by RTÉ News if this was the most worried the Secretary General had been since his tenure began in 2017, Mr Dujarric replied "clearly".
