In this section, data capturing the composition of the RC system and the impressions of stakeholders engaging with the RCO and the UN country teams are provided. The data points draw on annual surveys of host governments, UNCT members and Resident Coordinators, as well as the monitoring and evaluations of Cooperation Framework and audits undertaken. Together, they provide a transparent, evidence-based picture of where the system is strengthening and where work remains.
Perspectives on the ground
As of March 2026, 55 per cent of RCs were women
59 per cent were from programme countries
The cadre now draws from 27 UN entities, compared with 17 before the reform
54 per cent are first-time RCs, reflecting a cohort attuned to post-reform mindsets and today’s needs
The Resident Coordinator cohort by gender (%)
The Resident Coordinator cohort by nationality (%)
The Resident Coordinator cohort from outside the UN system (%)
Despite fluctuations over the years, in 2025 UNCT members continued to rate RCO effectiveness very positively.
United Nations country team members ratings of support from the resident coordinator offices
The drop in UNCT ratings for partnership mobilisation reflects the overall constrained fiscal environment during the year, which has reduced available resources and fostered competition.
Funding crunches continued to hamper the staffing environment, yet efforts were made to improve the availability of staff for countries’ crucial needs.
Of RCOs are fully staffed in 2025, rising from 33 per cent in 2024
RCOs still lack full staffing, constraining their ability to respond to UNCTs and national governments as expected
Resident coordinator offices fully staffed with core professional capacities
Of Host Governments rated the UN development system support as effective or highly effective in 2025. Host Governments’ satisfaction with RCs’ effectiveness in leading UNCT’s strategic support for national plans and priorities has largely increased across regions
% of Host Governments stating that the resident coordinator effectively leads the UN country team’s strategic support for national plans and priorities (strongly agree/ agree)
Integrated Policy Advice
83 per cent of host governments either agreed or strongly agreed that integrated policy advice, delivered in a coordinated way, was tailored to national needs and priorities (16 per cent neither agreed nor disagreed).
Multi-stakeholder Dialogues
72 per cent rated effective or highly effective the RC system in convening multi-stakeholder dialogues with Government and donors to enable policymaking aligned to the SDGs (a 78 per cent figure, when excluding the 16 per cent who responded they do not know).
Effectiveness of the resident coordinator's support to host Governments
*The figure represented as 56 per cent, noting the effectiveness of the RC in convening a diverse group of stakeholders, was incorrectly reported as 52 per cent in an earlier version of the 2026 UNSDG Chair Report
**This graph is non-comparable with previous year results because of changes in question formulation and methodology
Of Host Governments say the Cooperation Framework aligns with their countries' development needs and priorities
Host Governments stating that the Cooperation Framework is aligned to their country’s development needs and priorities (very closely/ closely)
Of UNCTs (as in 2024) applied innovative approaches in Cooperation Frameworks, up from 68 per cent in 2021
Of UNCTs used Behavioural Science
Of UNCTs used Foresight methods
Of UNCTs used Digital tools
Of UNCTs used Data-driven approaches
Leveraging UN 2.0 capabilities in the strategy and implementation of Cooperation Frameworks
At the Regional Level
Feedback from RCOs and independent evaluations has demonstrated the value proposition of Regional Teams over the years.
RCs’ high level of satisfaction has been consistent over the past five years
Of RCs rated regional support as effective for day-to-day operations in 2025
Resident coordinator offices ratings of support provided by the Development Coordination Office regional teams
At the Global Level
In 2025, RCO ratings for DCO New York support reached their highest levels in knowledge management, coordination and operational support.
DCO New York Support
Administrative and operational support rose from 82 per cent (2021) to 97 per cent (2025)
Audit and Evaluation
Implementation of audit and evaluation recommendations reached 83 per cent in 2025, up from 80 per cent in 2024, reflecting sustained progress in oversight and follow-up
Resident coordinator offices ratings of support provided by the Development Coordination Office in New York
* Non comparable with previous years due to reformulations and inclusion of new categories
Completed: 15 of 28 expected evaluations
Ongoing: 9 evaluations still in progress
Cancelled: 4 due to country-specific circumstances
Delays and management response gaps remain a priority to address