Global Systems of Governance

RESEARCH JUSTIFICATION

Global organisations such as The United Nations and The World Bank shape international responses to displacement, development and governance. There centralised nature enables scale and efficiency, disseminating resources to local actors. This research examines these Global Systems, and their impact on vulnerable communities, and the key challenges they currently face.

How do global systems of governance work, and how do the protect vulnerable populations?

Existing Systems

Global Bodies

Following the First World War, nations came together under the League of Nations in order to prevent a repeat of the atrocities the world faced. This later influenced the creation of the United Nations which serves as a global body composed of member states, where "the world's nations can gather together, discuss common problems and find shared solutions". (United Nations)

Similarly, the World Bank was established post World War II to aid in post-war reconstruction and establish a framework for international economic cooperation. The World Bank operates as a group of institutions providing financing, technical support, and policy guidance to promote economic development and reduce poverty worldwide.

Together, these two centralised organisations form a framework for coordinating international action, addressing global crises, and designing preventative strategies for displacement and development on a worldwide scale. 

These differ fundamentally from other international nongovernmental organizations such as the International Red Cross, Amnesty International, or Greenpeace who fight for or respond to issues of human rights, the environment, and social justice. This is mostly achieved through advocacy, direct interventions and community-based projects. This is similar to how NGOs and local charities operate on a national level.

Whilst local NGOs can tackle specific issues, these global organisations are responsible for forming the foundations for a sustainable and equitable future. This is critically represented in the UN Sustainable Development Goals, formally implemented in 2016, illustrated on the right. (United Nations, 2016)

Global Politics

In the current global political climate, there is a notable decline of international cooperation as countries are now focusing more on self sustainability and growth over once strong commitments to globalisation.

This retreat from cooperation directly undermines global systems designed to support those most in need. Global collaboration and renewed political commitment are the first steps towards addressing humanitarian and climate related issues.

When basic needs such as food, water, and healthcare are unattainable, the risk of conflict and violence rises, regardless of direct responsibility. The combined effect of reduced international support, rising nationalism, and strained resources creates a situation where displacement crises are harder to manage and more likely to intensify.

According to the UN Global Trends Report (UNHCR, Global Trends: Forced Displacement in 2024, 2025), achieving previous levels of resettlement will become increasingly difficult as government commitments decline. The report also states that low and middle income countries, which already host the majority of displaced populations, face mounting pressures on already limited resources.

Implementation

Understanding how these bodies implement their frameworks at international, regional, and national levels is key to considering how and when our architectural interventions can collaborate in the decision processes.

To translate such a wide range of programmes and initiatives across these scales while maintaining the intended effectiveness requires the collaboration of many different actors at various points in the timeline.

In the case of the United Nations, the first division is the independent yet interconnected agencies of which it is composed, the largest and most relevant to our studies being the High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), the World Health Organization (WHO), the World Food Programme (WFP), and the International Children's Fund (UNICEF), among many others. These agencies specialize in targeted sectors for a more focused and efficient approach to tackling global issues.

Outlined below is a breakdown of how a UN agency (UNICEF) implements programmes from conception to delivery:

UNICEF first develops a five-year country plan in alignment with the National Development Plan of each country, with inputs from stakeholders in the public and private sectors and in civic society including NGOs. Before being endorsed by the UNICEF Executive Board, it must be approved the national government.
That plan includes all of the programmes and the results that UNICEF will deliver, including health, nutrition, education, child protection, water and sanitation, climate, and social protection. Moreover, this plan focuses on how UNICEF will strengthen the systems of the country so that there is a ripple effect of change.
UNICEF has a core presence in every country with expert staff to deliver programmes, but also relies on sub-contracting with specialist NGOs to ensure that a localised approach can deliver the best results.

Strong monitoring & evaluation programmes ensure that programmes are run effectively and that targets and results are appropriately reported.

Here is an example of specific programming:

UNICEF is the custodian of SDG 3.2, which aims to reduce child mortality. In each country, UNICEF delivers comprehensive programmes in immunisation, nutrition, and water and sanitation – all systems which are reliant on each other and work together in a country. (UNICEF Programme Coordination)

Challenges

“The consequences of inaction will be borne by those who can least afford it.” - UN Refugee Agency

Humanitarian and development organisations, including UNHCR, are facing severe funding cuts that threaten millions globally. In 2024, major donors such as France, Germany, the UK, and the US all reduced their official development assistance (OECD, Cuts in Official Development Assistance, accessed 2025), for the first time in decades. If this continues, 2025 will mark the first time in history that all four have simultaneously reduced ODA for two consecutive years. These reductions are likely to be distributed unevenly, further exacerbating vulnerability.

The consequences of these cuts will be most deeply felt by the poorest and most marginalised populations (UNHRC, Global Trends: Forced Displacement in 2024, 2025).

Consequences include:

Reduced food assistance and basic shelter support

Loss of livelihood opportunities

Reduced protection services, including safe spaces for women and girls at risk of violence

Communities hosting displaced populations for years left without adequate support

Limited support for displaced people returning home, increasing the risk of repeated displacement

Restricted access to essential services such as healthcare and education

Funding is highly centralised, concentrated in the hands of a few donors and large international agencies. Local actors receive minimal direct funding, with only around 0.6% of funds (Irwin Loy, What New Data Says About Where The Humanitarian System is Heading, accessed 2025), reaching local humanitarian organisations directly. The majority of resources are earmarked for long-term crises, leaving limited flexibility for anticipatory action.

With projected declines, funding gaps are likely to become the norm. Urgent systemic reforms are needed to ensure multi-year, predictable funding, strengthen localisation, and prioritise long-term development alongside immediate humanitarian responses. Without change, the most vulnerable populations will continue to bear the heaviest burden.

Cuts to Humanitarian Aid

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Loss in Data Research

Reliable and timely data is essential for effective humanitarian action, yet according to the UNHRC (UNHRC, Global Trends: Forced Displacement in 2024, 2025), maintaining critical datasets is increasingly at risk. Weaknesses in data production reduce accessibility, accuracy, comparability, reliability, and timeliness, undermining the quality of key statistics. Much of the available data is incomplete, resulting in rough estimates, for example the Global Trends report states that only 26 countries report asylum seeker naturalisations. These gaps severely hinder the ability to plan and respond to crises worldwide, limiting the effectiveness of interventions and leaving displaced and vulnerable populations at greater risk.