MOPAN Biennial Synthesis 2026

The first edition of the MOPAN Biennial Synthesis takes place amid declining Official Development Assistance (ODA), rising global needs and structural transformation of the multilateral system. These pressures are creating new demands for multilateral organisations to demonstrate results, adapt their operating models and engage in reforms while preserving effectiveness.

Multiple reform agendas are underway to improve efficiency, coherence and collaboration across the multilateral system. These include the G20 roadmap for multilateral development bank (MDB) reform, the United Nations' UN80 Initiative, the Humanitarian Reset and the WHO-hosted Joint Process for Global Health Architecture reform.

The 2026 Biennial Synthesis will focus on how multilateral organisations can adapt to preserve and enhance effectiveness amid financial constraints and structural reform. It will draw on MOPAN assessments published between 2024 and 2026, MOPAN Insights studies and complementary evidence to identify common trends, good practices and lessons learned across multilateral organisations. Its findings will inform strategic dialogue among MOPAN members, multilateral organisations and other stakeholders on how these reforms interact and collectively affect multilateral effectiveness.

The synthesis will also inform the enabling environment analysis under the MOPAN 4.0 methodological framework for upcoming assessments, examining how funding constraints, donor behaviour, governance expectations and political pressures shape organisational performance.

After two decades of growth, ODA from OECD Development Assistance Committee (DAC) countries has declined sharply. The OECD reported a 6.1% decrease in 2024, followed by a 23.1% contraction in 2025. Multilateral ODA fell by 12.7% in 2025, while core contributions to the UN system declined by 27%. ODA is projected to return to 2020 levels by 2027, despite growing needs (OECD, 2026).

These funding reductions are affecting health, education and humanitarian assistance, increasing pressure on multilateral organisations to maintain essential services with fewer resources.

At the same time, MDB reforms seek to expand lending capacity and improve operational effectiveness, while the UN80 Initiative and Humanitarian Reset aim to streamline operations, strengthen coherence and prioritise resources.

Across these reforms, decisions about consolidating offices, regionalising functions and mobilising expertise have implications for responsiveness, technical quality, national ownership and delivery capacity. 

The MOPAN Biennial Synthesis will take stock on the magnitude and impact of funding reductions, organisational responses to adapt, and the relationship with multiple reform agendas.  

The 2026 Biennial Synthesis will include a thematic spotlight to examine how multilateral organisations can organise their country, regional and global expertise to sustain effective policy advice and normative support. It will draw on MOPAN assessments and complementary evidence to identify trade-offs, enabling conditions and potential implications for reform.

Relevant across UN reform, MDBs, global health architecture, humanitarian organisations and global partnerships, a common question is emerging: How can multilateral organisations balance country-level presence, specialised expertise, operational efficiency and accountability while sustaining results?

The synthesis will identify cross-cutting lessons and practical considerations to support evidence-based reform discussions, highlighting trade-offs, risks and conditions for effective organisational adaptation.