OCTOBER 2025 / AGILITYPR.NEWS / October 24, 2025 / It is the worst of times, but also perhaps the best.

As the United Nations (UN) turns 80, many are turning away from the institution. The stereotypes of non-action and bureaucracy are often the first things to come to mind.

Yet, the UN is still working—every day, every hour—to make our current world better in so many ways, saving lives and spreading hope for millions.

The UN’s effectiveness is a complex storyline, often leaning on the negative due to a workforce of critical thinkers and idealists. On the one hand, its humanitarian arms—such as the World Food Programme and UNICEF—deliver life-saving aid to millions. The UN provides food and cash assistance to over 80 million people and supplies vaccines to nearly half the world’s children, saving an estimated 2–3 million lives annually. [ace-usa.org]

The UN Volunteers (UNV) programme exemplifies the UN's power to be people-driven. In 2024 alone, UNV mobilised over 14,600 volunteers across 166 countries, contributing to peacebuilding, humanitarian assistance, and sustainable development.

Still, the UN faces real challenges. Peacekeeping missions have seen declines in personnel due to financial constraints, and the Security Council remains gridlocked by geopolitical divides. Critics argue that the UN’s structure reflects a post-WWII world order that no longer fits today’s realities. [dw.com] [eiir.eu]

Maybe it is the best of times, among the worst conditions.

In a fractured, scary world, with inaccurate and hate-driven social media popping onto our screens daily, the UN remains one of the few institutions capable of convening global dialogue, setting norms, and delivering aid at scale. Its imperfections are real, but so is its impact.

The UN reminds me of the loyal aging family dog, playing his important part in the emotional support of a family, without being noticed.

As we mark 80 years of the United Nations, perhaps the question is not whether the UN is perfect, but whether we are willing to make it better. Because in the worst of times, the best institutions are those that keep trying.