A/78/163

United Nations

General AssemblyDistr.: General
12 July 2023
Original: English

Seventy-eighth session
Item 103 of the provisional agenda*
Review of the implementation of the recommendations
and decisions adopted by the General Assembly at its
tenth special session

United Nations Institute for Disarmament Research
Note by the Secretary-General
The Secretary-General hereby transmits to the General Assembly the report of
the Director of the United Nations Institute for Disarmament Research (UNIDIR) on
the activities of the Institute for the period from January to December 2022, theInstitute’s approved programme of work and financial plan for 2023 and the Institute’s
proposed programme of work and financial plan for 2024.
The Board of Trustees of UNIDIR reviewed the report and approved theprogramme of work and financial plans for 2024 at the eig htieth session of theAdvisory Board on Disarmament Matters, held in New York on 20 June 2023.
Despite the challenging international geostrategic environment, including
setbacks in disarmament and arms control, UNIDIR has reinforced its position as anindependent knowledge provider, convener and bridge-builder, providing thenecessary space for difficult but vital reflections on a range of peace and security
matters.

* A/78/150.

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Report of the Director of the United Nations Institute for
Disarmament Research on the activities of the Institute forthe period from January to December 2022, the approved
programme of work and financial plan for 2023 and the
proposed programme of work and financial plan for 2024
Summary
The present report was prepared in accordance with General Assembly
resolution 39/148 H, in which the Assembly invited the Director of the United Nations
Institute for Disarmament Research (UNIDIR) to report annually to it.
UNIDIR provides independent, evidence-based research on some of the world’s
most pressing security challenges. It builds knowledge and capacity on security anddisarmament matters globally, supports international treaty regimes and the informed
engagement of States in multilateral arms control and disarmament processes,
enhances transparency through its policy portals and helps to save lives through its
work on illicit small arms and improvised explosive devices. The Institute’s current
research agenda, endorsed by its Board of Trustees, is aimed at identifying pathways
to reinvigorate multilateral arms control and disarmament in the face of a challenging
international political and security environment. Through this work, it acts as abridge-builder in a fraught global security environment and facilitates inclusive,transparent and collaborative dialogue among both State and non -State stakeholders.
The importance, timeliness and high quality of the work of the Institute have beenrecognized by the General Assembly (see resolution 75/82).
All this work is made possible by the voluntary support of an increasingly
diverse group of donors. This support, together with the recent strengthening of theInstitute’s funding structure and operating model, allowed UNIDIR to further expand
its policy-oriented research and convening activities. It also enabled studies in 2022
in key areas, such as nuclear risks, biosecurity, outer space, the risks and benefits of
new technologies, gender and disarmament, and the interlinkages between security,
arms control, conflict prevention, development and peacebuilding.
In 2022, the number of events and publications both rose by more than two thirds
compared with 2021. The Institute also built new digital policy portals, on artificial
intelligence and on space security, and its experts provided sustained, and often
discreet, technical support to States, regional organizations and multilateral bodies.
The increased regular budget subvention allowed UNIDIR to deliver quarterly
briefings to all regional groups and three events in countries that are not members of
the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development.
Notwithstanding the significant evolution and growing impact of UNIDIR in
recent years, the Institute continues to rely almost exclusively on voluntary
contributions for all of its programmatic work. The volatile geopolitical landscapeand global economy, which are affecting the voluntary funding environment, and aconstant decline in unearmarked funding pose risks to the Institute. These trends
underline the importance of regular budget subvention and of all Member States fromall regions supporting the Institute’s activities, ideally w ith unearmarked, multi-year
funding. In today’s challenging geostrategic context, the Institute’s independent,
evidence-based and forward-looking research on disarmament and global security
issues is in high demand. Its mission of working towards a stable and more secureworld is perhaps more urgent than ever.

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I. Introduction
1.
Our world is facing a dramatic confluence of global crises. The symbolic
doomsday clock now stands at 90 seconds to midnight, which is closer than even at
the height of the cold war and, indeed, the closest to humanity’s self-destruction it
has ever been. Nuclear weapons are back in the global spotlight. Hostilities in outerspace and cyberspace are becoming more likely, while the age of artificial intelligenceand supercomputing, with its manifold implications for weapons and global security,
is only beginning. All this is happening amid a raging climate crisis and deep
geopolitical division and mistrust.
2.
In his address to the General Assembly at its seventy-seventh session, theSecretary-General warned that “our world is in peril” and “paralysed”. Disarmament,
arms control and non-proliferation are essential waypoints on any path towards
cooperation and dialogue. They are a precondition for trust-building and global course
correction and, as the Secretary-General appealed in his address, must urgently be
brought back to the centre. Without progress on even these basics of international
cooperation, it will be impossible to deal with the compound crises that humanity isfacing.
3.
The United Nations Institute for Disarmament Research (UNIDIR) is the only
United Nations think tank that focuses on disarmament, arms control andnon-proliferation. Its independent research, evidence-based analysis, practical tools
and inclusive convening activities are in increasingly high demand. In 2022, thisresulted in UNIDIR receiving support from the most diverse group of donors in its
history and the highest number of donors ever. These included donors from all five
regional groups as well as, for the first time since 2010, all five permanent membersof the Security Council.
4.
UNIDIR builds bridges in a divided world and supports the international
community in addressing some of the world’s most pressing international security
challenges. Its experts provide sustained, and often discreet, technical support toStates, regional organizations and multilateral bodies while facilitating inclusive,transparent and collaborative dialogue among both State and non -State stakeholders.
The General Assembly, in its resolution 75/82, recognized the importance, thetimeliness and the high quality of the work of the Institute.
5.
In 2022, the Institute’s research outputs again expanded significantly with thenumber of events and publications both up by more than two thirds compared with
2021. The Institute also built new digital policy portals, on artificial intelligence andon space security; commenced the development of an online database on national
implementation of the Convention on the Prohibition of the Development, Productionand Stockpiling of Bacteriological (Biological) and Toxin Weapons and on Their
Destruction; incorporated a multi-year research project on managing exits from armed
conflict; and saw record participation in its three annual flagship events: the Cyber
Stability Conference, the Outer Space Security Conference and the Innovations
Dialogue.
6.
In 2022, with the support of the international community, UNIDIR continued to
expand the scope and impact of its research, outreach and capacity-building activities
worldwide. From an Institute of 19 staff members with a total revenue of close to$3 million in 2018, UNIDIR has grown to a team of 41 staff members with a total
revenue of approximately $8 million in 2022. An increase in the regular budget
subvention approved by the General Assembly in 2021 enabled UNIDIR toconsolidate its senior management team through the establishment of an Executive
Officer position (P-5) and to scale up its global dissemination activities throughquarterly briefings to all regional groups of Member States and the organization of
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three events in States that are not members of the Organisation for Economic
Co-operation and Development.
7.
Notwithstanding this significant evolution and the growing impact of its workin recent years, UNIDIR continues to rely almost exclusively on voluntary
contributions that are mostly earmarked. Unearmarked contributions have steadily
declined in the past three years, from $1,035,618 in 2020 to $632,823 in 2022. This
trend poses an increasing risk to the Institute and underlines the importance of theregular budget subvention and of all Member States from all regions supporting theInstitute’s activities, ideally with unearmarked multi-year funding. This is needed toensure that UNIDIR can continue to provide its vital and unique work: independent,
evidence-based research for all Member States.

II. Performance and status of implementation of activities
in 2022
Research agenda and programmes
8.
In 2022, UNIDIR made significant strides towards the implementation of its
multi-year strategic research agenda for the period 2022 –2025, endorsed by its Boardof Trustees (see A/77/263). Five research programmes lie at the core of its research
agenda: (a) conventional arms and ammunition; (b) weapons of mass destruction;(c) space security; (d) security and technology; and (e) gender and disarmament.
These programmes are designed as dynamic, multi-year scalable workstreams toreflect the disarmament priorities of a diverse international community. The Institutealso pursued its research project on the Middle East zone free of weapons of mass
destruction and commenced a new research project on ma naging exits from armed
conflict.
9.
The Institute’s research agenda emphasizes the continuous expansion anddiversification of its expertise, digital products, educational activities and forward looking research on disarmament, arms control and global se curity matters, in linewith its statutory mandate. It contributes to integrating disarmament across the 2030
Agenda for Sustainable Development (see General Assembly resolution 70/1) andensures that knowledge, ideas and dialogue on disarmament and arms control areaccessible to a global audience, including young people and policymakers. Throughthe UNIDIR Academy, the Institute offers knowledge-building activities in key areasof arms control and disarmament. The UNIDIR Futures Lab focuses on forwardlooking, long-term research with a view to better managing and mitigating the risks
and complexities of the global security environment in the twenty -first century.
10. In 2022, UNIDIR further expanded its offering of digital tools. The UNIDIR
Cyber Policy Portal added a host of new features, including a multilingual interface
in all six United Nations official languages. In addition, UNIDIR built new policy
portals on artificial intelligence and on space security and commenced thedevelopment of an online database on national implementation of the Biological
Weapons Convention.
11. Following on from a record-breaking year in 2021, UNIDIR was again able toexpand its research outputs and outreach in 2022. A total of 132 events (up 69 percent) attracted 9,500 participants and 98 publications (up 69 per cent) were
downloaded a record 54,000 times (up 35 per cent) by users in 191 countries.
12. The Institute’s steadfast commitment to youth engagement yielded im pressive
results in 2022. These included the launch of the online Youth Disarmament
Orientation Course, which received over 3,500 visits in its first two months online;
the first UNIDIR Global Disarmament Essay Competition, with 121 entries from 38
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countries from Africa, Asia, Europe and the Americas; a Model United Nations
session on space security, involving 60 students and 5 UNIDIR experts; and theInstitute’s research talent-building Graduate Professional Programme, which brought
24 young researchers from 16 countries and 6 different regions to UNIDIR.
Conventional arms and ammunition
13. The illicit proliferation and misuse of conventional arms and ammunition
prolongs conflicts and fuels armed violence and insecurity worldwide. Understanding
the dynamics of illicit proliferation and developing effective measures to tackle
related threats must be central to any international security and development agenda.
14. In 2022, the conventional arms and ammunition programme of UNIDIR
conducted research in three priority areas: (a) strengthening weapons and ammunition
management; (b) preventing armed conflict and armed violence; and (c) addressing
global development and security challenges. The programme contributes tomultilateral and regional processes, through the provision of knowledge and advisory
services, and supports the implementation and development of relevant international
instruments. In 2022, the programme contributed substantively to the multilateralprocess to establish a global framework on conventional ammunition control andprovided support to the Arms Trade Treaty, the Programme of Action to Prevent,
Combat and Eradicate the Illicit Trade in Small Arms and Light Weapons in All Its
Aspects, the Convention on Prohibitions or Restrictions on t he Use of Certain
Conventional Weapons Which May Be Deemed to Be Excessively Injurious or to
Have Indiscriminate Effects, United Nations transparency and confidence -building
instruments and the work of the Security Council.
15. Weapons and ammunition management is an essential tool for States to exercise
governance and control over conventional arms, ammunition and related components.
It serves to prevent conflict and reduce armed violence. In 2022, UNIDIR supported
a national baseline assessment of weapons and ammunition management in Benin, in
cooperation with the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), andtwo national baseline assessments, one in El Salvador and one in Guatemala. UNIDIR
also supported a follow-up assessment in the Central African Republic andparticipated in a United Nations weapons and ammunition management assessment
mission to Somalia. The results of the assessment informed discussions onbenchmarks contained in Security Council resolutions relating to the Central African
Republic and Al-Shabaab in Somalia. On the occasion of the Eighth Biennial Meetingof States to Consider the Implementation of the Programme of Action to Prevent,
Combat and Eradicate the Illicit Trade in Small Arms and Light Weapons in All its
Aspects, UNIDIR released the first annual “Weapons and ammunition managementin Africa insight” report in English and French. It identifies enabling factors andchallenges to progress in strengthening weapons and ammunition management in
Africa.
16. UNIDIR plays a leading role in enhancing knowledge to understand andmitigate the risk of diversion in arms transfers. In 2022, as part of research conductedwith the Stimson Center and Conflict Armament Research, UNIDIR launched thecounter-diversion assessment tool. Testing with eight States has shown that the tool
can help to identify and to close gaps that allow diversion of conventional arms. At
the invitation of the presidency of the Eighth Conference of States Parties to the Arms
Trade Treaty, the programme shared its findings on post-delivery cooperation to
support the development of the presidency’s working paper on post-shipment controls
and coordination. In 2023, UNIDIR will explore the role of technology in countering
diversion.

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17. In order to support the integration of conventional arms and ammunition control
into the conflict prevention and management activities of the United Nations, in 2022,
the programme shared findings on enhancing the protection of civilians throughconventional arms control and addressing the linkages between illicit arms, organizedcrime and armed conflict. The Arms-Related Risk Analysis Toolkit offers practicalguidance for conflict prevention analysts and, in 2023, it will be tested in cooperation
with United Nations field missions.
18. In 2022, in order to feed into the diplomatic process towards the signing of the
Political Declaration on Strengthening the Protection of Civilians from the
Humanitarian Consequences Arising from the Use of Explosive Weapons inPopulated Areas, the programme also published its Second Menu of Indicators to
Measure the Reverberating Effects on Civilians from the Use of Explosive Weapons
in Populated Areas and a fact sheet covering frequently asked questions on this issue.
19. In order to inform the deliberations of the open-ended working group on
conventional ammunition established by General Assembly resolution 76/233, theprogramme released a study on the technical feasibility of marking small -calibre
ammunition, available in English, French and Spanish, and the results of an
ammunition profiling exercise conducted with law enforcement agencies in the
United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.
20. General Assembly resolution 77/64 underlines the impact of the work of
UNIDIR in the field of conventional arms. In that resolution, Member States wereencouraged to use the Institute’s counter-improvised explosive device self-assessment
tool. In 2022, in order to counter the threat posed by improvised explosive devices,the programme supported national self-assessments in Burkina Faso and thePhilippines. In 2023, the programme will continue to support self -assessments onrequest, as well as regional information exchanges in South-East Asia and West
Africa. Translations of the counter-improvised explosive device tool in Arabic,
Bahasa Indonesia, Khmer, Thai and Vietnamese will be released in 2023.
21. In 2022, the conventional arms and ammunition programme and the security andtechnology programme published research results on the linkages between
conventional arms control and new technologies. This innovative work focuses on
uncrewed aerial, ground and maritime systems and also explores technologies fo r
remote ceasefire monitoring. In 2023, the programmes will jointly undertake
exploratory research into the proliferation of improvised and craft -produced weapons,
as well as the use of uncrewed systems by non-State actors.
Weapons of mass destruction
22. Within a challenging geostrategic context, where the threat of the use of
weapons of mass destruction has increased, the UNIDIR programme on weapons ofmass destruction pursued research across three workstreams: (a) identifying nuclear
risk reduction measures, including through dialogue on nuclear deterrence,
disarmament and strategic arms control; (b) exploring new approaches totransparency and verification in nuclear security and disarmament; and(c) strengthening the norm against chemical and biological weapons.
23. UNIDIR is recognized as a global thought leader on nuclear risk reduction. With
the prospect of nuclear conflict back within the realm of possibility, nuclear risk
reduction became increasingly important in 2022. In order to address thi s topic,
UNIDIR organized a closed expert workshop with a geographically representative setof experts to discuss a report on the implications of the invasion of Ukraine for arms
control and disarmament. The findings from this report and wider research gen erated
considerable media interest. The programme’s work on nuclear risk reduction further
informed stakeholders and shaped official positions and working papers for the tenth
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Review Conference of the Parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear
Weapons, as well as the work of the First Committee of the General Assembly andother disarmament forums.
24. In 2023, the programme will continue to facilitate dialogue on disarmament,
nuclear deterrence and strategic arms control in an age of geostra tegic tension,
providing a space for the development of shared understandings of risks and risk
mitigation tools. Furthermore, the programme will examine differing regional
perspectives of nuclear risks with a view to mapping regional risk perceptions. The
programme will also explore the risks arising from the convergence of nuclear
weapon systems with emerging technologies, including space systems. In addition,
the programme will conduct research on nuclear decision-making in crisis situations.
25. UNIDIR research has long played an important role in advancing discussions
on verification in nuclear disarmament. In 2022, the programme carried out two key
research projects in this area. The first drew from past arms control measures and newtechnological opportunities to develop innovative thinking around approaches tomissile verification that could be applied in future strategic arms control anddisarmament agreements. A second project analysed disarmament verification in thecontext of the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons. Findings from thisproject were presented at the first Meeting of States Parties to the Treaty, in June
2022. Insights from the programme’s work on nuclear disarmament verification werealso used to inform the work of the Group of Governmental Experts to consider therole of verification in advancing nuclear disarmament.
26. In 2023, UNIDIR will undertake a nuclear verification field exercise at a facility
offered by the Government of Switzerland. This exercise will inform the practice of
nuclear disarmament verification and generate research outputs on the role of satellite
surveillance, among other issues. UNIDIR will also provide expert input toverification-related discussions at the Preparatory Committee for the Review
Conference of the Parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons
and the second Meeting of States Parties to the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear
Weapons and will provide substantive support to the Group of Governmental Experts
on Nuclear Disarmament Verification.
27. Work on treaty compliance and enforcement continued in 2022 withpublications focused on the rescheduled Ninth Review Conference of the States
Parties to the Convention on the Prohibition of the Development, Production andStockpiling of Bacteriological (Biological) and Toxin Weapons and on Their
Destruction. The programme’s work on the Convention provided policymakers witha better understanding of the key issues and opportunities for the Conference.
Moreover, it helped the President of the Review Conference, Leonardo Bencini, tocreate a strategy for the Review Conference. UNIDIR input to the Biological Weapons
Convention was also recognized as facilitating a convergence of views around review
mechanisms for science and technology and on international cooperation under theConvention.
28. In 2023, the programme’s work on chemical and biological weapons will
include a publication and series of events on preparing for success at the Fifth Special
Session of the Conference of the States Parties to Review the Operation of the
Chemical Weapons Convention. UNIDIR will also continue to work on strengthening
biological disarmament through expert support for the new working group process of
the Biological Weapons Convention, stakeholder engagement and innovative policy
research into technological opportunities for verification of the Convention.
29. The programme on weapons of mass destruction will also develop several
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that will serve as a repository of tools and materials related to national implementationof the Biological Weapons Convention.
Space security
30. With space becoming increasingly congested and contested, UNIDIR researchon space security has informed thinking around the governance of outer space. In
2022, the newly established space security programme produced policy outputs on
topics related to the legal framework for space security, space threats and the role ofnorms in space security governance. These widely referenced products helped toshape understandings of space issues in United Nations forums, including the open ended working group on reducing space threats through norms, rules and principles
of responsible behaviours. The 2022 Outer Space Security Conference involved over
1,000 participants from a diverse range of backgrounds. The programme alsoorganized a further eight events, including regional space security events for theGroup of Latin American and Caribbean States and for South-East Asian States.
31. In 2023, the space security programme will conduct research on verification,
gender and the dual-use dilemma. It will also launch a common lexicon of space
security concepts and terms in all official languages of the United Nations and adigital space security policy portal. The lexicon will build capacity for meaningful
participation in discussions on space security. The portal will aid policymakers indeveloping shared understandings of policies and practices related to space security
governance. The programme will continue to provide expert support to the open ended working group on reducing space threats through norms, rules and princi plesof responsible behaviours and will facilitate dialogue by organizing a space industry
workshop, the 2023 Outer Space Security Conference and a regional space security
event in Africa.
Security and technology
32. Briefing the General Assembly on his priorities for 2023, the Secretary-General
acknowledged that no agenda for peace could ignore the dangers posed by newtechnologies, including cyberattacks and lethal autonomous weapon systems. The
UNIDIR security and technology programme explores the ch anging landscape oftechnological innovation in order to identify risks posed to international peace,security and development. In 2022, the programme focused on: (a) international
cybersecurity; (b) artificial intelligence in the military domain; and (c) the
convergence of new technologies, conventional weapons and conflict. Throughout theyear, the programme informed multilateral processes related to international
cybersecurity and lethal autonomous weapon systems.
33. The Institute’s work on international cybersecurity supports States in
implementing the framework for responsible behaviour in cyberspace and strengthens
their capacity to manage international cyber incidents. In 2022, the programme
conducted research on attribution, threat and incident clas sification and on theprotection of critical infrastructure, which was also the subject of the 2022 Cyber
Stability Conference. The programme also conducted a series of tabletop exercises,
both in person and online, on the management of international cyber incidents,
bringing together over 50 government officials from 30 countries from the European
Union, African Union, Organization of American States and Association of Southeast
Asian Nations. The UNIDIR Cyber Policy Portal continued to be extensively
referenced by national delegations and reached a new milestone in 2022 with over
20,000 visits from around the world. In 2023, UNIDIR will support theoperationalization of the framework for responsible State behaviour in cyberspace,focusing on confidence-building measures and international law.

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34. The programme’s second focus area is artificial intelligence and autonomy inweapon systems, decision-making processes and other military applications. In 2022,
UNIDIR was instrumental in supporting the work of the Group of Governmental
Experts on Emerging Technologies in the Area of Lethal Autonomous Weapons
Systems. An extensive research project, which included a round -table discussion
among more than 30 delegations, highlighted crucial areas of convergence anddivergence in proposals advanced by States for the establishment of a normative andoperational framework for lethal autonomous weapon systems. UNIDIR also initiateda series of activities on the broader application of artificial intelligence in the military
domain. The 2022 Innovations Dialogue examined the disruptive effect of artificial
intelligence on international security and explored responsible artificial intelligencepractices in the security context.
Gender and disarmament
35. The gender and disarmament programme contributes to gender equality and theintegration of gender perspectives into all areas of arms control and disarmament. In
2022, the impact of its work was evident in the inclusion of gender issues in outcome
documents adopted in arms control and disarmament processes, such as theConvention on the Prohibition of the Use, Stockpiling, Production and Transfer ofAnti-Personnel Mines and on Their Destruction, the Convention on Cluster
Munitions, the Programme of Action on Small Arms and the Treaty on the Prohibitionof Nuclear Weapons. Focus areas included the renewal of the mandate of the Security
Council Committee established pursuant to resolution 1540 (2004) and engagementwith gender focal points in multilateral regimes, as well as connecting the women andpeace and security agenda with arms control and disarmament.
36. Research on the gender-related impact of biological threats informed
multilateral initiatives, such as the Group of Seven Global Partnership Conference on
Current Biosecurity Challenges, convened by Germany in October 2022. Members of
the Global Partnership issued a declaration on biological security that recognizedgender as a priority line of action.
37. To support delegations participating in the Eighth Conference of States Parties
to the Arms Trade Treaty, UNIDIR and Control Arms developed a new fact sheet on
gender and the Arms Trade Treaty. This resource provides an overview of genderbalance in Arms Trade Treaty meetings and offers ideas to promote gender equality
in conventional arms control.
38. As part of the International Gender Champions Disarmament Impact Group,
UNIDIR launched a new fact sheet on gender and diversity in the Convention on
Cluster Munitions in partnership with the Geneva International Centre for
Humanitarian Demining. The Impact Group also produced the fourth edition of the“Gender and disarmament resource pack for multilateral practitioners”.
39. With many countries officially adopting feminist foreign policies, UNIDIR is
exploring what a feminist stance on arms control would look like. Initial reflections
were shared during a conference hosted by the German Federal Foreign Office on thetheme “Shaping feminist foreign policy” in September 2 022 and in an article
published by the European Leadership Network.
40. Throughout 2022, the programme delivered gender briefings to national actors
working on conventional arms control and disarmament. Building on the
programme’s 2021 publication Women Managing Weapons, a new initiative
comprising virtual and in-person workshops for women technical specialists on
ammunition was set up under the auspices of the Saf erGuard programme.

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41. The programme collaborated with States and stakeholders in research pr ojects,
side events and working papers covering distinct disarmament forums. These
included the tenth Review Conference of the Parties to the Non -Proliferation Treaty,
the first Meeting of States Parties to the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons
and the open-ended working group on conventional ammunition, among others.
42. In 2023, the programme will publish an analysis of best practices for genderequality in conventional arms control, with a view to helping organizations to achieve
more inclusive working environments. UNIDIR will also launch a report on how arms
control and disarmament can help to prevent sexual violence. The programme willcontinue to develop initiatives that equip the women and peace and security
community to deal with international security challenges related to cybersecurity andthe military applications of artificial intelligence, including their gendered
implications.
A Middle East zone free of weapons of mass destruction
43. The Institute’s project on a Middle East zone free of weapons of mass
destruction is aimed at examining the historical chronology of efforts to establish sucha zone, as well as the perspectives and ideas underpinning progress towards it.
Historical divergences, ongoing conflicts and deep mistrust a mong States in theregion have diverted attention from cooperative initiatives designed to reduce
regional proliferation challenges.
44. This three-year project funded by the European Union was first launched in
October 2019 and then extended until July 2023 owing to the coronavirus disease(COVID-19) pandemic. It pursues four overarching goals: (a) filling a research gap
on the evolution of the Middle East zone free of weapons of mass destruction;(b) building analytical capacity to support new thinking on regional security issues
and the zone initiative; (c) collating ideas and developing new proposals on how tomove forward; and (d) fostering inclusive dialogue and soliciting regional
perspectives, including by engaging officials and experts in workshops and dialogues
in States in the Middle East.
45. In 2022, under the project, seven events were held with over 500 participants. A
series was also published on regional perspectives, drivers and objectives for thezone, as was an essay on issues related to means of delivery. These activities
encouraged and informed discussions on regional perspectives and priorities,
including weapons of mass destruction-related threat perceptions. The projectcontinued to foster dialogue on less explored topics such as biological and chemical
weapons, as well as cooperation on nuclear energy and research in the context of thezone, thereby facilitating ongoing and future negotiations. UNIDIR participated inover 40 related events and regularly briefed and consulted with States in the region
and United Nations system entities, including the International Atomic Energy
Agency, the Office for Disarmament Affairs, the United Nations Entity for Gender
Equality and the Empowerment of Women (UN-Women) and the Organisation for theProhibition of Chemical Weapons.
46. By July 2023, the project will have published a narrative account of the zone
process by the main stakeholders, personal accounts of the 2013 –2014 informal
consultations in Glion (Switzerland) and Geneva and research on possible modalities
of nuclear disarmament in the zone. It will also publish two workshop reports: one on
development and cooperation on nuclear research and energy and another on chemicaland biological warfare in the context of the zone. A final report outlining the project’s
findings will be launched by June 2023.

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Managing exits from armed conflict
47. The Institute’s project on managing exits from armed conflict is a multi -year
collaboration to develop a unified, rigorous assessment of how and why individuals
exit armed conflicts. The main objective of the project is to enhance the effectivenessof efforts by the United Nations to prevent and respond to armed conflict. Robust,comparable evidence generated by the project will allow the United Nations and its
partners to make decisions, issue mandates and allocate resources more effectively
and with a better evidence base, and ultimately help to interrupt conflict cycles andpromote sustainable peace. Launched in 2018 at the United Nations University, theproject transitioned fully to its permanent institutional home at UNIDIR on 1 January
2023.
48. The project, together with United Nations partners and experts from various
fields, developed an agreed framework that provides a converging vision for what
“successful” transitions away from conflict look like, as well as a road map for the
rigorous assessment of the impact of efforts by the United Nations to support suchtransitions. The project pilot-tested its framework and assessment tools, providing
practitioners on the ground with evidence to support their work in real time in thefollowing six countries: Cameroon, Chad, Colombia, Iraq, Niger and Nigeria.
49. In 2022, the project ran 13 different surveys, with over 13,000 respondents andmore than 40 focus groups, and conducted participatory key informant interviews
across the six countries. During its transition from the United Nations University to
UNIDIR, which began on 1 June 2022, the project produced 16 publications t hat serve
to highlight its findings and their policy and programming implications, 7 of whichwere translated to reach local stakeholder populations. The project also organized or
participated in 24 events with over 600 participants to ensure that the find ings were
widely shared.
50. To date, the project has been funded by the Swedish International Development
Cooperation Agency, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Norway, the Federal
Department of Foreign Affairs of Switzerland, the Foreign, Commonwealth an dDevelopment Office of the United Kingdom, the Department of Foreign Affairs of
Ireland, the United Nations Development Programme and the International
Organization for Migration. It works in partnership with the secretariat of theRegional Stabilization, Recovery and Resilience Strategy for Areas Affected by BokoHaram in the Lake Chad Basin Region, the Department of Peace Operations, theUnited Nations Children’s Fund and the World Bank.
51. In 2023, the project will expand its work in the Lake Chad basin. It will follow
up with survey panels and study the mass surrenders from Boko Haram, banditry in
the north-west region of Nigeria and climate-driven recruitment. In Iraq, the projectwill expand its study on Iraqis returning from the Hawl refugee camp an d, in
Colombia, it will run its reincorporation survey with former combatants of theFuerzas Armadas Revolucionarias de Colombia – Ejército del Pueblo.
Knowledge and advisory support
52. The knowledge and advice generated by UNIDIR is continuously in highdemand and its notable impact is widely recognized. Throughout 2022, UNIDIR
regularly supported international treaty regimes and the informed engagement ofStates in multilateral processes relating to arms control and disarmament.
53. In the run-up to the Ninth Review Conference of the States Parties to the
Biological Weapons Convention, UNIDIR launched a series of publications andevents that helped to inform preparations by States parti es. The President of the
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strategy for the conference. UNIDIR co-hosted a workshop to identify specificmeasures to work towards gender equality in biosecurity and disarmament andco-organized a photo exhibition highlighting women professionals in the field of
biosecurity. UNIDIR also provided technical insights into the work of the first
Meeting of States Parties to the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons. This
included the publication of a report on the verification of the Treaty and co -authorshipof an official working paper on operationalizing the gender provisions of the Treaty
submitted with Chile, Ireland and Mexico. All four recommendations presented in theworking paper were reflected in the final action plan adopted by the Meeting.
54. UNIDIR continued to support the national implementation of international andregional instruments on conventional arms and ammunition control. It conducted
weapons and ammunition management baseline assessments in four States, bringing
the total number of assessments conducted in Africa and the Americas since 2016 to
15. With engagements in Burkina Faso and the Philippines during 2022, the Institute’s
counter-improvised explosive device self-assessment tool has been used by at least
10 States since 2020. A UNIDIR expert contributed to the first train -the-trainer
regional workshop, in the Philippines, for the Arms Trade Treaty secretariat.
55. UNIDIR continued to provide advisory support to groups of governmental
experts. For the Group of Governmental Experts on Emerging Technologies in the
Area of Lethal Autonomous Weapons Systems, UNIDIR provided a comparative
analysis of submitted proposals, a closed-door round-table discussion with ageographically diverse set of States, and research and a side event on human -machineinterfaces. The Group’s Chair and several experts acknowledged the impact of thesecontributions. UNIDIR experts served as consultants to the Group of Governmental
Experts on the United Nations Register of Conventional Arms, providing briefings,
co-convening events and recommending changes to the Register’s scope andmeasures. The Group’s Chair complimented UNIDIR on its outstanding work andsound technical input. UNIDIR supported the Group of Governmental Experts on
Nuclear Disarmament Verification, including by developing a compendium of pastverification practices, providing insights into the role of gender in verification andproviding assistance to the Chair across two sessions.
56. UNIDIR also provided research and advice to open-ended working groups. As
consultants to the Chair of the open-ended working group on conventional
ammunition, UNIDIR experts worked closely with the Chair to provide, among othersupport, online briefings and input for informal dialogues. In cooperation with the
Office for Disarmament Affairs, UNIDIR lent technical support to the Chair of the
open-ended working group on security of and in the use of information andcommunications technologies 2021–2025, by providing research and support toMember States. UNIDIR also delivered working papers and expert presentations to
the open-ended working group on reducing space threats through norms, rules andprinciples of responsible behaviours.
57. Through the UNIDIR Academy, the Institute again provided its disarmamentorientation course for newly arrived diplomats in Geneva together with the Office for
Disarmament Affairs. It will be repeated annually, subject to funding. In cooperation
with the United Nations Institute for Training and Research, UNIDIR experts
conducted a security and technology summer course. UNIDIR personnel gave
presentations at events around the world and provided briefings to government
officials, scholars and students all year round.
Dialogue activities
58. Dialogue is central to the mission of UNIDIR. The Institute exercises important
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stakeholder dialogues. In 2022, its 132 events engaged participants at the national,
regional and international levels on topics spanning the breadth of its research
programmes. This increase of 69 per cent, compared with 78 events in 2021,
demonstrates the importance of the Institute’s role in buildin g bridges. UNIDIR
regularly brings together representatives of States, civil society and industry as well
as experts and researchers from various disciplinary and geographical backgrounds
to discuss a diverse range of disarmament and global security issues .
59. The year 2022 also saw record levels of participation in the Institute’s three
annual flagship events. The 2022 Cyber Stability Conference explored ways toadvance critical infrastructure protection, bringing together more than 1,000
participants. The 2022 Outer Space Security Conference provided a unique forum for
more than 1,300 participants, which is 27 per cent more than in 2021, to discuss policy
options to enhance space security. The 2022 Innovations Dialogue, organized for the
first time in New York, attracted over 1,500 participants, which represents a 33 percent increase from 2021, to explore the impact of artificial intelligence oninternational peace and security. Adoption of a hybrid format facilitated participationfrom around the world.
60. For the first time, UNIDIR organized quarterly briefings for all regional groupsof Member States. This important activity was enabled by the increase in the regularbudget subvention approved in December 2021. In line with diplomatic priorities for
2022, the briefings focused on the Ninth Review Conference of the States Parties tothe Biological Weapons Convention, the Eighth Biennial Meeting of States on Small
Arms and the 2023 sessions of the open-ended working group on security of and in
the use of information and communications technologies 2021–2025. They also
focused on best practices for gender equality in conventional arms control.
61. UNIDIR continued its nuclear disarmament, nuclear deterrence and strategicarms control dialogue with interactive round tables. These brought together senior
experts from around the world to identify specific options for recrafting strategic arms
control and revitalizing the pursuit of nuclear disarmament. This dialogue resulted in
the publication of a significant report on the future of arms control and disarmament
following the war in Ukraine.
62. The first ECOWAS-UNIDIR Regional Seminar on Disarmament and Arms
Control also took place in 2022. Hosted online and in Abuja, it brought together
experts to discuss developments in gender and disarmament, small arms and light
weapons, improvised explosive devices, space security, biosecurity and cybersecurity.
63. All UNIDIR programmes and projects regularly convene events around theglobe. Research projects on managing exits from armed conflict and on a Middle Eastzone free of weapons of mass destruction brought together over 1,100 officials,
experts, academics and civil society representatives in 77 workshops and round tables
to discuss the regional perspectives of different geographical zones (the Lake Chadbasin, Colombia and the Middle East).
64. UNIDIR further expanded its networking activities through the 2022 UNIDIR Women in International Security CoLab, which convened a high -level meeting thatbrought together a distinguished group of 40 women from all regions working ininternational security in Geneva.
The Institute
65. In 2022, UNIDIR continued to grow while further strengthening its operating
model and funding structure. The Institute, in collaboration wi th the Department ofManagement Strategy, Policy and Compliance, also strengthened its monitoring ofinternal controls, leading to a marked improvement in scores on associated indicators.
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Staffing and operations
66. The credibility and impact of UNIDIR depend on the quality and diversity of its
researchers. Owing to increasing demand for the Institute’s work, its full -time
workforce increased by 14 per cent, from 36 in 2021 to 41 in 2022. Ten additional
positions were added during the first quarter of 2023. As requested by the Advisory
Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions, a detailed staffing table isavailable in annex IV. The Institute’s current personnel originate from 28 countries
from five continents and speak 17 languages, including all six United Nations official
languages. In total, 92 per cent of staff have a postgraduate degree, while 38 per centhold a doctoral degree. UNIDIR has a well-balanced gender ratio of 58:42 between
female and male staff.
67. At the institutional level, a new Executive Officer position was established at
the P-5 level, which is funded by the increased regular budget subvention. This role
includes managing and overseeing the Institute’s Finance, Budget and Administration
Unit and its Communications Unit. The Institute’s Directorate was strengthened
through the addition of two Junior Professional Officer positions, one of which isfunded by the Government of Germany and the other by the Government of France.
The Junior Professional Officers provide institute-wide support on special projects,
communications and resource mobilization.
68. In line with the staffing model recommended for UNIDIR by the Secretary General in 2018 (see A/73/284), UNIDIR continued to offer temporary United
Nations appointments to heads of programmes and consultancy co ntracts through theUnited Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS) to all other full -time researchstaff. The conditions provided by UNOPS for consultancy contracts remain more
attractive than those provided by the United Nations Office at Geneva. Spec ifically,
they include the same annual leave, sick leave and parental leave entitlements as forUnited Nations staff, and the possibility to cover relocation costs and to issue Swiss
residence permits for eligible family members. This model allows UNIDIR t o offer
attractive yet flexible contracts and retain the talent required to fulfil its research
agenda, thereby making efficient use of limited financial resources. As before,
UNIDIR offered more cost-efficient consultancies through the United Nations Officeat Geneva for limited-duration expertise.
69. UNOPS-contracted staff are offered a salary rate commensurate with the job
description and background of the selected candidate. In 2022, UNIDIR reviewed thesalary rates of all UNOPS-contracted staff with a view to ensuring that they arealigned across the Institute. In order to match the inflation rate -based salary increase
adopted by the International Civil Service Commission for United Nations pay scales,
UNIDIR implemented a salary increment of 5 per cent for its UNOPS-contracted
staff.
70. In 2022, the total expenditure for 30 UNOPS-contracted staff was $1,876,128(compared with $1,461,946 in 2021 for 20 staff). The service fees incurred toadminister these human resources services and all travel (staff entitlement travel aswell as official travel) amounted to $150,090 in 2022 (compared with $136,606 in2021).
71. Owing to the growth in the Institute’s operations in 2022, the cost of transaction based services provided by the United Nations Office at Geneva, as well as rent, cameto a total of $319,242 (compared with $304,446 in 2021).
Communications and outreach
72. In 2022, UNIDIR began to update its online presence and redesign its
publications in order to better disseminate its products and to improve cost-efficiency.
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73. The Institute’s new website, to be launched in 2023, offers a more audience focused and appealing channel through which stakeholders can discover and engage
with its research and tools. For users, the new website provides alterna tive entry
points and organizational principles that bring key themes and products to the fore.
For UNIDIR staff, it enables rapid, decentralized and cost-effective generation ofcontent. This will minimize redundancy in workloads and empower research
programmes and projects to engage with key debates in real time.
74. A new suite of professionally designed publication templates will increase theconsistency and impact of UNIDIR research products while reducing design costs
through greater standardization.
75. The growing demand for the digital tools and portals offered by UNIDIR led tocontinued expansion in 2022, in terms of both reach and coverage. The global
accessibility of the UNIDIR Cyber Policy Portal was boosted by the provision ofinterfaces in all six United Nations official languages. It received accolades from
Member States and the private sector. Development of digital tools on space security,
artificial intelligence and biosecurity also began in earnest in 2022, cementing theInstitute’s role as a digital hub for tackling key global security issues.
76. Outreach targeted at key partners within and beyond the United Nations system,
as well as coordinated cross-platform social media campaigns, saw website visits riseto nearly 900,000. The Institute’s combined social media audience also surpassed
40,000, with growth particularly strong on LinkedIn (a 50 per cent increase comparedwith 2021).
77. The 132 events held by the Institute, with over 9,500 participants, meant that2022 was also another year of significant expansion in activities and outreach.
78. The Institute’s 98 publications in 2022 (a 69 per cent increase compared with2021) dealt with topics as varied as the cybernuclear nexus, uncrewed systems, genderissues in the Arms Trade Treaty, the recruitment of children into armed groups andthe means of delivery in the Middle East zone free of weapons of mass destruction
initiative. UNIDIR remains strongly committed to reaching new and underserved
audiences through multilingual outputs. To this end, the Institute produced
19 translations into Arabic, Chinese, French and Spanish in 2022 alone. A complete
listing of UNIDIR publications in 2022 is available on the Institute’s website. 1
79. Acting on a recommendation from its Board of Trustees to engage with young
people on disarmament matters (see A/75/283), UNIDIR implemented a number of
new activities targeting younger audiences and building expertise among next generation researchers. These included a Model United Nations session on space
security; the first UNIDIR Global Disarmament Essay Competition, which received
121 entries from 38 countries; and the Youth Disarmament Orientation Course, a self paced course offering six e-learning modules on key disarmament issues.
80. In 2023, the Institute will focus on consolidating its redeveloped website,
populating and promoting its suite of policy portals and engaging in a more targeted,effective and consistent way with traditional and digital media.
Partnerships
81. In order to harness wide-ranging, first-rate thinking around the globe, UNIDIR
works with a diverse, global network of individuals and partner institutions, including
the United Nations, regional and national organizations, research inst itutes andacademia, non-governmental organizations and the private sector.
__________________
1

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82. In 2022, UNIDIR further strengthened its collaboration with United Nations
entities, such as the Biological Weapons Convention Implementation Support Unit,
the Counter-Terrorism Committee Executive Directorate, the Department of Peace
Operations, the Department of Political and Peacebuilding Affairs, the International
Organization for Migration, the Office for Disarmament Affairs, the Office for the
Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, the Office of the United Nations HighCommissioner for Human Rights, the United Nations Development Programme, theUnited Nations Children’s Fund, the United Nations Institute for Training andResearch, the United Nations Interregional Crime and Justice Research Institute, theUnited Nations University, UN-Women and the World Health Organization. The
Institute also engaged with the International Atomic Energy Agency, the Organisation
for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons, various regional organi zations and theUnited Nations Cyber Hub. Close cooperation with the Office for Disarmament
Affairs continued across the Institute’s programmes. UNIDIR provided expertise andparticipated in various United Nations inter-agency processes, including those on
counter-terrorism; disarmament, demobilization and reintegration; sanctions; mine
action; improvised explosive devices; small arms and light weapons; biological risks;biological weapons; and space security. For instance, in cooperation with the Counter Terrorism Committee Executive Directorate and the Office of Counter-Terrorism,
UNIDIR launched technical guidelines on preventing terrorists from acquiring
weapons and conducted regional workshops on their implementation.
83. UNIDIR partnered with regional organizations such as the Association ofSoutheast Asian Nations, the African Union, ECOWAS, the European Union and theOrganization of American States on topics such as cybersecurity, multidimensional
security and conventional arms control. UNIDIR established a memorandum of
understanding with the International Women’s Peace Centre in Namibia to promotescholarship, dialogue and the exchange of best practices with regard to the womenand peace and security agenda, as well as its interlinkages with disarma ment. It also
continued collaboration with research institutes and scholars worldwide, by
formalizing a new agreement for research cooperation with the University ofCalifornia, Berkeley (United States of America), and partnering with the Institute ofStrategic Studies, Islamabad, the Flemish Peace Institute, Non-Violence International
South-East Asia and the Verification Research, Training and Information Centre.
84. The Institute’s small liaison presence at United Nations Headquarters in New
York helped to deepen these collaborations. It supports Member States and otherpartners with knowledge and ideas and reinforces linkages between UNIDIR -leddisarmament research, events and other activities in Geneva and New York.
85. In 2023, UNIDIR is also intensifying its efforts to engage broader and morediverse audiences globally. The Institute will further diversify its research networks
and strengthen cooperation with individual experts from all regions and specialized
across the full spectrum of disarmament and related global security issues bylaunching a UNIDIR global disarmament research network. As a network of
networks, it will encompass several thematic networks focusing on specificdisarmament and global security topics.
Resource mobilization
86. In 2022, revamped resource mobilization efforts by UNIDIR led to the highest
ever contribution of revenue, which amounted to $7,865,076, and the highest evernumber of donors, which stood at 33, in the history of the Institute. Despite thisgrowth in overall revenue, unearmarked resources have been declining, both inabsolute and percentage terms, from $1,035,618 (15 per cent) in 2020 to $632,823(8 per cent) in 2022. UNIDIR continues to remind potential donors of General
Assembly resolution 75/82, in which the Assembly appealed to all Member States to
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continue to make financial contributions to the Institute, if possible multi -annual, andstrongly encouraged them to unearmark these contributions so as to contribute to its
viability, independence and impartiality and the quality of its work over the long term.
87. In 2022, for the first time since 2010, UNIDIR received financial contributions
from all five permanent members of the Security Council. All five countries were
engaged in various UNIDIR programmes, ranging from a multi-year agreement forthe development of knowledge portals on monitoring the Biological Weapons
Convention and the Convention on the Prohibition of the Develop ment, Production,
Stockpiling and Use of Chemical Weapons and on Their Destruction to the annual
facilitation of multi-State conferences on space and cybersecurity.
88. After the end of the first batch of multi-year agreements in 2021, UNIDIR
established six new multi-year agreements for two-, three- and four-year periods.
Confirmed pledges of funding for future years are a key factor in successful
operational planning and implementation.
89. A significant boost for financial stability in 2022 was the increase in thesubvention for UNIDIR approved by the General Assembly on 24 December 2021.
UNIDIR now receives regular budget funding for two positions, as well as theconvening of three events and quarterly briefings for United Nations regional groups.
The level of voluntary contributions has also increased in line with demand for theInstitute’s work. The subvention of $683,500 therefore accounted for less than 10 per
cent of total voluntary contributions in 2022, which is well below the subvention
levels (50 per cent of voluntary funding received) permitted by the UNIDIR statute.
90. Eligibility for classification as official development assistance is becoming
increasingly important in donors’ funding decisions. In 2019, the Organisation for
Economic Co-operation and Development determined a development assistancecoefficient of 27 per cent for UNIDIR. Some donors have found this percentage
insufficient to provide funds from their development budgets. The Institute iscurrently assessing whether this coefficient could be increased in 2024.
91. In line with established practice, in 2022, UNIDIR briefed its donors throughbiannual donor forums and regular bilateral discussions. It also engaged with private
sector and philanthropic partners on the basis of its guiding principles forengagements with non-State actors.
Resources and expenditures
92. With the generous support of 33 donors, the increased regular budget subvention
and other income, the total revenue for 2022 amounted to $7,924,855. This allowed
UNIDIR to increase its impact and respond to global demands for an improved
understanding of an increasingly complex global security environment. Revenue forthe first quarter of 2023 is shown in annex II, table 1. Details of voluntary
contributions to UNIDIR in 2022 are shown in annex II, table 2. Details of projected
income and expenditure are also included, in annex III, as requested by the Advisory
Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions in 2022.
93. Although actual voluntary contributions were higher than projected (seeA/77/144, annex IV), approximately 92 per cent of total voluntary contributions
received in 2022 were earmarked for specific programmes or activities (as noted
above).
94. The Institute’s total expenditure in 2022 was $7,289,994 (see annex II, table 1).
Actual expenses for the first quarter of 2023 are also shown. Total expenditure in
2022 was 93 per cent of the projection of $7,843,000 (see A/77/144, annex IV). The
main reason for this underspend was the implementation of COVID -19-related travel
restrictions, which caused delays to planned activities of the project on a Middle East
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zone free of weapons of mass destruction. More generally, while post-pandemic travel
picked up in the latter part of 2022, operating costs for conferences were low owing
to lower-priced venues or in-kind contributions from donors that covered some
operating expenses. Staff costs were also lower than projected, as the two P-4
institutional positions (Communications Officer and Finance and Budget Officer)
vacated during the second half of the year have been kept on temporary hold. The
impact of changes to the Institute’s communication strategy, describ ed above, will be
evaluated prior to a decision on filling the P-4 Communications Officer position. The
P-4 Finance and Budget Officer position has been temporarily filled by a P -2
Associate Administrative Officer.
95. Total expenditure in 2022 was lower than total revenue in the year. Funds carriedforward to 2023 were those that had longer implementation deadlines or where
no-cost extensions had been obtained by mutual agreement.
96. Throughout the year, UNIDIR monitored its financial situation to ensur e that
expenditure did not outpace revenue. Controls included a strengthened annual
budgeting process, the provision of an annual cost plan to the United Nations Officeat Geneva, biannual financial briefings to its Board of Trustees and donors, quarterly
executive budget reviews, monthly updates on the Institute’s financial dashboard andmore robust internal controls.

III. Programme of work and financial plan for 2023 and 2024
97. The programme of work for 2023 was approved by the Board of Trustees at its
meeting in June 2022 (see A/77/263). It reflects the updated workplans of theInstitute’s research programmes, guided by three cross-cutting priorities:(a) strengthening multilateral disarmament processes, including with a view toaddressing the implications of new technologies; (b) continuing to implement theinitiative of the Secretary-General, Securing Our Common Future: An Agenda for
Disarmament, with a focus on efforts to reduce the impact of arms -related violenceon civilians; and (c) expanding the Institute’s engagement in different regions of theworld, including through inclusive, interactive online formats. In line with its
mandate, UNIDIR will emphasize long-term, forward-looking research and consider
the wider linkages between disarmament, conflict prevention, development andglobal security.
98. To ensure sustained high-quality, impactful research outputs and resultsoriented management, UNIDIR continues to implement its strategic research agenda
for the period 2022–2025, which was formulated in 2021. It does this while operating
a continuous review process that includes quarterly implementation reviews, impact
monitoring and reporting. The next multi-year strategic research agenda for theInstitute and corresponding workplans for individual programmes will be developedin 2024 to cover the period 2025–2030.
99. The projected revenue for 2023 and 2024 is based on a conservati ve estimate ofvoluntary contributions, as detailed in annex III. Some of these estimates arecalculated on the basis of signed multi-year agreements and some are predicted basedon historical trends for each individual donor. Expenses encompass the workpl ans ofprogrammes and institutional initiatives. Implementation will be monitored and kept
within the available resources. The expenditure required to support the 2023 and 2024
programmes of work is projected to be $8.5 million and $8.6 million, respective ly, as
shown in annex III.
100. The Institute’s revamped resource mobilization efforts and the volatile
geopolitical environment, with its far-reaching financial implications, present an

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uncertain economic outlook that makes it difficult to predict the rev enues for 2023
and 2024. Against this backdrop and in the light of the continuous decline inunearmarked revenue, UNIDIR will again aim to set aside unearmarked resources ofat least 15 per cent of its annual budget for operational liquidity requirements.

IV. Conclusion
101. The year 2022 was marked by the global arms build-up, dangerous rhetoric andthinly veiled threats. It was a very challenging year for arms control, disarmamentand non-proliferation. As tensions between States, including nuclear-armed States,
are rising to ever more concerning levels, the risk of nuclear escalation is higher today
than it has been in decades. The war in Ukraine represents the most acute example ofthat risk. As stated by the Secretary-General on 22 February 2023 at the eleventh
emergency special session of the General Assembly, “we do not have a moment tolose” and it is indeed “high time to step back from the brink”.
102. The fraught state of the global security environment and pervasive sense ofstasis in the multilateral system raise urgent questions about ways of reinstalling
dialogue, reinforcing trust and incentivizing international cooperation. In this context,
arms control and disarmament cannot be distant aspirations for the future. They must
be an integral part of any security strategy, a recipe for strengthened bonds of trust
and, ultimately, a continuous real-world exercise in confidence-building andde-escalation. Historically, arms control and disarmament dialogues have helped todisrupt escalatory spirals and have paved the way to more constructive engagement
precisely when such an outcome seemed impossible.
103. UNIDIR plays a unique and vital role in the fields of multilateral disarmament,
arms control and non-proliferation. It acts as a bridge-builder in a multipolar security
environment fraught with tensions, builds capacity and generates positive, real -worldchange in various regions of the world. The General Assembly, in its resolution 75/82
on the fortieth anniversary of UNIDIR, considered the continuing need for theinternational community to have access to independent and in -depth research on
security issues and prospects for disarmament and non-proliferation. As the global
security environment continues to deteriorate, the need for the Institute’s work has
never been clearer or more urgent.
104. The fact that UNIDIR was supported in 2022 by the largest and most diverse
group of donors in its history is a testament to the increased demand for its w ork. This
support allowed UNIDIR to significantly scale up its research activities and theirimpact, resulting in a record number of research outputs and events. The Institute also
intensified its efforts to engage broader, more diverse audiences globally. However, avolatile geopolitical environment and global economy are drastically affecting thevoluntary funding on which UNIDIR depends, with unearmarked funding in constantdecline.
105. Significant support is needed to enable UNIDIR to sustainably meet theinternational community’s increasing research demands and to deliver the Institute’s
mission of working towards a stable and more secure world.

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Annex I
Explanatory note to financial annexes
All figures shown in annex II, with the exception of voluntary contributions, arebased on the United Nations statement of financial performance for the year 2022 for
the Institute.
Revenue
Voluntary contributions

Voluntary contributions, in cash and goods in kind
Contributions from non-Member States

Other transfers and allocations

Allocations from other funds
Subvention from the United Nations regular budget
Allocations from United Nations common system
entities

Investment revenue

Investment revenue
Bank balance interest
Realized market gain (loss)
Unrealized market gain (loss)

Other revenue

Foreign exchange gains
Other miscellaneous income

Expenses

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Employee salaries, allowancesand benefits

Staff contracts administered by the United Nations
Secretariat
Staff salaries and wages, allowances, including
taxes and education grant, home leave, family visit,
rest and recuperation and education grant travel
General temporary assistance compensation andallowances

Other expert contracts and fees

Individual contractors and individual consultants
administered by the United Nations Secretariat andthe United Nations Office for Project Services

Grants and other transfers

Outright grants and other transfers to implementing
agencies and partners and other entities

TravelTravel of staff
Travel of expert personnel
Travel of representatives

Other operating expenses

Rent, utilities
Contracted services

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Annex II
Table 1
Actual revenue and expenses for 2022 and first quarter of 2023
(Thousands of United States dollars)
2022

First quarter 2023 a

6 703

7 338

Voluntary contributions b

6 450

3 180

Other transfers and allocations

Description

Opening balance
Revenue

1 415

1 630

Investment revenue

980

Other revenue

51

–

7 925

4 890

Employee salaries, allowances and benefits

2 157

480

Other expert contracts and fees

2 438

60

Grants and other transfers

1 163

28

Travel422

137

Other operating expenses

468

91

642

302

7 290

1 098

635

3 792

7 338

11 130Total revenue
Expenses

Programme support costscTotal expenses
Surplus/(deficit) for the period
Closing balanceaPosition as at 3 April 2023; subject to changes until the close of the March 2023 accounting
period.
b
Includes contributions pledged in 2019, 2020 or 2021 that were receivable for 2022 andexcludes those that were pledged in 2022 for future years.
c
Programme support costs generated from use of extrabudgetary resources were used to cover
operating services provided by the United Nations Office at Geneva and other indirect costs.

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Table 2
Details of voluntary contributions for 2022
(United States dollars)
Description

AmountA. Voluntary contributions
Australia

346 782

Canada a

93 553

China

40 000Czechia

12 240European Union
Finlandbc

197 025

France255 001

Germany dHungary

578 789

1 447 777

e

5 252

Ireland

208 768

Italy

22 492

Kazakhstan

10 000

Luxembourg

11 161

Madagascar

1 000

Mexico

10 000Netherlands (Kingdom of the) f

575 000

New Zealand

30 000

Norway g

113 161

Pakistan

5 000

Philippines

10 000

Republic of Korea

368 262

Russian Federation

100 000

Sweden264 340

SwitzerlandhTürkiye
United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland i
United States of America j

491 000
3 000
184 757
1 025 528

Arms Trade Treaty secretariat

21 162

Fondation pour la recherche stratégique

19 380Subtotal, A

6 450 430

B. Other transfers and allocations
United Nations Foundation k

511 746

United Nations University

130 000

Office for Disarmament Affairs

89 400Subvention from the United Nations regular budget

683 500

Subtotal, B

1 414 646

Total

7 865 076

(Footnotes on following page)
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A/78/163(Footnotes to annex)______________aIncludes $81,103 pledged in 2021 for 2022. Does not include a further $81,103 pledged in
2021 for 2023.
b
Part of a conditional multi-year contribution from the European Union of $3.2 million.
Revenue is recognized during the course of the project as specific goods or services areprovided under the terms of the agreement.
c
Does not include $98,899 pledged in 2022 for 2023.
d
Does not include $413,650 pledged in 2022 for 2023.
e
Does not include $5,252 pledged in 2022 for 2023.
f
Part of a multi-year contribution from the Kingdom of the Netherlands of $2.3 million. Does
not include a further $1.7 million pledged in 2022 for 2023, 2024 and 2025.
g
Includes $113,161 pledged in 2021 for 2022.
hIncludes $165,000 pledged in 2021 for 2022. Does not include a further $60,000 pl edged in
2021 for 2023 and $180,000 pledged in 2022 for 2023.
i
Does not include $86,007 pledged in 2022 for 2023.
jPart of a multi-year contribution from the United States of $3.7 million. Does not include thetotal of $2.7 million pledged for 2023, 2024 and 2025.
k
Contribution received through the United Nations Foundation from Effective Giving.

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Annex III
Projected revenue and expenses for 2023 and 2024
(Thousands of United States dollars)
Description

2023

2024

7 338

8 091

Voluntary contributions

7 556

8 269

Other transfers and allocations

1 630

899

Investment income

80

100

Other revenue

1020

9 276 a9 288

Employee salaries, allowances and benefits

2 591

2 604

Other expert contracts and fees

3 416

3 433

Grants and other transfers

643

646

Travel487

490

Other operating expenses

541

543

Programme support costs

845

849

Total expenses

8 523 b

8 565

753

723

8 091

8 814

Opening balance
Revenue

Total revenue
Expenses

Surplus/(deficit) for the year
Closing balanceaProjected increase of approximately $1.4 million compared with 2022 attributable to higher
voluntary contributions expected from Canada, Germany, Norway and the European Union.
b
Projected increase of approximately $1.2 million compared with 2022 attributable to anincrease in full-time staff due to the addition of the project on managing exits from armed
conflict and steady growth in existing programmes.

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Annex IV
2022 staffing table
Programme/job title

Grade

Number of staff

Institutional
Director

D-2

1

Deputy Director

D-1

1

Executive Officer

P-5

1Communications Officer

P-4

1

Finance and Budget Officer (encumbered by a P-2)

P-4

1

Finance and Budget Officer

P-3

1

Associate Administrative Officer

P-2

1Communications Specialist

IICA-2

1

Associate Monitoring and Oversight Specialist

IICA-1

1Team Assistant/Personal Assistant to the Director

G-41

Subtotal

10

Conventional arms and ammunition
Head of Programme

P-4

1

Senior Researcher/New York Liaison Officer

P-4

1

Senior Researcher

IICA-3

1

Researcher

IICA-2

2.5

Associate Researcher

IICA-1

4

Programme Assistant

IICA-1

1

Subtotal

10.5

Weapons of mass destruction
Head of Programme

P-4

1

Senior Researcher

IICA-4

1

Senior Researcher

IICA-3

1

Associate Researcher

IICA-1

1

Subtotal

4

Space security
Associate Researcher

IICA-1

Subtotal

1
1

Security and technology
Head of Programme

P-4

Researcher

IICA-2

4.5

Associate Researcher

IICA-1

3

Programme Assistant

IICA-1

1

Subtotal

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1

9.5

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Programme/job title

Grade

Number of staff

Gender and disarmamentHead of Programme

P-3

1

Associate Researcher

IICA-1

1

Subtotal

2

A Middle East zone free of weapons of mass destruction

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Head of Project

IICA-3

1

Researcher

IICA-22

Project Coordinator

IICA-2

1

Subtotal

4

Total

41

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