Colum Lynch
@columlynch.bsky.social
Reporter at Devex News.
Priors: Foreign Policy Magazine, Washington Post
Brooklyn and United Nations
Priors: Foreign Policy Magazine, Washington Post
Brooklyn and United Nations
Exclusive: U.S. seeks ouster of UN drug and crime agency chief, cites extended remote work arrangement, but comes as US pursues militarized approach to global drug fight. www.devex.com/news/exclusi...
Exclusive: US seeks ouster of UN drug and crime agency chief
Washington faults the extended remote work arrangement.
www.devex.com
September 30, 2025 at 5:47 PM
Exclusive: U.S. seeks ouster of UN drug and crime agency chief, cites extended remote work arrangement, but comes as US pursues militarized approach to global drug fight. www.devex.com/news/exclusi...
Reposted by Colum Lynch
I talk to @columlynch.bsky.social about how the UN has gone from "big ideas to big budget cuts" in the space of a year.
www.devex.com/news/deep-di...
www.devex.com/news/deep-di...
Deep dive: The UN — from big ideas to big cuts
The United Nations’ “Summit of the Future now feels like it was the Summit of a Bygone Era.”
www.devex.com
August 8, 2025 at 2:51 PM
I talk to @columlynch.bsky.social about how the UN has gone from "big ideas to big budget cuts" in the space of a year.
www.devex.com/news/deep-di...
www.devex.com/news/deep-di...
Reposted by Colum Lynch
"The reality is that the next generation of U.N. leaders will spend their time managing retreat, retrenchment and redundancies." I tell @columlynch.bsky.social @devex.com.
www.devex.com/news/the-un-...
www.devex.com/news/the-un-...
The UN's changing of the guard
Ready, set, go: A potential new crop of U.N. leaders are entering the campaign trail for a series of elections that will reshape the world body for years to come.
www.devex.com
July 8, 2025 at 1:10 PM
"The reality is that the next generation of U.N. leaders will spend their time managing retreat, retrenchment and redundancies." I tell @columlynch.bsky.social @devex.com.
www.devex.com/news/the-un-...
www.devex.com/news/the-un-...
Reposted by Colum Lynch
If you live in the US, you are in greater jeopardy today than you were 6 months ago. So is your family. So are your friends & neighbors. Virtually all the important parts of the U.S. gov't created to protect us are being shut down, gutted, or marginalized. My latest. newrepublic.com/article/1968...
We Better Pray That No Unexpected Crisis Hits While Trump Is President
It’s a world exploding with crises waiting to happen. Donald Trump has made us less prepared for every one of them.
newrepublic.com
June 17, 2025 at 11:36 PM
If you live in the US, you are in greater jeopardy today than you were 6 months ago. So is your family. So are your friends & neighbors. Virtually all the important parts of the U.S. gov't created to protect us are being shut down, gutted, or marginalized. My latest. newrepublic.com/article/1968...
Exclusive: US upends U.N. negotiations on development financing, putting forward more than 400 amendments that are being largely dismissed by lead negotiators.
www.devex.com/news/exclusi...
www.devex.com/news/exclusi...
Exclusive: US seeks to gut UN development goals
American negotiators proposed hundreds of amendments aimed at reversing prior commitments to achieving U.N. Sustainable Development Goals.
www.devex.com
June 12, 2025 at 4:29 PM
Exclusive: US upends U.N. negotiations on development financing, putting forward more than 400 amendments that are being largely dismissed by lead negotiators.
www.devex.com/news/exclusi...
www.devex.com/news/exclusi...
"Israel's new aid system is inhumane." UK mission to UN
June 4, 2025 at 8:49 PM
"Israel's new aid system is inhumane." UK mission to UN
UN relief coordinator: "The world is watching, day after day, horrifying scenes of Palestinians being shot, wounded or killed in Gaza while simply trying to eat."
June 4, 2025 at 2:20 PM
UN relief coordinator: "The world is watching, day after day, horrifying scenes of Palestinians being shot, wounded or killed in Gaza while simply trying to eat."
Reposted by Colum Lynch
It is entirely unclear what the SG is trying to accomplish here. Arbitrary staffing cuts not only won’t bring the fundamental reform needed at the UN. It also won’t address the liquidity crisis. If the U.S. withholds, it doesn’t matter how small the pie is. 22% will still be missing. #UN80
UN Secretary General instructs managers to cut thousands of additional jobs in fields from peacekeeping to development and human rights. www.devex.com/news/un-chie...
UN chief outlines plans for thousands of new job cuts
United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres calls for eliminating 20% of jobs in the U.N. Secretariat.
www.devex.com
May 29, 2025 at 11:57 AM
It is entirely unclear what the SG is trying to accomplish here. Arbitrary staffing cuts not only won’t bring the fundamental reform needed at the UN. It also won’t address the liquidity crisis. If the U.S. withholds, it doesn’t matter how small the pie is. 22% will still be missing. #UN80
UN Secretary General instructs managers to cut thousands of additional jobs in fields from peacekeeping to development and human rights. www.devex.com/news/un-chie...
UN chief outlines plans for thousands of new job cuts
United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres calls for eliminating 20% of jobs in the U.N. Secretariat.
www.devex.com
May 28, 2025 at 6:41 PM
UN Secretary General instructs managers to cut thousands of additional jobs in fields from peacekeeping to development and human rights. www.devex.com/news/un-chie...
Reposted by Colum Lynch
@columlynch.bsky.social reports on UN's cost-cutting plans & cheap-housing offers from #Rwanda #Qatar etc
I told him: #China & #Russia have tried to slash funding for human rights. Until now, the US has provided the most powerful counterbalance to that, but now there's a risk the US won’t do that.
I told him: #China & #Russia have tried to slash funding for human rights. Until now, the US has provided the most powerful counterbalance to that, but now there's a risk the US won’t do that.
Have I got a deal for you: UN in search of cheap housing
Rwanda, Qatar, and others make offers to house financially strapped U.N. agencies.
www.devex.com
May 22, 2025 at 12:15 PM
@columlynch.bsky.social reports on UN's cost-cutting plans & cheap-housing offers from #Rwanda #Qatar etc
I told him: #China & #Russia have tried to slash funding for human rights. Until now, the US has provided the most powerful counterbalance to that, but now there's a risk the US won’t do that.
I told him: #China & #Russia have tried to slash funding for human rights. Until now, the US has provided the most powerful counterbalance to that, but now there's a risk the US won’t do that.
Germany begins discussion w/ U.N. Secretary General about prospect of covering costs of relocating U.N. staff to Bonn from New York and Geneva. Rwanda offers inducements, including tax breaks and low cost facilities, to establishing U.N. hub in Kigali.
www.devex.com/news/have-i-...
www.devex.com/news/have-i-...
Have I got a deal for you: UN in search of cheap housing
Rwanda, Qatar, and others make offers to house financially strapped U.N. agencies.
www.devex.com
May 21, 2025 at 4:08 PM
Germany begins discussion w/ U.N. Secretary General about prospect of covering costs of relocating U.N. staff to Bonn from New York and Geneva. Rwanda offers inducements, including tax breaks and low cost facilities, to establishing U.N. hub in Kigali.
www.devex.com/news/have-i-...
www.devex.com/news/have-i-...
Reposted by Colum Lynch
Me on the big 🇺🇳 🍔 question @devex.com with @nataliesam.bsky.social and @columlynch.bsky.social.
www.devex.com/news/devex-n...
www.devex.com/news/devex-n...
May 15, 2025 at 2:58 PM
Me on the big 🇺🇳 🍔 question @devex.com with @nataliesam.bsky.social and @columlynch.bsky.social.
www.devex.com/news/devex-n...
www.devex.com/news/devex-n...
Story updated with State Department spox comment:
"The US opposes the Palestinian observer's candidacy for UN General Assembly president. We do not support the Arab Group's decision to nominate Riyad Mansour, nor think this bid is a realistic option to advance the cause of peace."
"The US opposes the Palestinian observer's candidacy for UN General Assembly president. We do not support the Arab Group's decision to nominate Riyad Mansour, nor think this bid is a realistic option to advance the cause of peace."
The annual election for the UN Gen Assembly presidency is generally a sleeper. But Palestine's bid for the top U.N. post in 2026-27 has set the stage for a clash with Washington that could risk US funding to wider UN. Now Cyprus is mounting a challenge. Scoop.
www.devex.com/news/scoop-c...
www.devex.com/news/scoop-c...
Scoop: Cyprus takes on Palestine for UN General Assembly presidency
A Palestinian victory would risk roiling U.S. relations with the United Nations.
www.devex.com
April 16, 2025 at 8:21 PM
Story updated with State Department spox comment:
"The US opposes the Palestinian observer's candidacy for UN General Assembly president. We do not support the Arab Group's decision to nominate Riyad Mansour, nor think this bid is a realistic option to advance the cause of peace."
"The US opposes the Palestinian observer's candidacy for UN General Assembly president. We do not support the Arab Group's decision to nominate Riyad Mansour, nor think this bid is a realistic option to advance the cause of peace."
The annual election for the UN Gen Assembly presidency is generally a sleeper. But Palestine's bid for the top U.N. post in 2026-27 has set the stage for a clash with Washington that could risk US funding to wider UN. Now Cyprus is mounting a challenge. Scoop.
www.devex.com/news/scoop-c...
www.devex.com/news/scoop-c...
Scoop: Cyprus takes on Palestine for UN General Assembly presidency
A Palestinian victory would risk roiling U.S. relations with the United Nations.
www.devex.com
April 16, 2025 at 7:36 PM
The annual election for the UN Gen Assembly presidency is generally a sleeper. But Palestine's bid for the top U.N. post in 2026-27 has set the stage for a clash with Washington that could risk US funding to wider UN. Now Cyprus is mounting a challenge. Scoop.
www.devex.com/news/scoop-c...
www.devex.com/news/scoop-c...
Exclusive: Chef José Andrés' World Central Kitchen earned a reputation as fearless front-line humanitarians. But relief outfit's staff are expressing concerns about what they see as inadequate security standards. Must read investigation by @elissamio.bsky.social
www.devex.com/news/what-la...
www.devex.com/news/what-la...
What lay behind the deaths of 7 World Central Kitchen staff in Gaza
Devex spoke with 14 former and current staff, all of whom detailed a culture of letting safety slide to the periphery and a tendency to “build the plane while flying it.”
www.devex.com
April 16, 2025 at 7:12 PM
Exclusive: Chef José Andrés' World Central Kitchen earned a reputation as fearless front-line humanitarians. But relief outfit's staff are expressing concerns about what they see as inadequate security standards. Must read investigation by @elissamio.bsky.social
www.devex.com/news/what-la...
www.devex.com/news/what-la...
Asked to describe the potential impact of an election of a Palestinian as the head of the U.N. General Assembly, one U.N. official texted Devex an emoji with an exploding head.
Scoop: Palestine is mounting a campaign for presidency of the UN General Assembly, and the collective brain of the UN community is exploding! www.devex.com/news/exclusi...
Exclusive: Palestinians launch bid for UN General Assembly presidency
Arab Group formally nominates Palestinian diplomat, setting stage for clash with U.S. and Israel.
www.devex.com
March 26, 2025 at 3:42 PM
Asked to describe the potential impact of an election of a Palestinian as the head of the U.N. General Assembly, one U.N. official texted Devex an emoji with an exploding head.
Scoop: Palestine is mounting a campaign for presidency of the UN General Assembly, and the collective brain of the UN community is exploding! www.devex.com/news/exclusi...
Exclusive: Palestinians launch bid for UN General Assembly presidency
Arab Group formally nominates Palestinian diplomat, setting stage for clash with U.S. and Israel.
www.devex.com
March 26, 2025 at 2:56 PM
Scoop: Palestine is mounting a campaign for presidency of the UN General Assembly, and the collective brain of the UN community is exploding! www.devex.com/news/exclusi...
My daughter took a bus last night from Montreal to New York. Not a single person got on the bus with her. The bus driver said hop in, I'm your limousine rider. No passengers till they arrived in Plattsburgh, NY.
March 20, 2025 at 9:41 PM
My daughter took a bus last night from Montreal to New York. Not a single person got on the bus with her. The bus driver said hop in, I'm your limousine rider. No passengers till they arrived in Plattsburgh, NY.
"We must immediately and substantively reduce our expenditures,” UNHCR chief Filippo Grandi he added. “Shrinking the size of our workforce will unfortunately not be sufficient, alone, to reduce our expenditures.”
Scoop: UN refugee agency, UNHCR, braces for massive layoffs. One official said it could be as much as a quarter of the work force, some 5,000 to 6,000 workers. www.devex.com/news/exclusi...
Exclusive: UN Refugee Agency braces for thousands of job cuts
UNHCR chief warns Washington's "brutal" foreign aid freeze putting "millions of lives at risk."
www.devex.com
March 20, 2025 at 8:51 PM
"We must immediately and substantively reduce our expenditures,” UNHCR chief Filippo Grandi he added. “Shrinking the size of our workforce will unfortunately not be sufficient, alone, to reduce our expenditures.”
Scoop: UN refugee agency, UNHCR, braces for massive layoffs. One official said it could be as much as a quarter of the work force, some 5,000 to 6,000 workers. www.devex.com/news/exclusi...
Exclusive: UN Refugee Agency braces for thousands of job cuts
UNHCR chief warns Washington's "brutal" foreign aid freeze putting "millions of lives at risk."
www.devex.com
March 20, 2025 at 8:26 PM
Scoop: UN refugee agency, UNHCR, braces for massive layoffs. One official said it could be as much as a quarter of the work force, some 5,000 to 6,000 workers. www.devex.com/news/exclusi...
Reposted by Colum Lynch
Scoop in @devex.com by @columlynch.bsky.social : UN employees approached by ICE, urged to carry G4 visas and passports with them at all time by sr leadership.
March 18, 2025 at 3:50 PM
Scoop in @devex.com by @columlynch.bsky.social : UN employees approached by ICE, urged to carry G4 visas and passports with them at all time by sr leadership.
The future of a shrunk USAID by @elissamio.bsky.social www.devex.com/news/exclusi...
Exclusive: Inside the closed-door meeting on USAID’s future
The ideas for the agency’s future were shared by Tim Meisburger, the head of USAID’s Bureau for Humanitarian Assistance, in a closed-door meeting on Wednesday.
www.devex.com
March 17, 2025 at 1:47 PM
The future of a shrunk USAID by @elissamio.bsky.social www.devex.com/news/exclusi...
Scoop: UN migration agency cuts more jobs, shutters lifesaving programs from Myanmar to Yemen. At least 20 percent of headquarters slashed. "Entire units are gone. Massive loss of institutional and sectoral knowledge," one source told Devex.
www.devex.com/news/scoop-u...
www.devex.com/news/scoop-u...
Scoop: UN migration agency cuts more jobs, shutters lifesaving programs
The International Organization for Migration lays off 20% of its headquarters staff, cease lifesaving operations from Myanmar to Yemen.
www.devex.com
March 13, 2025 at 4:18 PM
Scoop: UN migration agency cuts more jobs, shutters lifesaving programs from Myanmar to Yemen. At least 20 percent of headquarters slashed. "Entire units are gone. Massive loss of institutional and sectoral knowledge," one source told Devex.
www.devex.com/news/scoop-u...
www.devex.com/news/scoop-u...
"It's multilateral McCarthyism," said one senior diplomat.
Trump's new loyalty list for UN and aid groups: US asks U.N. agencies and NGO whether they collaborate with communists, totalitarians or terrorists www.devex.com/news/trump-s...
Trump's new loyalty list for UN and aid groups: US asks U.N. agencies and NGO whether they collaborate with communists, totalitarians or terrorists www.devex.com/news/trump-s...
Trump's new 'loyalty test' for UN and aid groups
U.S. asks U.N. agencies and NGOs whether they collaborate with communists, totalitarians, or terrorists.
www.devex.com
March 12, 2025 at 10:36 PM
"It's multilateral McCarthyism," said one senior diplomat.
Trump's new loyalty list for UN and aid groups: US asks U.N. agencies and NGO whether they collaborate with communists, totalitarians or terrorists www.devex.com/news/trump-s...
Trump's new loyalty list for UN and aid groups: US asks U.N. agencies and NGO whether they collaborate with communists, totalitarians or terrorists www.devex.com/news/trump-s...