What GAO Found Across 11 selected UN capital projects that were completed or in progress from December 31, 2014, through December 31, 2024, seven projects were within budget and three were on schedule. For the projects that experienced budget increases and schedule delays, GAO found that multiple factors contributed to the increases and delays. For example, as of May 2025, the Strategic Heritage Plan project (SHP) was 10 percent over budget and 4 years behind schedule. COVID-19 reduced the number of workers who could be on site, causing schedule delays, and challenges coordinating construction work with contractors slowed progress, according to SHP officials. However, the Gigiri Master Plan, located in Nairobi, Kenya, is on budget and on schedule, in part because of effective project monitoring and reporting, with construction expected to be completed in 2029. Coordinating U.S. oversight of UN capital projects is a Department of State responsibility. State’s Bureau of International Organization Affairs (IO) monitors UN capital projects through mechanisms including reviewing reports, attending meetings, and engaging with UN officials. However, GAO found that opportunities exist for State to strengthen its oversight of projects. For example, State IO officials do not systematically monitor key indicators (e.g., budget and schedule)…
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United Nations Renovations: Budget and Schedule Status of Selected Projects Are Mixed, and State Could Strengthen Oversight
Source: US GAO Reports — US Government, Public Domain