Policy Advice in UN Development Work

Abstract Providing high-level policy advice to developing countries with the purpose shape national policies is a key function of UN . Yet no official definition exists and little known on how much weight gives this support modality in contrast capacity-building implementation work. To address gap, article first articulates case for ’s role change. It then presents an empirical analysis landscape , providing numerical estimate share resources dedicated identifying five practical constraints function. Results suggest that, despite high expectations, fieldwork not strategically focused advice. This contributes underresearched field development work it is, or should be, shaped by multilateralism.