Several countries have raised concerns about Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon's proposed budget for 2012-2013 alongwith an announcement of important cuts in management and operating expenses. Members of the Group of 77 and China underlined the negative consequences for reaching the UN's Millenium Development Goals MDG) by the target date of 2015.

On October 27th the Secretary-General proposed a budget of nearly $5.2 billion - a drop of 3.2% from the current 2020-2011 budget. He acknowledged that the proposed budget ''reflects a central challenge:  how to resource this Organization at a critical time."

The Group of 77 expressed its concerns following a presentation of the budget by Diego Limeres, Minister and Deputy Permanent Representative of Argentina to the UN who spoke on behalf of the Group of 77. ‘’The Group of 77 and China is deeply concerned over the arbitrary 3% cut imposed on programme managers, which has the potential to jeopardize the effective implementation of mandates." He want on to say that while all member states must reckon with the current economic crisis, including the most vulnerablet hat had nothing to do with its creation, it should not be used as an excuse to cut back and review intergovernmental mandates and priorities.

"At this point, it would only make sense that the United Nations redouble its efforts to assist the poorest and most vulnerable corners of the world", adding that the UN seems to be moving into the opposite direction. "Instead of strengthening the Organization's role for an enhanced development strategy in this time of crisis, there is a clear tendency to cut funds. This is a tragic situation. The developing countries, which should be the main beneficiaries of the work of the Organization, seem destined to suffer twice, as they are also the most severely affected by the financial crisis that was originated in the North."

The Group of 77 and China also underlined the current "imbalance between assessed and voluntary contributions" and the existing double-standard between mandates within the organization which present a considerable challenge for the organization in terms of achieving its mandate and development objectives.

Brazil underlined a concern also presented by other member states, about the effect of the proposed cuts on the role played by regional commissions such as the Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean in the implementation of the development agenda.

The delegation for the Russian federation emphasized the need for the UN  "to live within its means’’, to ‘’avoid piecemeal budgeting" and to ensure a ‘’frugal use of expert capacity" at the organizational and management level.