Asia’s family offices and corporations must step up to replace a cash-strapped UN and fill the SDG funding gap

The United Nations faces a deepening liquidity crisis. Secretary-General António Guterres has warned of an “imminent financial collapse” as the international body confronts $1.6 billion in unpaid dues and billions more in peacekeeping arrears. The UN isn’t about to shut down, but its capacity to operate and coordinate global actions is going to erode.

As the United Nations inevitably trims its support for sustainable development, Asia is going to have to find a replacement source of capital. The answer will have to come from those with money: the region’s wealthy, and its corporations.

Asia’s wealthy families and billionaires can no longer afford to give in isolation. For too long, they have preferred direct, standalone donations that maximize control, but limit impact. Corporate philanthropy has built efficient networks that move capital quickly; family-led giving, on the other hand, is often guided by cultural norms, community affiliations, or business interests, with decisions made in silos rather than shared frameworks.

These traditions have va...