UN Launches Global Search for Next Secretary-General with Focus on Gender Diversity

The United Nations officially commenced the process of finding its next Secretary-General on Tuesday.

New York:

The search for the next United Nations Secretary-General was formally initiated on Tuesday, with member states receiving invitations to nominate candidates to succeed Antonio Guterres for the term beginning in 2027.

In a joint communication addressed to all 193 UN member states, the 80-year-old global organization specified it seeks candidates possessing extensive international relations experience, diplomatic capabilities, and strong language proficiency.

"The Secretary-General position requires the highest standards of efficiency, competence and integrity along with firm commitment to the United Nations Charter's purposes and principles," stated the letter co-signed by Sierra Leone ambassador Michael Imran Kanu, the current Security Council president, and General Assembly President Annalena Baerbock.

Several member states are advocating for female leadership, with UN officials acknowledging "with regret that no woman has ever held the position of Secretary-General" and encouraging members "to strongly consider nominating women."

Potential candidates already generating discussion include former Chilean President Michelle Bachelet, Argentinian International Atomic Energy Agency director Rafael Grossi, and Costa Rican diplomat Rebeca Grynspan, who currently heads the UN agency for trade and development (UNCTAD).

Candidates must receive formal nomination from a state or group of states, submit a comprehensive vision statement, and disclose funding sources.

While geographical rotation traditionally suggests Latin America's turn, this convention isn't binding. The official communication notes "the importance of regional diversity" without mandating any specific region.

Candidates may participate in public interviews, a transparency measure first implemented during the 2016 selection process that resulted in Guterres' initial appointment.

Security Council members will commence the formal selection procedure by late July, with the five permanent veto-holding members – United States, China, Russia, United Kingdom, and France – wielding decisive influence over candidates' prospects.

Following the Security Council's recommendation, the General Assembly can elect the Secretary-General to a five-year term commencing January 1, 2027, with one possible renewal.