What They Are Saying

Expert commentary on the selection of a new Secretary-General

As the selection process for the next UN Secretary-General gets underway, we bring you our first roundup of analysis from think tanks, analysts, and the media.

1. In the Race for U.N. Secretary-General, Might a Woman Finally Lead? by Susana Malcorra & Nudhara Yusuf, Just Security (March 18, 2026) - Argues that electing a woman is a strategic necessity to improve institutional performance and decision-making.

2. The UN’s Hidden Power Architecture: What the Next Secretary-General Must Understand by Frederik Matthys, IPI Global Observatory (March 16, 2026) - Highlights a “triple disconnect” in the UN’s funding architecture, urging the next SG to address the disproportionate influence of wealthy donors.

3. The next UN chief must architect a new era of multilateralism by Qahir Dhanani & Jim Larson, Devex (March 11, 2026) - Argues the incoming leader must actively redesign multilateralism across five key priorities rather than maintaining the status quo.

4. Minister LaRoda calls for woman UN Secretary-General from Latin American and Caribbean Region at CSW70 gender parity dialogue by Natario McKenzie, Bahamas Latest News (March 10, 2026) - Reports on Bahamian Minister Myles LaRoda’s call for a female SG from the Latin American and Caribbean region based on regional rotation norms.

5. H.E. Mutryce Williams Leads UN Dialogue on Next Secretary-General Selection by Editor-JB, The St Kitts Nevis Observer (March 9, 2026) - Details a Working Group session focusing on candidate competence, gender equality, and campaign transparency.

6. Race for the new UN Secretary-General – what will be decisive in the selection? by Dusica Radeka Djordjevic, Kosovo-online (March 8, 2026) - Examines the dynamics between regional rotation and gender pressures, noting P5 acceptability will be the decisive factor.

7. Diverging Visions, Systemic Rupture: The Tenth UN Secretary-General and the Future of International Order by Farrukh Khan, SAIS Foreign Policy Institute (February 24, 2026) - Warns that the next SG must mediate and reform constrained institutions to prevent systemic rupture in a fracturing global order.

8. The Veto May be the Weapon of Elimination in the Election of Next UN Chief by Thalif Deen, Inter Press Service (IPS) UN Bureau Report (February 17, 2026) - Explains how the Security Council veto, particularly from the U.S., makes political alignment with major powers crucial for any candidate.

9. The UN can’t reform itself with yesterday’s leaders by Dhanush Dinesh, Devex (February 13, 2026) - Warns that UN reform requires generational renewal and new thinking at the top, criticizing the outdated leadership pipeline.

10. Next UN Secretary-General Should Champion Rights by Widad Franco, Human Rights Watch (February 11, 2026) - Argues the next leader must center human rights, flagging the P5 veto as a critical constraint.

11. Ten Leadership Skills the Next UN Secretary-General Must Possess to Retain Global Relevance by Zurab Elzarov, Zurab Elzarov (LinkedIn) (February 7, 2026) - Outlines ten essential leadership skills for the next SG, emphasizing the need to navigate great-power politics and manage a complex bureaucracy.

12. 1 for 8 Billion: Rethinking Leadership at a Time of Multilateral Crisis by Margarita Gómez & Farah Munayer, Southern Voice (February 4, 2026) - Calls for a more transparent and inclusive selection process that represents Global South perspectives and women’s leadership.

13. The United Nations in 2026: Leadership and Legitimacy Under Constraint by Thibault Camelli, CIC / NYU (February 3, 2026) - Examines how fiscal constraints and political uncertainty are shaping the UN’s leadership and the trajectory of the UN80 reform.

14. Will The Next UN Secretary-General Deliver Institutional Evolution? by Ingmar Rentzhog, Forbes (January 31, 2026) - Argues member states must select a leader capable of driving substantive institutional evolution rather than settling for business-as-usual.

15. Why so few want to be the next UN Secretary-General by Zurab Elzarov, Zurab Elzarov (LinkedIn) (January 28, 2026) - Suggests the SG role has become politically unmanageable and heavily scrutinized, making it unattractive to potential candidates.

16. Who’s Afraid of the F-Word? The Next UN Leader Must Be a Woman — and a Feminist by Jody Williams & Mavic Cabrera-Balleza, PassBlue (January 27, 2026) - Argues that feminist leadership is long overdue and necessary to address systemic inequalities and restore UN credibility.

17. Where Are the Candidates? UN General Assembly Chief Calls for More People to Enter Secretary-General Race by Damilola Banjo, PassBlue (January 14, 2026) - Reports on the General Assembly President urging more candidates to enter the race ahead of the April 1 nomination deadline.

18. Wanted: a visionary to stand firm amid tyranny and turmoil by Isabel Coles, The Observer (January 11, 2026) - Warns against selecting a weak compromise candidate amid global turmoil, arguing that strong, visionary leadership is essential.

19. US Lists Demands for Next UN Secretary-General by Iulia-Elena Cazan, C-Fam (January 2, 2026) - Details U.S. demands for a candidate who prioritizes national sovereignty and reduces bureaucracy.

20. Predictions for the Secretary-General selection process by Eugene Chen, Casque Bleu (Substack) (December 18, 2025) - Outlines predictions for the race, emphasizing that the real electorate is a small group of diplomats where the P5 veto is decisive.

21. Who will be the next UN Secretary-General? (Paid subscribers only) by Maya Plentz, The UN Brief (Substack) (December 16, 2025) - Analyzes candidate visions and Security Council acceptability, positioning Grossi as a low-risk consensus choice.

22. As the U.N. Seeks Its Next Secretary-General, a Growing Number of Countries Favor a Woman by Adama Balde, Ben Donaldson, Mavic Cabrera-Balleza, Claudette Segura, Just Security (December 12, 2025) - Highlights that at least 94 states support the appointment of a female SG, with growing concerns over gender balance in UN leadership.

23. Trump admin warned to take front seat as UN chief race shifts left, boosting anti-US contenders by Beth Bailey, Fox News (December 5, 2025) - Argues the U.S. must actively shape the selection process to counter candidates viewed as left-leaning or misaligned with U.S. interests.

24. In Hindsight: The Search for the Next UN Secretary-General Begins by Security Council Report (November 30, 2025) - Details negotiations over the joint selection letter, noting friction between the P5 and E10 over nomination deadlines, regional rotation, and gender.

25. Selecting the Next UN Secretary-General: Ultimate Test for Multilateralism by Thibault Camelli, NYU CIC (November 26, 2025) - Frames the selection as a major test for multilateralism involving member state control, transparency, and the balance of power.

26. Appointment of the Next UN SG: Joint Letter from the Presidents of SC and UNGA by Security Council Report (November 25, 2025) - Provides an authoritative account of the joint letter negotiations, noting P5 resistance to regional and gender language.

27. The Process for Selecting the Secretary-General of the United Nations by Mark Simonoff & Thibault Camelli, NYU CIC (October 16, 2025) - Overviews the gender equity push, contrasting Grossi’s stance with civil society warnings that UN legitimacy requires a female leader.

28. Madam SG: Can the UN Finally Smash Its Glass Ceiling? by Arshi Qureshi, PassBlue (October 7, 2025) - Highlights calls to reform traditional SG privileges, strengthen transparency, and improve the candidate selection process.

29. The UN’s impossible job: Who would want to be the next Secretary-General? by Stéphanie Fillion, Lowy Institute (September 3, 2025) - Argues the role is an “impossible job” heavily constrained by great-power politics and the necessity of securing P5 support.