Race for the Next UN Secretary-General: Candidates, Process and the Challenges Ahead

The UN secretary-general race is now in full swing, and the outcome could make history. Whoever wins will become the tenth person to lead the United Nations, taking over from António Guterres on January 1, 2027. The choice is usually settled and formally appointed between October and December of the outgoing leader’s last year in office.

This year’s contest stands out for two reasons. Four of the seven candidates are women, raising the real possibility that the UN could have its first female leader. And under the organization’s informal tradition of regional rotation, many expect the job to go to someone from Latin America and the Caribbean.

Whoever wins will inherit an 81-year-old institution under heavy strain, facing internal reform, a serious cash shortage, climate change, the rapid spread of artificial intelligence and rising global tensions.

What Does the Secretary-General Actually Do?

The secretary-general is the UN’s chief administrative officer and, in practice, the head of the entire UN system. The post was created when the UN Charter was adopted in 1945, and Trygve Lie became the first officeholder in 1946.

The job is often described as a mix of diplomat, advocate, civil servant and chief executive. Experts note a curious contradiction: the role has little formal power, yet it can carry enormous influence. That influence comes from less tangible sources, such as the platform the office provides, how willing member states are to support the leader’s agenda, and the weight of global public opinion.

Interestingly, the Charter says almost nothing about who should hold the post, what qualifications they need, or how long they should serve. Those rules have developed gradually through resolutions and practice.

Each leader has also shaped the role differently. Dag Hammarskjöld and U Thant were seen largely as mediators, while Kofi Annan took a more activist approach.

Why This Selection Could Be Historic

A First Woman at the Top

All nine previous secretaries-general have been men. The UN has openly recognized this imbalance, and a resolution passed in September 2025 encouraged member states to seriously consider nominating women.

Experts stress that the priority is still choosing the best person for the job. But many see it as encouraging that the process has drawn so many highly qualified women from different regions.

Latin America’s Turn

Only one Latin American has ever held the post: Javier Pérez de Cuéllar, who served from 1982 to 1991. Many diplomats believe the region’s claim is strong this time. Analysts warn that ignoring it could create lasting resentment, especially since the rotation custom was already broken in 2016, when Eastern Europe, which has never produced a secretary-general, was expected to get the job but Guterres was chosen instead.

Meet the Seven Candidates

Ivonne A-Baki. A former Ecuadorian ambassador to the United States, France and Qatar, she wants the UN to be led by a peacemaker rather than a caretaker. Her priorities include ending wars, reforming Security Council membership and restoring trust within the organization.

María Fernanda Espinosa Garcés. Ecuador’s former foreign and defense minister, and a past president of the General Assembly, she has built her campaign around peace and security, development, digital and energy transformation, better delivery and rebuilding the UN’s credibility.

Rafael Mariano Grossi. Head of the International Atomic Energy Agency since 2019 and a former Argentine ambassador to Austria, Grossi promises a more effective, results-focused UN. He argues his experience managing complex emergencies has prepared him well.

Rebeca Grynspan Mayufis. A respected economist, former vice president of Costa Rica and current head of UN Trade and Development, she says the UN faces political, legitimacy and operational crises at once. She aims to restore confidence, put peacemaking first and deliver results.

Olara Otunnu. A veteran diplomat, he served under Kofi Annan as special representative for children and armed conflict and was previously Uganda’s UN ambassador and foreign minister. He hopes to renew the UN’s moral authority, mobilize development funding and strengthen ties with regional organizations.

Carolyn Rodrigues Birkett. Guyana’s UN ambassador since 2020, she has also served as her country’s foreign minister and in other ministerial roles. Her platform emphasizes the UN’s founding principles, human rights and global development.

Macky Sall. The former president of Senegal and former African Union chair wants a leaner, modernized UN, better coordination between its main bodies and realistic, consensus-based Security Council reform.

How the Selection Process Works

Article 97 of the Charter simply says the General Assembly appoints the secretary-general based on the Security Council’s recommendation. In practice, the process is far more involved and often takes over a year.

Here is how it unfolds:

• Nomination: Candidates must be put forward by at least one member state. New candidates can join at any point until a winner is chosen.
• Transparency: Each candidate publishes a vision statement, CV and campaign financing details online.
• Public dialogues: Since reforms in 2016, candidates take part in town halls and answer questions from member states, UN staff and civil society.
• Straw polls: The 15-member Security Council holds anonymous informal votes, marking each candidate as encouraged, discouraged or no opinion. Results frequently leak.
• Formal vote: A candidate needs at least nine votes and no veto from the five permanent members: the United States, China, France, Russia and the United Kingdom.
• Final approval: The General Assembly then appoints the recommended candidate. If it refuses, the Council must start again.

The Challenges Waiting for the Winner

The next leader faces a daunting agenda. Conflicts are multiplying, great-power rivalry is intensifying, and climate change, health emergencies and fast-moving technology all demand attention.

Inside the UN, problems are just as serious. The UN80 reform initiative is underway, a cash crisis is deepening, and Guterres himself has warned that the Security Council is close to paralyzed, with vetoes from permanent members, mainly the United States and Russia, blocking action.

Money is a major worry. The United States has long been the UN’s largest funder but has sharply reduced its contributions under the second Trump administration. Hopes that China or Europe would fill the gap have not materialized. Some analysts even suggest that many member states quietly welcome the pressure for austerity.

At the same time, governments facing growing security threats are increasingly questioning how relevant the UN is to their most urgent needs.

What Comes Next

Over the coming months, straw polls and backroom diplomacy will narrow the field. Whoever emerges will take on what one expert describes as an extremely tough job with few clear instructions and little gratitude, yet one that remains central to how the world tries to solve its biggest problems together.