Maria Fernanda Espinosa

The U.N. Security Council conducted a straw poll for seven candidates vying to become the next U.N. Secretary-General. While candidates agree on the U.N.'s indispensable role, they differ on addressing its challenges, with Rebeca Grynspan and others emphasizing institutional renewal and leadership, and others focusing on trust and delivery gaps.

The United Nations faces a limited pool of candidates for the next secretary-general, with only eight nominees and a lack of female representation despite growing calls for a woman to lead. Research highlights the need for more women candidates to address historic imbalances and strengthen leadership during critical global challenges.