Introduction

The existing selection process for the post of Secretary-General of the United Nations has produced several distinguished Secretaries-General. But the lack of transparency and inclusiveness of the exercise has become increasingly noticeable, and the UN process compares poorly with the practices of some other international organizations.

The Charter of the United Nations (art. 97) specifies that “the Secretary-General shall be appointed by the General Assembly upon the recommendation of the Security Council.” In practice, the Security Council nominates a single candidate who is then endorsed by the General Assembly. No list of qualifications is agreed, no formal screening takes place, and the GA membership is asked to declare itself on the nominated candidate without the benefit of relevant information or even informal consultations. The candidate's vision for the UN's future and programme of action for the UN Secretariat remain unexamined, and there is no established way for the member states to develop a sense of the candidate's skills in key areas like communication and political leader-ship.

At a time when member states are discussing the reform and renewal of so many aspects of the UN, it seems entirely appropriate that we should critically examine the way in which we choose the person who will serve as the organization's leader. This non-paper offers preliminary suggestions for a more transparent and open selection process aimed at ensuring that individuals with the right temperament, talents and judgement are identified and submitted to the General Assembly for consideration.