Since its launch in 2015, the 1 for 8 Billion campaign has worked to move discussions on the selection of the UN Secretary-General beyond diplomatic circles in New York and into wider public debate across countries and regions. Strengthening Global South participation has remained central to that effort.
In 2025, Southern Voice collaborated with five Global South campaign partners: Centro de Implementación de Políticas Públicas para la Equidad y el Crecimiento (CIPPEC), Argentina, Centre for Policy Dialogue (CPD), Bangladesh, Economic and Social Research Foundation (ESRF), Tanzania, Sustainable Development Policy Institute (SDPI), Pakistan, and Solidar Tunisie, Tunisia. These research institutes and think tanks contributed to the objectives of the 1 for 8 Billion campaign by engaging stakeholders and facilitating discussions within their respective countries and regions.
The research highlights how representation shapes institutional credibility and effectiveness. The briefs also show how barriers affecting women and candidates outside traditional centres of power continue to narrow the pool of politically viable candidates.
Synthesis Report
The authority of future UN leadership is closely tied to whether the system reflects the realities and priorities of the regions where the organisation is most operationally engaged. The recommendations across the briefs call for:
- Stronger transparency in the selection process
- Broader participation by Member States and civil society
- Greater political support for women candidates
- Reforms capable of strengthening the legitimacy and independence of future UN leadership
Our 1 for 8 Billion Synthesis Report brings together the key findings, recommendations, and cross-cutting insights emerging from the five policy briefs.
Policy Briefs
Rethinking UN Leadership in a Fragmented World: A Bangladesh-Centred Perspective
Authors: Fahmida Khatun, Afrin Mahbub, and Ayesha Suhaima Rab (CPD, Bangladesh)
Drawing on Bangladesh’s experience, this brief examines the kind of leadership the UN requires in a context of interconnected crises and growing institutional strain. It shows that the underrepresentation of women remains structural and begins at the nomination stage, limiting the pool of viable candidates. The brief also highlights the importance of coordination capacity, strategic vision, and protecting vulnerable populations during periods of global instability.
