UN Secretary General campaign: “We must be ready on day one” – Guyana’s candidate tells African Group Ambassadors

Guyana’s candidate for the position of United Nations Secretary General (UNSG), Ambassador Carolyn Rodrigues-Birkett, on Thursday outlined her vision for a more responsive and effective United Nations during a meeting with Ambassadors of the African Group at the Permanent Observer Mission of the African Union to the UN.
Rodrigues-Birkett, who also serves as Guyana’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations, highlighted priorities ranging from conflict resolution and peace operations to sustainable development and financing for developing countries.
Speaking to the African diplomats, she said that if elected SG, she would adopt a proactive approach to engaging all parties involved in conflicts while recognising the roles of other mediators and international actors.
“I will be proactive in my engagements with all parties as we try to seek solutions,” she said, adding that the role of the Secretary General requires careful judgement in determining the most appropriate level of engagement in different situations.
Rodrigues-Birkett also pointed to the changing nature of global conflicts, citing terrorism, the use of drones, transnational organised crime and gang violence as emerging challenges requiring different approaches.
Drawing on her experience with the A3+ group at the UN Security Council, she noted that Africa continues to face many of these threats, while similar challenges are also evident in the Caribbean, particularly in Haiti.
She argued that the United Nations must be prepared to implement different peace operation models based on specific circumstances. Referring to Security Council Resolution 2719, she said the UN Secretariat must be ready to act immediately once the Security Council determines where the framework should be applied.
“As Secretary General, this is what I would aim for – for us to be ready on day one when that decision is made,” she stated.
Turning to development, Rodrigues-Birkett said the international community remains off track in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and stressed that the effectiveness of UN programmes should be measured by their impact on people’s lives.
She acknowledged initiatives introduced under current SG António Guterres to strengthen the UN’s engagement with Africa but said those efforts must complement the African Union’s Agenda 2063, which outlines the continent’s long-term development goals.
Rodrigues-Birkett identified limited access to financing as one of the principal barriers to implementing development programmes, particularly in developing countries.
She said that if appointed SG, she would seek to strengthen cooperation between the United Nations, international financial institutions (IFIs) and member states to address financing challenges.
“We have tremendous convening power in the UN, and we have to work in partnership with the IFIs, knowing that whatever we do, it must be systemic, that it must be felt across the world, especially in the developing world, where finance is a major problem,” she said.
Rodrigues-Birkett also pointed to the UN Resident Coordinator system, noting that it has improved the delivery of UN programmes in many countries, including Guyana, and said it provides a model for enhancing the organisation’s effectiveness at the national level.
Her meeting with the African Group is part of her ongoing engagements with regional blocs and member states as she continues her campaign for the position of UNSG.
Guyana officially launched Rodrigues-Birkett’s candidacy in May as it seeks to secure broad international backing ahead of the selection process for the next UNSG.
Five official candidates are running to succeed António Guterres as the next UNSG, whose five-year term begins on January 1, 2027. According to the UN, the SG is appointed by the 193-member General Assembly on the recommendation of the Security Council. While the 15-member Council, particularly its five permanent members who may veto any candidate, plays a decisive role in shaping the recommendation, the appointment is ultimately made by the Assembly.
In the 80 years since the founding of the UN, there have been nine SGs, but a woman has never held the post. If successful, Rodrigues-Birkett would make history as the first woman ever elected to serve as UNSG since the organisation was established in 1945. She would also be the first Caribbean national to hold the position.
Rodrigues-Birkett has served as Guyana’s Permanent Representative to the UN since 2020. In that capacity, she led Guyana’s participation during its Security Council tenure and played a key role in advancing the country’s positions on issues relating to international peace and security.
Prior to her current post, Rodrigues-Birkett served as director of the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) Liaison Office in Geneva from 2017 to 2020. She previously served as Guyana’s Minister of foreign affairs from 2008 to 2015 and as Minister of Amerindian affairs from 2001 to 2008.