On 3 August 2026 a regional dialogue was convened by the Government of Uruguay, in its capacity as Pro Tempore President of CELAC, together with 1 for 8 Billion steering committee member GQUAL Campaign and Cepei Think Tank. Read a first hand account by Maria Noel Leoni, Campaign Director at GQUAL Campaign.

On 3 August the five candidates from Latin America and the Caribbean for UN Secretary-General will take part in a discussion convened by the Government of Uruguay, the GQUAL Campaign and Cepei.

On Thursday 30 July, the UN Security Council conducted its first ‘straw poll’, indicating the level of support for each Secretary-General candidate. Rebeca Grynspan received the highest number of “encourage” votes (10), followed by Carolyn Rodrigues Birkett (9) and Rafael Grossi (7).

On 28 July, the President of the UN Security Council, Zénon Mukongo Ngay, announced that straw polls scheduled for the 30 July would go ahead, and that late entrant to the Secretary-General race, Olara Otunnu, would be included on the ballot papers. 

Representatives of the 1 for 8 Billion campaign briefed the ACT group of 27 small and mid-sized countries on our recent report “Backroom Deals” exploring the trade in promises for support between member states and candidates for UN Secretary-General.

The 1 for 8 Billion campaign’s new report today shedding light on the secretive process by which powerful countries attempt to strike deals with Secretary-General candidates in exchange for their support

During Carolyn Rodrigues Birkett’s informal dialogue, Denmark—on behalf of the ACT Group—asked Ms. Rodrigues Birkett whether she was willing to uphold 1 for 8 Billion’s Principles for Integrity in UN Secretary-General Campaigns. Ms. Rodrigues Birkett responded yes.

At a public event in London, all participating candidates were asked whether they would commit to the Principles for Integrity. Three of the candidates responded yes: Michelle Bachelet, María Fernanda Espinosa, and Rebeca Grynspan. 

During a recent civil society event in London, Secretary-General candidate Michelle Bachelet made news by announcing her support for the next Secretary-General to serve only one term in office. 

1 for 8 Billion Global South campaign partners have published comparative research analysing the institutional and systemic conditions facing the next UN Secretary-General selection. 

Antigua and Barbuda has nominated Ms. Espinosa of Ecuador as a candidate to be the next UN Secretary-General.

A useful route for a member state to indicate support for a candidate is by adding its backing as a ‘co-nominator’ for their preferred candidate. This option has the advantage over straw polls in that it could be led organically by member states and would be formally recorded on the candidate page of the UN’s website.

Following last month’s candidate hearings in the General Assembly, and ahead of the Security Council’s deliberations on candidates expected to begin in July, there is a window of opportunity for the General Assembly to express its views on candidates. This explainer outlines three options.

1 for 8 Billion is at the UN to follow the interactive dialogues with Secretary-General candidates, where they are facing questions from member states and civil society. Read our key takeaways from each session.

1 for 8 Billion partners with 14 leading NGOs to analyze candidates’ policy positions on core UN challenges.

1 for 8 Billion asks all candidates to uphold five commitments during their SG campaigns.

The President of the General Assembly has announced the schedule for interactive dialogues with all UN Secretary-General candidates taking place on the 21 and 22 of April. The dialogues will be broadcast live on UN Web TV.

1 for 8 Billion has campaigned for financial transparency and declarations of conflicts of interest in the Secretary-General selection process since launching in 2014. This briefing looks at the rules around campaign financing and disclosures by candidates in the 2026 race.

On 25 March, the Maldives withdrew its nomination of Virginia Gamba as a candidate for UN Secretary-General. The Maldives had nominated Gamba just two weeks earlier on 12 March.

Yesterday Chile announced that it is withdrawing its support for Secretary-General candidate Michelle Bachelet, a candidate Chile nominated together with Brazil and Mexico on 2 February. Bachelet’s candidacy remains intact since her nomination retains the support of two nominating states.