The Security Council conducted its fifth straw poll of Secretary-General candidates today, but the results did not indicate that the Security Council has reached strong agreement on any candidate.

The Security Council conducted its fourth straw poll of candidates to become the next Secretary-General. Rebeca Grynspan strengthened her position as the frontrunner having increased her total “encourage” votes from 9 to 10 since the previous poll.

As world leaders gathered in New York for the opening week of the UN General Assembly, 1 for 8 Billion and the Government of Estonia convened a side event to discuss the decisive phase of the UN Secretary-General selection process on 22 September 2026.

Based on historical precedents as well as the latest developments in the Secretary-General selection process, this briefing maps out and analyses the different options available should the Security-Council be unable to make a viable recommendation.

Grynspan and Rodrigues Birkett continue to hold the top two spots in the latest straw poll, while Grossi slips to fourth place behind Otunnu.

Our partnership with 15 leading NGOs to scrutinize the policies of each candidate continues with the release of policy analyses of Ivonne A-Baki and Olara Otunnu.

1 for 8 Billion together with members of its NGO coalition has written to members of the Security Council to urge support for transparency, fairness and integrity in the process

On 21 August, the Security Council conducted its second straw poll of Secretary-General candidates. Carolyn Rodrigues Birkett received the highest number of ‘encourage’ votes (8) followed by Rebeca Grynspan and Rafael Grossi (7 each).

All candidates were required to release financial disclosures upon their nomination, but Rodrigues Birkett is the first to release an updated disclosure several months into her campaign.

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.