As part of an ongoing commitment by 1 for 8 Billion and its partners to increase knowledge and strengthen the robustness of the SG selection process, the United Nations Association - UK has published a detailed report looking at the scenario of an interruption to an SG’s tenure in office. The report was written by Ben Donaldson based on interviews with a range of experts, officials and diplomats.
Implementation of the reformed selection process for a Secretary-General (SG) is clear while the SG fulfils their term of office as expected. However, the question of what to do in the scenario of an interruption to an SG’s tenure has been almost entirely absent from formal discussion between states.
The report, a version of which was originally published in June 2023 as part of a wider publication, explores this scenario in the spirit of striving for an institutionalised, well-structured appointment process robust enough to withstand all eventualities. The timing of the report is not based on any expectation that contingency planning will be needed in the near future - rather, it is intended to provoke discussion at a neutral moment to support preparedness.
The report concludes that contingency arrangements should include the automatic stepping-up of the Deputy Secretary-General (DSG) alongside the prompt implementation of a full SG selection process. This selection process should take place irrespective of the optional step of appointing an “Acting SG”, which states may decide to take. The report also stresses that, given the widespread lack of awareness over how an interruption to an SG’s term would be handled, the General Assembly should agree concise language spelling out the contingency plan ahead of any requirement for its potential use.