Guyana’s candidate for Secretary-General of the United Nations, Ambassador Carolyn Rodrigues-Birkett, has pledged to push for greater representation of developing countries within the UN Secretariat if elected to the organisation’s top post.
Speaking during an informal dialogue with member states on Thursday, Ambassador Rodrigues said recruitment within the UN should continue to be guided by merit while also taking into account geographical representation, as outlined in Article 101 of the UN Charter.
She noted that many developing countries remain underrepresented or unrepresented within the organisation and said she would work to address those imbalances.
“I would look at the unrepresented and underrepresented countries,” she said, adding that many developing states face capacity constraints that can limit their ability to compete for positions within the UN system.
Ambassador Rodrigues said her administration would engage with those countries to help improve participation and ensure a broader pool of candidates from regions that have traditionally been underrepresented in the Secretariat.
The issue surfaced repeatedly throughout the dialogue, including in exchanges with representatives of developing countries, Small Island Developing States (SIDS), least developed countries and African nations, many of whom raised concerns about equitable representation within the UN’s leadership and staffing structures.
Responding to those concerns, Ambassador Rodrigues said the UN must do more to ensure that nationals from underrepresented countries are aware of employment opportunities and have the support needed to apply for positions.
She argued that improving representation would strengthen the organisation by ensuring that it better reflects the diversity of its 193 member states.
Seeking to become the first woman from the Caribbean to lead the United Nations, she has made inclusivity, reform, and stronger engagement with member states central themes of her campaign for secretary-general.
