From Regional Diversity to Global Influence: Latin America and the Caribbean and the Future of UN Leadership

The selection of the next United Nations Secretary-General comes at a period of geopolitical fragmentation, declining trust in multilateral institutions, and growing pressure on the United Nations (UN) to demonstrate that it can deliver. For Latin America and the Caribbean, the selection is especially significant for two reasons: first, it may yield a Secretary-General from the region for only the second time in UN history, and second, it offers the possibility of appointing the first woman to lead the Organization. Cepei, the Igarapé Institute, and the GQUAL Campaign convened 26 former senior officials and diplomats, academics, civil society representatives, and policy experts from across Latin America and the Caribbean in Bogotá, Colombia, on 7 and 8 September 2026. Most participants were from South America, alongside participants from Central America, Mexico, and the Caribbean. The convening was part of the Guidance and Regional Intelligence for the Transition of UN Leadership project. It examined the challenges facing the next Secretary-General, priorities for the first 1,000 days, what Latin America and the Caribbean needs from and contributes to the multilateral system, and practical pathways for stronger engagement.