Note: Single-source report; awaiting corroboration.
Noureddine Bendjama will begin his one-year term as president of the UN Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) on 31 July. In a recent address to Member States, he outlined three priorities: promoting inclusivity, accelerating progress on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), and renewing trust in multilateralism by prioritizing "substance over procedural routine" in ECOSOC’s work. He emphasized that only 36 percent of SDG targets with available data are on track, highlighting the need to accelerate efforts toward the 2030 agenda.
Outgoing ECOSOC President Lok Bahadur Thapa described the Council's role as "indispensable" in tackling global poverty, health, and education challenges. While progress on the SDGs has been limited, he pointed to moments of consensus such as the 2026 High-Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development’s Ministerial Declaration, the Sevilla Commitment, and the Financing for Development Forum outcome as evidence of possibilities for unified action.
Meanwhile, six candidates to succeed António Guterres as UN Secretary-General will participate in a debate before the General Assembly. The "UN Town Hall: The Next Secretary-General" event will feature candidates responding to randomly selected questions from Member States and civil society organizations. Nominations occurred between late 2025 and early 2026, and candidates have shared their vision statements. The Security Council must unanimously recommend a candidate, who then requires a simple majority vote in the Assembly to be appointed.
The Secretary-General role traditionally rotates between the UN’s main regions, with this cycle expected to favor candidates from Latin America and the Caribbean. The debate is scheduled for Thursday at 5 p.m. New York time.