The UN's glass ceiling – can a woman finally win the race for Secretary-General?

Recorded at the Women Deliver conference, this episode of Think Change – produced in partnership with GWL Voices – sets out the stakes for gender equality and multilateralism at a moment of deep geopolitical strain, and asks what the race for the next UN Secretary-General reveals about both. Recent rollbacks on gender rights and climate action are not isolated. They are part of a broader political project that mobilises “traditional values” and divisive narratives to hold onto power, weaken accountability and challenge universal rights. These dynamics are playing out not only within states, but inside multilateral institutions themselves – and they are already shaping the race for the next UN Secretary-General. As the selection process begins, the question is not only who leads the UN, but what kind of leadership is politically possible. Campaigns like 1 for 8 Billion, supported by ODI Global, are calling for a more transparent, inclusive and merit-based process, and for Member States to nominate women candidates. But this is not a neutral contest. It is a deeply political one. We are already seeing how gender is being weaponised within it, with opposition to candidates framed through ideological lines, including attacks on candidates who support rights-based positions on abortion and women’s autonomy. In this episode, we explore how these dynamics are playing out and whether feminist leadership offers not just a normative vision, but a practical strategy for rebuilding legitimacy, resisting backlash and making multilateralism work in a more contested world. The video recording of this episode is now available on our website and on YouTube. Guests Sara Pantuliano (host), Chief Executive, ODI Global Helen Clark, Former Prime Minister of New Zealand and Administrator of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Cristina Gallach, former UN Under-Secretary-General for Communications and Public Information Kate Gilmore , Former UN Deputy High Commissioner for Human Rights Related resources Inside the global backlash (Resources hub, ODI Global) Advancing gender rights at the Human Rights Council in times of backlash (Report, ODI Global) How women's movements lead demands for democracy in the face of backlash and politicised religion (Report, ODI Global)

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The UN's glass ceiling – can a woman finally win the race for Secretary-General? is an episode from ODI podcasts by ODI podcasts.

This episode is 27:37 long.

This episode was published on Apr 30, 2026.

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