Role and term: UN charter describes the secretary general as the "chief administrative officer" of the world body who should also bring vital issues to the attention of the security council.
"Equal parts diplomat and administrator and CEO, the secretary general is a symbol of UN ideals and a spokesman for the interests of the world's peoples, in particular the poor and vulnerable among them," is how the UN depicts its top official. The secretary general is elected to a renewable five-year term. No one has served more than two terms.
Selection process: The secretary general is appointed by the general assembly, made up of all UN member states, on the recommendation of the 15-nation security council.
- the council recommends only one name from a list of contenders.
- the candidate is required to get at least nine positive votes in the security council and no veto by any of the five permanent members - Britain, China, France, Russia and the United States.
Straw polls: In 1981 the security council began conducting informal straw polls to help gauge the level of support for individual candidates before a formal selection.
Rotation: The secretary general is traditionally chosen on the basis of regional rotation.
- Generally accepted that permanent members will not field their nationals.
- Candidates from western Europe have served six terms compared to three terms for Africa and two each for Asia and Latin America. There has been no secretary general from the eastern European group.
Criticism and reform plans: Many governments and civil society groups say the selection process lacks transparency, giving too much power to veto-wielding council members, and places too much emphasis on the role of the security council at the expense of the general assembly.
- A Canadian initiative has argued in favour of laying down qualifications for the job and the establishment of a search committee to identify potential candidates but this did not happen.
- A non-aligned movement wants the council to recommend two or more candidates for consideration by the general assembly.