United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres announced the appointment of Retno L.P. Marsudi of the Republic of Indonesia as the first Special Envoy on Water.
Her Excellency Mrs. Marsudi is the current Foreign Minister of Indonesia and will take up the role of Special Envoy on Water on 1 November 2024, after completing her government service.
Mrs. Marsudi brings a wealth of high-level experience, gained over four decades in international affairs. She will serve as a champion and high-level advocate on water and sanitation issues, raising water issues high on the political agenda within and outside the UN, convening stakeholders across the spectrum, amplifying the work of the UN system, and mobilizing action and financial resources to address the global water crisis.
The Special Envoy will take a global lead on water in the run up to various global water processes, particularly the 2026 UN Water Conference.
Mrs. Marsudi will also aim to enhance international cooperation in support of the achievement of all water-related goals and targets, such as Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 6 of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
Representing the United Nations Secretary-General in global water processes, the Special Envoy will work with UN-Water and its Members in support of the implementation of the UN System-wide Strategy on Water and Sanitation.
