Costa Rican diplomat Rebeca Grynspan has emerged as a leading contender to succeed United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres, raising the possibility that a woman could lead the UN for the first time since its establishment.
Grynspan, who currently serves as Secretary-General of the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD), received strong backing in the first confidential Security Council straw poll held as part of the process to select Guterres’s successor.
According to the results cited in the source, Grynspan received 10 votes in favor, four neutral votes and one against. Her closest competitor, former Guyanese UN envoy Carolyn Rodrigues-Birkett, received nine votes in favor, two against and four neutral votes.
Who Is Rebeca Grynspan?
Rebeca Grynspan is a Costa Rican diplomat and economist with extensive experience in international affairs and development. She was nominated by Costa Rica for the position of UN Secretary-General in March 2026.
She currently heads UNCTAD, where the organization has documented the economic impact of the Israeli occupation and restrictions on the Palestinian territories.
Grynspan’s personal history has also shaped her views on peace. Her parents were refugees from Europe during World War II, while her maternal grandparents were killed by the Nazis. She has spoken publicly about how peace enabled her family to rebuild their lives in Costa Rica.
Strong Position in the UN Leadership Race
The first Security Council straw poll gave Grynspan a strong early position among the candidates competing to replace Guterres, whose second term ends on December 31, 2026.
Under the UN selection process, the Security Council will recommend a candidate to the General Assembly, which will then appoint the next Secretary-General. The current process includes several candidates from Latin America and other regions.
Grynspan’s strong showing does not guarantee her selection. The permanent members of the Security Council can block a candidate through the veto, making the final outcome dependent on broader international support.
Grynspan and the Palestinian Economy
During her leadership of UNCTAD, Grynspan has overseen work documenting the economic consequences of the prolonged Israeli occupation of the Palestinian territories.
A major UNCTAD report cited in the source estimated that the Palestinian economy lost approximately $212.2 billion in cumulative economic potential between 2000 and 2024, measured at constant 2015 prices.
The source also notes that Grynspan highlighted the severe decline in Gaza’s economic output and living standards, while emphasizing the importance of peace and the protection of human dignity.
Could She Become the First Woman UN Secretary-General?
If elected, Grynspan would make history as the first woman to serve as Secretary-General of the United Nations.
Her candidacy comes at a time when the UN is facing major political and financial challenges, including pressure over its effectiveness, declining resources and significant reductions in staffing.
Other prominent women are also among the candidates, including former Chilean President and former UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Michelle Bachelet and former Ecuadorian Foreign Minister María Fernanda Espinosa.
The competition therefore represents an important moment for the UN and for the long-standing calls for a woman to lead the organization.
When Will the New UN Secretary-General Be Chosen?
Guterres’s second term ends on December 31, 2026, meaning the next Secretary-General must be selected before the end of the year.
The Security Council is expected to conduct additional rounds of consultations and straw polls before recommending a candidate to the 193-member General Assembly.
For Grynspan, the first straw poll represents a significant early advantage, but the final decision will depend on whether she can secure sufficiently broad support, including from the five permanent members of the Security Council.
The coming months will determine whether the Costa Rican diplomat can turn her early lead into a historic appointment and become the United Nations’ first woman Secretary-General.
