Retno Marsudi Appointed as First Indonesian Special Envoy of UNSG

Jakarta, VIVA – Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi underlined that her role as United Nations Secretary-General (UNSG) Antonio Guterres' special envoy for water affairs marks her as the first Indonesian to be appointed as special envoy to the UNSG.

"This appointment is the first time (that) an Indonesian has been trusted to become the special envoy of the UNSG," the minister said in Jakarta on Friday (Sept 13).

Minister Marsudi considered the appointment to be a matter of great honor for herself and Indonesia, especially since she is also the first UNSG Special Envoy on Water to the UNSG, with the position being a new one.

The minister said her decision to accept the new mandate had been made in consultation with President Joko Widodo (Jokowi), who gave her blessings to carry out the assignment at the UN level.

"President-elect Prabowo Subianto also gave his full support for this appointment," the minister added.Marsudi said she would take on her new role on November 1, 2024, after having fulfilled her responsibilities as foreign minister in President Jokowi's government.

The minister then ensured optimally tapping into her experience as a diplomat spanning almost four decades, including as foreign minister for 10 years, to carry out the international assignment.

Several tasks that Marsudi would carry out as UNSG's special envoy include strengthening partnerships and joint efforts to advance the world's water agenda, including following up on the results of the 2023 UN Water Conference.

In addition, she is tasked with enhancing global cooperation and synergy in international processes to support international water targets, including the Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 6.

She also takes the responsibility of championing water issues to make them a major political agenda both within and outside the UN, as well as mobilizing action and funding sources to address the global water crisis and encourage the fulfillment of global water targets.