UN Secretary-General António Guterres has appointed Retno Marsudi of Indonesia as his Special Envoy on Water. The Special Envoy champions and advocates for water and sanitation issues at the highest level, “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 Envoy seeks to galvanize partnerships and concerted efforts to advance the water agenda, including the follow-up on the outcomes of the UN 2023 Water Conference, which concluded with an announcement that a UN Special Envoy for Water would be established. It was also agreed that a UN system-wide strategy on water and sanitation would assist the Envoy in their work.

According to a statement by the Secretary-General, “[t]he Special Envoy will draw on these outcomes in the lead up to various global water processes, particularly the 2026 UN Water Conference.” “She will support efforts to ensure a water-secure future for all by advocating for stronger political, economic, and social-cultural cooperation at all levels,” it notes. The Envoy will also work to strengthen international cooperation and synergies among international water processes in support of all water-related goals and targets, including SDG 6 (clean water and sanitation).

Marsudi will represent the Secretary-General in global water processes and work with UN-Water and its members to support the implementation of the UN System-wide Strategy on Water and Sanitation, in line with the SDG 6 Global Accelerator Framework.

Marsudi will assume the role of Special Envoy on Water on 1 November 2024, following completion her government service. 

Per the Secretary-General’s statement, Marsudi served as Indonesia’s Minister for Foreign Affairs from 2014-2024. During her tenure, she oversaw the convening of the 10th World Water Forum in Bali 2024, which resulted in a Ministerial Declaration as its outcome. 

In 2021, during the COVID-19 pandemic, Marsudi was appointed Co-Chair of the COVAX Advance Market Commitment (AMC) Engagement Group. In that role, she supported the participation of 92 lower-middle-income countries (LMICs) and low-income countries (LICs) in the COVAX Facility, to ensure equitable access to COVID-19 vaccines. Marsudi also served as Indonesia’s Ambassador to the Netherlands (2012-2014), and as Indonesia’s Ambassador to Iceland and Norway (2005-2008).