Marsudi appointed Special Envoy on Water to UN Secretary-General
Jakarta, Sept 13 (ANTARA) - Indonesia's Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi has been appointed Special Envoy on Water to United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres.
In her new role, she will work to galvanize partnerships and make concerted efforts to advance the water agenda, including following up on the outcomes of the UN 2023 Water Conference.
"The special envoy will draw on these outcomes in the lead up to various global water processes, particularly the 2026 UN Water Conference," the UN Secretary-General said in a statement issued on Friday.
"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," he added.
Marsudi will take on the role of Special Envoy on Water on November 1, 2024, after completing her tenure as foreign minister in President Joko Widodo's administration.
As the special envoy, she will seek to enhance international cooperation and synergies among international water processes to support the achievement of water-related goals and targets, such as Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 6 of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
Her role will be serving 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.
"Representing the United Nations Secretary-General in global water processes, Mrs. Marsudi will also work with UN-WATER and its members in support of the implementation of the UN System-wide Strategy on Water and Sanitation at all levels, in line with the SDG 6 Global Accelerator Framework," according to the statement.
In the statement, the UN Secretary-General highlighted Marsudi's distinguished experience in diplomacy of nearly four decades, particularly her tenure as the Minister for Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Indonesia from 2014 to October 2024.
This year she oversaw the conduct of the 10th World Water Forum in Bali, which produced a consensual ministerial declaration, he noted.
Her dedication has been reflected in Indonesia's leadership, including as a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council (2019–2020), president of the G20 (2022), chair of the ASEAN (2023), and in many other international entities and organizations.
In 2021, during the COVID-19 pandemic, Marsudi was appointed co-chair of the COVAX Advance Market Commitment (AMC) Engagement Group to support the participation of 92 lower-middle and low-income economies in the COVAX facility and ensure equitable access to COVID-19 vaccines.
She was the Indonesian Ambassador to the Netherlands from 2012–2014, and held the post of Ambassador to Iceland and Norway from 2005–2008.
