Barbados To Lead Major UN Reform Process

19 February 2026

Barbados’ Permanent Representative to the United Nations, François Jackman. (GP)

The President of the United Nations General Assembly has selected Barbados, along with Malta, to lead a major UN reform process.

François Jackman, Permanent Representative of Barbados to the UN and his counterpart from Malta, Natasha Meli, will oversee the 2026 review of the UN Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) and High-Level Political Forum (HLPF). 

ECOSOC is the UN body responsible for overseeing the UN’s work in, among others, the economic, social, environmental, humanitarian and youth fields. The Council also hosts the HLPF, which monitors the implementation of the UN’s global development agenda, known as Agenda 2030 and its targets, known as the Sustainable Development Goals.

The review processes aim to strengthen ECOSOC and HLPF through intergovernmental negotiations and consultations with other stakeholders, like civil society and private sector representatives. 

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