Jakarta. Foreign Affairs Minister Retno Marsudi announced Friday that she got picked as the UN special envoy on water -- a role that she would assume after she steps down from her ministerial job.

This marks the first time for the UN to appoint a special envoy designated for the water agenda.

Retno said she would also be the first Indonesian to become a UN special envoy. 

Retno -- who had just attended the government’s final cabinet meeting at the new capital Nusantara -- said she had consulted with President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo on her new role. She had also done the same with Jokowi’s successor Prabowo Subianto.

“I will officially start working [as the special envoy] on Nov. 1 after I finish my responsibilities as the foreign minister,” Retno said in a video statement.

“President Jokowi has approved this appointment, and President-Elect Prabowo has also given his support,” Retno, who boasts almost 40 years of experience as a diplomat, said.

Jokowi’s term will end on Oct. 20. Prabowo should also establish his ministerial cabinet by around that date. Retno’s new job mainly revolves around ensuring a water-secure future for all as mandated by the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). As a special envoy, Retno plans on helping mobilize funding for the water agenda and boosting international cooperation for the cause, among others. 

About 2.1 billion people lack access to safe water, while 4.5 billion people do not have safely managed sanitation, according to Retno. Water scarcity has also affected 4 out of 10 people globally.

“The failure to address water problems and sanitation will not only weaken the three dimensions of sustainable development: society, economy, and environment. But it will take a toll on human rights, peace and security,” Retno said.

The UN special envoy appointment also came after Retno signaled that she would not be returning to the government as Prabowo’s minister. Retno recently bid a farewell to the House of Representatives’ foreign affairs commission in her final hearing as minister, while telling the lawmakers to remain supportive of Palestinians.

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