About Siddharth Chatterjee
Mr Siddharth Chatterjee. Photo: Chinese Social Sciences Today (CSST).
Siddharth Chatterjee is the current United Nations Resident Coordinator in Beijing, China since January 2021. Previous positions held include UN Resident Coordinator in Kenya, the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) Representative to Kenya and Chief Diplomat and Head of Strategic Partnerships responsible for resource mobilisation at the International Federation of the Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC).
Siddharth Chatterjee has been working with UN Peacekeeping, the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and the UN Office for Project Services (UNOPS) where he worked with conflicts and natural disasters in Africa, Asia, Europe and the Middle East. During his early career, Siddharth Chatterjee served in the Indian Army Special Forces. He holds a graduate degree in public policy from the Princeton School for Public and International Affairs at Princeton University in the United States.
In April, the Foundation interviewed Siddharth Chatterjee, United Nations Resident Coordinator in Beijing, China. He contributed to the article ‘Conducting “business as unusual” in an era of urgency and polycrisis – the role of the RC’ in the report ‘The Art of Leadership in the United Nations: Our duty to find new forms’.
‘Dag Hammarskjöld left behind a leadership legacy which has been an inspiration, and this opportunity to contribute to a reflection of leadership in the UN context was particularly meaningful to me’, said Siddharth Chatterjee as to why he was keen to participate.
Bringing it closer to his daily work he said: ‘As Resident Coordinators it is important that we engage in dialogues that reflect both our global responsibilities and the evolving dynamics of leadership in multilateral institutions. The UN’s mission of promoting peace, sustainable development and human rights calls for a continuous rethinking of leadership strategy. And I wanted to be part of such an important conversation.’
The increasingly complex global situation made him even more motivated. ‘2023-2024 was a time of mounting global challenges. Contributing to this report allowed me to highlight how leadership must evolve to tackle this interlocking crisis that we’ve descended into’, he said and listed the multiple health crises, the climate crises and the many conflicts.
‘We focus on the conflicts in Ukraine and Gaza, forgetting that there are actually nearly 70 ongoing conflicts across the world. Therefore, the legacy, the vision that Dag Hammarskjöld had, becomes even more pertinent in a time like this’, Siddharth Chatterjee expanded.
‘It’s clear that we have to re-imagine leadership.’
‘The polycrisis demands a leadership model that is flexible, agile, capable of thinking across sectors and systems. And one more thing, which I feel is very important, is the courage to experiment and adapt. We must embrace discomfort, challenge the status quo and lead through a period of ambiguity. The Sustainable Development Goals delivery gap, the climate emergency, the geopolitical tensions demand bold, unconventional approaches.’
Siddharth Chatterjee stated that we are in what he terms ‘an inflection point for the entire multilateral system’.
‘This is why the Secretary-General launched the Summit of the Future and came up with the Pact for the future’, he said. ‘The inflection point is [that] either the United Nations is dynamic, or it is a dinosaur.’
He also wants to shift the emphasis from traditional leadership that ‘often focuses on authority and decision-making power’.
‘Today, leadership requires deep listening, empathy, and an ability to respond to a broad range of voices and experiences, especially from marginalised communities and those left behind, and to ensure that we work collectively to uplift humanity, to uplift human development and put the human being front and centre of all our collective efforts.’
Every article in the report is matched with an art object that belonged to Dag Hammarskjöld. Siddharth Chartterjee was very content that his contribution was matched with the figurine Anubis.
‘To go back into Egyptian history to bring Anubis back into life is quite fascinating. This is a figure of protection and guidance and aligns with Hammarskjöld’s leadership philosophy of moral integrity, of a vision of dedication to the collective good’, he said.
‘Just as Anubis guided souls in the ancient world, Hammarskjöld’s leadership has often been about guiding the United Nations through turbulent times. Its focus on higher principles and above all, moral courage.’
Asked what contemporary leaders of the UN can learn from Dag Hammarskjöld and his legacy today, Siddharth Chatterjee replied:
‘First and foremost, moral courage and integrity. Hammarskjöld led with an unwavering moral compass, even under immense pressure. His deep understanding of the human condition and his ability to empathise with others offer a powerful model for today’s leaders, particularly in an era marked by rising global inequality and divisions.’
‘And it is about the emphasis on service. His steadfast commitment to selflessness and to service to humanity reminds us that leadership should always prioritise the well-being of people and the planet rather than personal gain or political expedience.’
Another lesson is ‘about facing crisis with resilience’.
‘Hammarskjöld’s leadership was tested in times of crisis, yet he remained calm, focused and committed. Contemporary leaders must develop similar resilience to navigate the current and future global challenges. And his unwavering dedication to peace and diplomacy can guide leaders today.’
‘Visionary thinking’ is the fourth point on Siddharth Chatterjee’s list: ‘Hammarskjöld was ahead of his times in envisioning a United Nations that is a platform for dialogue, not just during conflicts, but in fostering long-term international cooperation.’
‘Today’s leaders must think beyond crisis management and prioritise long term sustainable solutions. That is what Dag Hammarskjöld represented. That is what leaders of today must embrace.’
As the interview drew to a close, Siddharth Chatterjee returned to the need for unity and action:
‘The United Nations faces a crisis today. It’s a crisis of multilateralism. The world is getting fractured and the very multilateral platform that was created in 1945 is under threat. Therefore, I emphasise that the United Nations is at an inflection point between being dynamic or dinosaurs. This is the time when we need the entire UN membership of the 193 countries to really come together, to really believe in the Summit of the Future, to really emphasise the implementation of the Pact for the future and rescue the Sustainable Development Goals, as the Secretary-General has appealed for.’
‘Today we need countless leaders with the qualities of Dag Hammarskjöld to take their countries forward, to revive multilateralism, and to give hope.’
