UNSGSA for Financial Health - Queen Maxima Of The Netherlands (2024-Present)

Queen Maxima with the UN Secretary-General
UN Photo/Evan Schneider

In September 2024, Queen Maxima was give the role of United Nations Secretary-General’s Special Advocate for Financial Health. The United Nations Secretary-General’s Special Advocate (UNSGSA) is an honorary role appointed by the UN Secretary-General to promote a specific global issue. Maxima's global issue in Financial Health, a person's ability to manage expenses, prepare for and recover from financial shocks, have minimal debt, and build wealth.

Queen Maxima's job as UNSGSA is to raise awareness, hold meetings, encourage leaders and support actions to expand and promote financial health programs at a global and country level. Queen Maxima works in close collaboration with partners from the public and private sector. The Office of the UNSGSA is funded by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. 

This new role is an extension Queen Maxima's work over the previous 15 years as UNSGSA for Inclusive Finance for Development (2009-2024). In that role the focus was on Financial inclusion meaning people & businesses across the world, social & economic classes have access to useful, affordable, & responsible financial products and services that meet their needs. This includes things like savings & checking accounts, credit, insurance, and mobile banking.

The switch in Maxima's focus is a result in the growing number of adults worldwide who now having access to at least a financial account or other financial services such as loans, savings, and insurance (Global Findex 2021). However, good access to formal financial services does not necessarily translate into financial health.

Prior to her UNSGSA roles, Queen Maxima had significant experience in banking and emerging markets. She was a economist and investment banker by training. Máxima was involved in the UN International Year of Microcredit in 2005. She also served on the UN Advisors Group on Inclusive Financial Sectors from 2006 to 2008, and was a member of the Group’s Executive Committee and chair of its Working Group on Advocacy.

UNSGA Website: https://www.unsgsa.org/

Annual Report 

I expect like her previous position, Queen Maxima will submit an annual report.  Report are usually released in September to conincide with the UN's year. The report covers her work and insights from September the previous year to August the year of the report.