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10 January 2024 – The Government of the Kingdom of Lesotho has endorsed Joshua Phoho Setipa as
the first Southern African to run for the position of Secretary-General of the Commonwealth.
The Lesotho Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Relations has kicked off the country’s
campaign to lobby other Commonwealth member states’ support for Setipa’s candidature through the
Lesotho High Commission in London, where the Commonwealth Secretariat is also based.
In a diplomatic note to Commonwealth member states, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and
International Relations said “…the Kingdom of Lesotho presents its compliments to all Ministries of
Foreign Affairs of Commonwealth Members and hasthe honour to advise that the Government of the
Kingdom of Lesotho hastaken the decision to present the candidature of Mr. Joshua Phoho Setipa for
the post of Secretary General of the Commonwealth in respect of which a decision will be taken at the
forthcoming Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting ( CHOGM ) to be held in Apia, Samoa, in
October 2024”.
Setipa, who is currently the Senior Director for Strategy, Portfolio, Partnerships and Digital Division at
the Commonwealth Secretariat, and Secretary to the Governing Boards of the Commonwealth – was
the first Managing Director of the UN Technology Bank and held positions including Assistant Director
General of the World Trade Organisation, former Minister of Trade, and former CEO of the Lesotho
National Development Corporation – LNDC.
Lesotho says Setipa’s service of over 25 years in senior roles of diverse complexity and responsibility
in International Trade, Public Policy, and Strategic Management at the national, regional, and
multilateral levels, qualifies him as an outstanding candidate for the position.
The incoming Secretary-General will succeed The Rt Hon Patricia Scotland KC, who has held the
position since 2016. The Secretary-General is nominated by Commonwealth leaders and can serve
a maximum of two terms of four years each. The next Secretary-General would be the seventh, but
second Secretary-General from Africa, following Chief Emeka Anyaoku of Nigeria who held the
position from 1990 to 2000.
The Secretary-General is responsible for promoting and protecting the Commonwealth’s values,
publicly representing the Commonwealth, and managing the Commonwealth Secretariat.
The Commonwealth is a voluntary association of 56 independent and equal members states.
Although the Commonwealth’s roots go back to the British Empire, today any country can join the
Commonwealth family of nations, which share goals of development, democracy, and peace
amongst other values and principles as expressed in the Commonwealth Charter.
JOSHUA SETIPA
Current Residence: London, E16 2SQ, United Kingdom | Family: Married with 3 children.
Name: Joshua Phoho Setipa Nationality: Lesotho
Contact: jsetipa@gmail.com |+447436 034 793
EXECUTIVE BIO
COMPETENCIES
• Global Governance
• Strategic Management
• Resource Mobilisation
• Innovation Policy
• Trade and Investment Policy
• Executive Communication,
Mediation and Negotiation
• International Relations
Proficiency
• Formidable Diplomatic
Expertise
• Regional Development Policy
EDUCATION
Executive Public Leaders
Programme – Blavatnik School
of Government, University of
Oxford, UK
Master of Business
Administration/International
Finance – University of
Bradford, UK
Graduate Diploma in
International Relations and
Trade – The Australian
National University, Australia
Bachelor of Arts in Public
Administration and Political
Science – National University of
Lesotho, Roma, Lesotho
Joshua Setipa is an experienced leader with extensive political and administrative experience gained
over 25 years of executive positions at the national, regional, and multilateral levels formulating
and implementing economic development policy. Mr. Setipa’s extensive political and diplomatic
skills are evident in over 25 years of managing key stakeholder relationships with the private sector,
governments, multilateral and regional development institutions, and development partners.
Mr Setipa has initiated positive transformation on international trade and economic policy, public
policy, strategic and portfolio management issues at national, regional, and multilateral levels, with
particular focus on developing countries. His field experience in formulating and implementing
national, regional, and multilateral innovation policy and trade and economic development projects
in Africa, Caribbean and Asia/Pacific regions has afforded him a deep understanding of developing
countries’ political and policy realities, allowing him to build an extensive network of strategic
relationships at the highest levels.
Appointed by the UN Secretary-General as the first Managing Director of the UN Technology
Bank for Least Developed Countries in November 2018, Mr Setipa brings a wealth of profound
expertise in leading and managing teams of highly skilled professionals, delivering technical capacity
building, global programmes and advocating for countries’ interests and challenges in regional and
international fora through public engagement and dialogue, and developing and managing strategic
partnerships with multilateral, public and private sector partners.
As Minister of Trade and Industry in Lesotho, Mr. Setipa provided strategic leadership for the
formulation and implementation of national trade and economic development strategies and
policies, accelerated passage of key national industrial policy legislation and policies and and
secured significant concessional financing for industrial infrastructure to facilitate investments in
key sectors of strategic interest. As Chief Executive of the Lesotho National Development
Corporation, Mr Setipa managed a diversified investment portfolio of more than US$200 million
and pioneered the establishment of credit guarantee schemes to enhance access to finance for SMEs
focusing on women led businesses in the manufacturing, retail, agriculture, and hospitality sectors.
Mr Setipa brings over two decades of robust diplomatic acumen representing international
organisations and his country at the highest level in global fora and providing strategic leadership
in formulation and implementation of mandates, particularly for developing and least developed
countries in Africa, Caribbean, and Asia/ Pacific. Over a 25-year period, he has held senior roles
at the World Trade Organisation, World Bank, United Nations, as well as in the Lesotho
Diplomatic service where he established the Lesotho Permanent Mission to the UN in Geneva in
1998.
Currently serving as the Senior Director for Strategy, Portfolio, Partnerships and Digital Divisions
at the Commonwealth Secretariat, Mr Setipa oversees the management of a portfolio of 42 projects
ranging from climate change to debt management. He is also the Secretary to the Board of
Governors, Executive Committee, and all subsidiary committees. He is responsible for overseeing
the intergovernmental processes of the Commonwealth and ensuring that the Secretariat’s
deliverables are pioneered on technical assistance, policy development, advocacy and consensus
building, and advisory services. Mr Setipa’s adherence to the Commonwealth Charter is derived
from witnessing the Commonwealth providing valuable technical and political support to his own
country Lesotho, similar small and developing member states across the Commonwealth, and the
commitment and significance of the Secretary-General’s Good Offices in supporting the resolution
of political crises across the Commonwealth. This well rounded and extensive knowledge of the
Commonwealth puts him in a strong position to lead a Commonwealth that amplifies the
aspirations and potential of its member countries to address global challenges and lead the
Setipa resume Final Joshua Setipa Executive Bio final Joshua Setipa for Commonwealth SG Press Release
KEY
COMPETENCIES
PROFESSIONAL
EXPERIENCE OVERVIEW
Over 25 years’ experience in senior roles of increasing complexity and responsibility on international trade and economic
policy, public policy, strategic management and international relations at the national, regional, and multilateral levels.
Extensive strategic management experience leading a UN entity and managing teams of highly skilled professionals and
delivering strategies for public engagement and resource mobilization.
Extensive experience managing key stakeholder relationships with private sector, governments, multilateral and regional
development institutions, and development partners working on the sustainable development agenda.
Field experience formulating and managing implementation of national and regional capacity building and economic
development projects in Africa, Caribbean and Asia/Pacific regions.
Strong oral and written communication skills, and over two decades of diplomatic experience representing international
organizations and governments at the highest level in global forums.
Supervise the work of the ICT Division, the Portfolio Management Division, the Monitoring and Evaluation Division and the
Partnerships and Innovation Division.
Overall responsibility for overseeing the intergovernmental processes of the Commonwealth including the Board of
Governors and its subsidiary bodies. Also serve as secretary to the Board of Governors, the Executive Committee, and all
subsidiary committees.
Responsible for formulation and delivery of the Commonwealth Strategic plan. This also includes responsibility for the mid-term
review report and portfolio management and delivery reports to the Exco and Board of Governors. This work also includes
tracking and reporting on the implementation of CHOGM mandates to the Board of Governors and its subsidiary bodies.
Currently overseeing the deployment of a new Portfolio Management Information System to improve portfolio management
and program delivery.
Oversee the Secretariat’s work with Commonwealth accredited Organizations and the initiation and establishment of new
strategic partnerships with UN system entities, private sector, and civil society partners.
Senior Director- Strategy, Portfolio, Partnerships and Digital Division November 2022 – Present
Commonwealth Secretariat (London, United Kingdom)
Appointed by UN SG to Lead the establishment and operationalization of the Bank in fulfillment of UN SDG 17.8. This involved
developing administrative and operational guidelines for the operation of the Bank, the recruitment of admin and
professional staff, the preparation of annual budgets including resource mobilization.
Successfully led the development and funding of strategic programmes for delivery of capacity building on Science,
Technology and Innovation policies in Least Developed Countries. Over a 4-year period, the Bank successfully established 7
Academies of Science in 7 Least Developed Countries to enhance development and coordination of national and regional
STI policies.
Successfully initiated and implemented strategic partnerships within the UN system, with development partners, private sector
and regional and multilateral Organizations. Championed the importance of technology and innovation for least developed
countries to achieve the SDGs at key global forums including the UN General Assembly and UN High Level Political Forum.
Launched successful production of Protective Personal Equipment in least developed countries as part of their Covid
response through a technology transfer program.
Managing Director November 2018 – March 2022
United Nations Technology Bank for Least Developed Countries (Istanbul, Turkey)
Successfully led the legislative process of enacting new key pieces of legislation on key trade, investment and industry
policies.
Pioneered the amendment of key provisions of labor code affecting textiles and clothing industry workers such as
mandatory fully paid 90-day maternity leave, mandatory free childcare facilities in all industrial facilities and health care
treatment facilities in all factories which significantly improved working conditions of workers in the clothing manufacturing
industry who are predominantly female.
Successfully testified in US Congress to secure continued inclusion of Lesotho in the Africa Growth and Opportunity Act
(AGOA) program following US Administration concerns on governance in Lesotho which threatened exclusion. AGOA was
directly responsible for over 50,000 jobs in the apparel sector.
Led Lesotho delegations to major trade conferences including EU/ACP, World Trade Organization ministerial conference,
African Union Trade Ministerial conferences and SADC trade Ministerial conferences. Successfully Chaired Ministerial
negotiations on export subsidies at WTO 10th Ministerial conference.
Led several successful bilateral missions to negotiate bilateral trade and investment agreements including with US Trade
Representative, China, Costa Rica, India and South Africa.
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Minister of Trade and Industry March 2015 – June 2017
Ministry of Trade and Industry (Maseru, Lesotho)
Member of team that coordinated World Bank Group’s strategic engagement efforts with the Economic Community of West
African States (ECOWAS) and other regional institutions in West Africa on regional trade facilitation and industrial policy
infrastructure.
Provided strategic advice and supervision on analytical work on trade and regional integration related issues and played a
key role in the planning and dissemination of strategies to promote policy uptake of evidence-based recommendations.
Collaborated closely with International Finance Corporation and WB country management units to support the launch of
regional trade facilitation project.
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Senior Consultant August 2017 – May 2018
World Bank (Washington DC, United States of America)
JOSHUA PHOHO SETIPA Nationality: Lesotho
EDUCATION
CERTIFICATIONS
& LICENSES
Implemented and accelerated strategic management reforms that resulted in higher efficiency levels, lower staff turnover
and high staff morale. Pioneered a comprehensive audit of real estate portfolio that resulted in annual savings of over $1
million in efficient rental collections, tenancy, and maintenance costs.
Managed an investment portfolio of over US$ 200 million and coordinated companies employing over 50,000 workers in
sectors ranging from hospitality, manufacturing, agro processing to retail. Chaired the investment review committee that
made decisions on LNDC investment positions in strategic industries with significant job creation and industrial
diversification potential.
Successfully introduced “doing business reforms” by benchmarking with Costa Rica and Rwanda and significantly improved
Lesotho’s rankings in the World Economic Forum’s Competitiveness report within a two-year period. Revised incentive
scheme and secured new foreign direct investments in auto component sector as part of the national diversification
strategy.
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Chief Executive Officer January 2012 – May 2014
Lesotho National Development Corporation (LNDC) (Maseru, Lesotho)
As a member of the cabinet of the Director General, Coordinated the work of three WTO divisions— the Development Division,
Finance and Trade Division and the WTO Institute for Training and Technical Cooperation.
Monitored all development related issues within WTO Doha Development Agenda trade negotiations across all areas
including agriculture, market access, services, intellectual property rights, etc.
Led the Mobilization of strategic global support for the WTO Aid for Trade initiative and its integration it into the work
programs of key global and regional institutions including the World Bank, International Chamber of Commerce, African
Development Bank, and the African Union Commission. As part of this responsibility, also Participated and coordinated the
contribution of the WTO to the World Bank development committee and IMFC.
Led the launch of the Trade Finance Liquidity Program in partnership with the IMF and retail banks, multilateral development
finance institutions and regional development banks that mobilized trade finance in African markets post the global
financial crisis of 2008.
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Senior Adviser to the Director General August 2005 – December 2011
World Trade Organization (Geneva, Switzerland)
Master of Business Administration/International Finance March 2001 – March 2003
University of Bradford (Bradford, United Kingdom)
Graduate Diploma in International Relations and Trade January 1993 – December 1993
The Australian National University (Canberra, Australia)
Bachelor of Arts in Public Administration and Political Science August 1987 – May 1992
National University of Lesotho (Roma, Lesotho)
Executive Public Leaders Program 2019
Blavatnik School of Government, University of Oxford
Develop yourself as a leader 2012
HEC, Paris.