Joshua Phoho Setipa

Setipa was born in Maseru, Lesotho.{{Cite news |last=Zihlangu |first=Bongiwe |date=2022-08-03 |title=Majara, Aumane in war of words over RFP polls |url=https://lestimes.com/majara-aumane-in-war-of-words-over-rfp-polls/ |access-date=2024-05-14 |work=Lesotho Times}} He completed a Bachelor of Arts (BA) in Public Administration and Political Science at the National University of Lesotho. He received a Graduate Diploma in International Relations and Trade from the Australian National University and completed a Master of Business Administration (MBA) at the University of Bradford.{{Cite web |date=2024-01-17 |title=Setipa nominated for Commonwealth's Secretary-General's position |url=https://informativenews.co.ls/2024/01/17/setipa-nominated-for-commonwealths-secretary-generals-position/ |access-date=2024-05-02 |language=en-US}} He attended the Executive Public Leaders Programme at the Blavatnik School of Government at the University of Oxford.{{Cite web |last=Kmaupdates |date=2024-01-15 |title=LESOTHO FIELDS SETIPA FOR SECRETARY-GENERAL OF THE COMMONWEALTH |url=https://kmaupdates.com/2024/01/15/lesotho-fields-setipa-for-secretary-general-of-the-commonwealth/ |access-date=2024-05-21 |website=Kmaupdates |language=en-US}}

Before joining the government, Setipa served in the Lesotho Foreign Service from 1992 to 2003. He worked at the World Trade Organisation as a senior counsellor in the Office of the director general from 2005 to 2011.{{Cite web |last=Times |first=Lesotho |date=2024-04-18 |title=Setipa's Commonwealth candidature a milestone for Lesotho: Mpotjoane |url=https://lestimes.com/setipas-commonwealth-candidature-a-milestone-for-lesotho-mpotjoane/ |access-date=2024-05-14 |website=Lesotho Times |language=en-US}} In January 2012, he was appointed CEO of the Lesotho National Development Cooperation, government agency tasked with promoting investment and implementing Lesotho’s industrial development policies.{{Cite web |date=2024-01-17 |title=Setipa nominated for Commonwealth's Secretary-General's position |url=https://informativenews.co.ls/2024/01/17/setipa-nominated-for-commonwealths-secretary-generals-position/ |access-date=2024-05-03 |language=en-US}} He resigned the post in April 2014.{{Cite web |last=Express |first=Sunday |date=2015-06-14 |title=Setipa fires LNDC board |url=https://sundayexpress.co.ls/setipa-fires-lndc-board/ |access-date=2024-05-03 |website=Sunday Express |language=en-US}}

Setipa ran for the Lesotho National Assembly in the February 2015 snap elections in the Maseru #32 constituency (now Maseru Central). Setipa ran for the Lesotho Congress for Democracy party and was defeated by Lesego Makgothi.{{Cite web |last=Lesotho |first=IEC |date=2024-05-03 |title=2015 Results |url=https://iec.org.ls/2015-results/?tax%5Bwpdmcategory%5D=msu-2015-results |access-date=2024-05-03}} He was then nominated to the senate and made Minister of Trade and Industry for Lesotho in March 2015.{{Cite web |last=Express |first=Sunday |date=2015-06-14 |title=Setipa fires LNDC board |url=https://sundayexpress.co.ls/setipa-fires-lndc-board/ |access-date=2024-05-03 |website=Sunday Express |language=en-US}} In the June 2017 elections, Setipa ran again for the Lesotho Congress in Maseru.{{Cite web |last=Times |first=Lesotho |date=2017-06-05 |title=Setipa loses Maseru #32 consstituency |url=https://lestimes.com/setipa-loses-maseru-32-constituency/ |access-date=2024-05-03}}

Setipa worked as a senior consultant at the World Bank from 2017 to 2018 and was tasked with overseeing projects in the West African Region.{{Cite web |date=2024-01-17 |title=Setipa nominated for Commonwealth's Secretary-General's position |url=https://informativenews.co.ls/2024/01/17/setipa-nominated-for-commonwealths-secretary-generals-position/ |access-date=2024-05-03 |language=en-US}} From November 2018 until 2022, he was appointed the first managing director for the newly created UN Technology Bank for the Least Developed Countries.{{Cite web |last=November 2019 |first=Amy Lieberman // 19 |date=2019-11-19 |title=Why the UN Technology Bank is operating with a start-up mentality |url=https://www.devex.com/news/sponsored/why-the-un-technology-bank-is-operating-with-a-start-up-mentality-96037 |access-date=2024-05-03 |website=Devex |language=en}} He left the post to run for parliament in the Semena #75 Constituency for the newly created Revolution for Prosperity Party in the 2022 Lesotho General Election.{{Cite web |last=Times |first=Lesotho |date=2024-01-18 |title=Govt backs Setipa for top Commonwealth post |url=https://lestimes.com/govt-backs-setipa-for-top-commonwealth-post/ |access-date=2024-05-03 |website=Lesotho Times |language=en-US}}

In 2022, he joined the Commonwealth Secretariat as senior director of strategy, portfolio, partnerships and digital, and secretary to the board of governors.{{Cite web |title=Commonwealth Advisory Committee convenes its first in-person meeting since 2019 ahead of Health Ministers Meeting |url=https://thecommonwealth.org/news/commonwealth-advisory-committee-convenes-its-first-person-meeting-2019-ahead-health-ministers |access-date=2024-05-03 |website=Commonwealth |language=en}}

In January 2024, the Government of Lesotho backed Setipa in his bid to become Commonwealth secretary-general. As of 1 May 2024, he is the only Southern African candidate running for the position which will be selected at the Heads of Government Meeting in Samoa in October 2024.{{Cite web |last=Times |first=Lesotho |date=2024-01-18 |title=Govt backs Setipa for top Commonwealth post |url=https://lestimes.com/govt-backs-setipa-for-top-commonwealth-post/ |access-date=2024-05-03 |website=Lesotho Times |language=en-US}}

Setipa is married with three children.{{Cite web |title=Joshua Setipa |url=https://www.sdgia.org/dvteam/joshua-setipa/ |access-date=2024-05-14 |website=SDGIA |language=en-US}}

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Category:1969 births

Category:Living people

Category:Revolution for Prosperity politicians

Category:Lesotho diplomats

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