Mr Joshua Setipa is the Senior Director of the Strategy, Portfolio, Partnerships, and Digital Division at the Commonwealth Secretariat. His competencies lie in economic development, regional and global trade and economic issues, and investment mobilisation. With over 20 years of experience, he has worked extensively on economic and development issues at national, regional, and international levels. His field experience spans Eastern, Southern, and Western Africa, focusing on economic sector reform and regional economic integration. Additionally, he has extensive experience in multilateral trade issues and their impact on regional integration and economic development.

Previously, Mr Setipa has held several significant positions. He was appointed as the first Managing Director of the UN Technology Bank for Least Developed Countries by the UN Secretary-General in November 2018. From 2017 to 2018, he worked as a senior consultant for the World Bank in Washington, D.C. on a regional Trade Facilitation Project for the ECOWAS region. He served as the Minister for Trade and Industry in Lesotho from 2015 to 2017 and as the Chief Executive Officer of the Lesotho National Development Cooperation from 2012 to 2014. From 2005 to 2011, he was a Senior Adviser to the WTO Director General. 

Mr Setipa graduated from the University of Bradford with an MBA and also holds degrees from the Australian National University and the National University of Lesotho.