2021: His Excellency Collen Vixen Kelapile (Botswana)

Collen Vixen Kelapile

His Excellency Collen Vixen Kelapile was elected the President of the 2022 session (July 2021 to July 2022) of the Economic and Social Council on 23 July 2021. Ambassador Collen Kelapile is the seventy-seventh President of the Council. Ambassador Vixen Kelapile is currently the Ambassador and Permanent Representative of Botswana to the United Nations in New York.

Biography

Seventy-seventh President of the Economic and Social Council

His Excellency Collen Vixen Kelapile has an accumulated career of 26 years in multilateral diplomacy, both as a government representative, intergovernmental expert and is also a former United Nations (UN) Secretariat staff member.

Before his appointment in 2018 as Ambassador and Permanent Representative to the UN in New York, he was the Chief of Staff to the Executive-Secretary of the UN Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA) in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, from 2014 to 2018.

From 2013 to 2014, he served as the Deputy Director in the Department of Africa and the Middle East at the Ministry of International Affairs and Cooperation of Botswana overseeing Central, East, North and West Africa as well as the Middle East.

He was elected by the UN General Assembly as a member of the Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions (ACABQ) from 2004 to 2012, where he served for three consecutive 3-year terms amounting to 9 years. During his tenure in the Committee, he served as Vice-Chair of the ACABQ for 3 years from 2008 to 2010 and subsequently as its Chair for 2 years from 2011 to 2012.

Ambassador Kelapile was posted at the Permanent Mission of the Republic of Botswana in New York from 1998 to 2003, where he rose through diplomatic ranks from Second Secretary to level of Counsellor prior to his successful election to ACABQ in 2003. 

As a member of the diplomatic staff of the Mission of Botswana in New York he was the delegate to the Administrative and Budgetary (or Fifth) Committee of the UN General Assembly for 6 years from 1998 to 2003. He was also delegate to other related bodies such as the Committee for Programmes and Coordination (CPC), which is a dual subsidiary Committee reporting to both the UN General Assembly and ECOSOC.

During his tenure at the Mission of Botswana in New York Ambassador Kelapile also simultaneously served as focal point on the Legal (or Sixth) Committee of the UN General Assembly, coinciding also with the time of the elaboration of the Rome Statute on the establishment of the International Criminal Court (ICC).

He served in the Bureau of the Fifth Committee as the Vice-Chair at the 55th Session of the General Assembly in 2000/2001, and subsequently as the Vice-Chair of the CPC at its 42nd Session in 2002. He was the Coordinator of the African Group of experts in the Fifth Committee from 2001 to 2003.

In conjunction with his present position as Ambassador and Permanent Representative to the UN in New York, he is also concurrently Botswana’s Ambassador to Cuba and the High Commissioner to Jamaica, on a non-resident basis.

Among his other most recent engagements and roles in the UN’s intergovernmental processes in New York include serving as:

Vice-President of UNDP/UNFPA/UNOPS Executive Board, 2019 Session.   

Chair of 59th Session of the Committee for Programme and Coordination, 2019.   

Co-Facilitator of the Alignment Process of the agendas of the UN General Assembly and ECOSOC during 74th Session of the Assembly, 2019/2020.   

Chair of Special Political and Decolonization (or Fourth) Committee during 75th Session of the UN General Assembly, 2020/2021.   

Vice-President of the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC), 2021 Session.   

Co-Chair of the Group of Friends on the Responsibility to Protect (R2P) at the UN, 2021-2023.   

Co-Chair of the Joint Steering Committee of the African Group-CARRICOM Caucus (AfCAR) Collaboration Initiative at the UN, of which he is a co-founder together with the Permanent Representative of Grenada, 2020 – Present.  

Ambassador Kelapile joined the Ministry of International Affairs and Cooperation in 1995 as Desk Officer for the UN, soon after graduating with a Bachelor’s Degree (Political Science and Public Administration) from the University of Botswana in the same year.

Among other diplomatic career capacity-building and leadership development, Ambassador Kelapile also received professional diplomatic training at the Foreign Service Institute in New Delhi, India, in 1996.

Ambassador Kelapile was Born in Maitengwe, Botswana, on 10 July, 1968. He is married with one son.

Statements
20 October 2022Remarks at 2022 session on Introduction of the Report of the Economic and Social Council to the 19th Plenary Meeting of the General Assembly
25 July 2022Statement at the Organizational Session of the 2023 Session of the Economic and Social Council - Handover Ceremony
20 July 2022Closing Remarks at the Special High-Level Dialogue on “The Africa We Want: Reconfirming the Development of Africa as A Priority of The United Nations System”
20 July 2022Opening Remarks at the Special High-Level Dialogue on “The Africa We Want: Reconfirming the Development of Africa as A Priority of The United Nations System”
15 July 2022Closing Remarks at the 2022 High-Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development (HLPF)
15 July 2022Closing Remarks on Global Media Forum “Leveraging the power of the media to achieve the SDGs”
15 July 2022Opening Remarks on Global Media Forum “Leveraging the power of the media to achieve the SDGs”
13 July 2022Welcome Remarks at the Cocktail Reception Co-Hosted by the Regional Commissions New York Office and the Office of the President of the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC)
13 July 2022Opening Remarks at the Ministerial Segment of the High-Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development (HLPF)/High-Level Segment of the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC)
12 July 2022Remarks at The Opening Session of The Africa Day at The High-level Political Forum on Sustainable Development (HLPF) Organized by The United Nations Office of The Special Adviser on Africa (OSAA), The African Union Commission (AUC), United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and The African Institute for Economic Development and Planning (IDEP)
6 July 2022Remarks at the Global Dairy Platform (GDP) Side Event on “Driving SDG Implementation Through Dairy”
5 July 2022Remarks at the Side Event on “Ending Poverty Through Achieving Quality Education For All” Co-Organized by the International Movement ATD Fourth World and Arigatou International
5 July 2022Welcoming Remarks at the SDGs Learning, Training and Practice 2022 Organized by The Department of Economic and Social Affairs (DESA) and United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR)
5 July 2022Opening Remarks at the High-Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development (HLPF)
27 June 2022Opening Remarks at the Plenary 2022 United Nations Conference to Support the Implementation of Sustainable Development Goal 14: Conserve and Sustainably Use the Oceans, Seas, and Marine Resources for Sustainable Development
21 June 2022Opening Remarks during the 2022 ECOSOC Humanitarian Affairs Segment
20 June 2022Opening Remarks during the 2022 ECOSOC Meeting on The Transition from Relief to Development
2-3 June 2022Opening Remarks at the Stockholm +50: A Healthy Planet for the Prosperity of All – Our Responsibility, Our Opportunity
31 May 2022Statement during the Launch of the African Business Leaders Coalition
26 May 2022Opening Remarks during the Africa Dialogue Series High-Level Policy Dialogue
25 May 2022Goodwill Message during the Commemoration of Africa Day
25 May 2022Opening Remarks at Side Event Organized by The Government of Mongolia, International Think Tank for LLDCs and ESCAP on “Connectivity for All (In Transport and Through AI)” During the 78th Session of the Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific
25 May 2022Keynote Address on Agenda Item 3 on “Special Body of Least Developed Countries, Landlocked Developing Countries and Pacific Island Developing States” During the 78th Session of the Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP)
25 May 2022Remarks at Side Event Organized by the Government of Maldives and ESCAP on “Asia-Pacific Riskscape @ 1.5°C: Subregional Pathways for Adaptation and Resilience” During the 78th Session of the Economic and Social Commission for Asia And the Pacific (ESCAP)
19 May 2022Closing Remarks at The Operational Activities for Development Segment
17 May 2022Opening Remarks at The Operational Activities for Development Segment
16 May 2022Statement at the Opening Segment of 31st Session of the Commission on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice
9 May 2022Statement at High-Level Round Table on “UNFF Response to, Role in, and Expectations from Forest-Related Multilateral Developments” Seventeenth Session of the United Nations Forum on Forests
6 May 2022Closing Remarks at the 7th Multi-Stakeholder Forum on Science, Technology and Innovation for the Sustainable Development Goals
5 May 2022Opening Remarks at the 7th Multi-Stakeholder Forum on Science, Technology and Innovation for the Sustainable Development Goals
28 April 2022Statement at a High-Level Meeting of the General Assembly to Assess Progress on the Implementation of the New Urban Agenda
27 April 2022Statement at a High-Level Meeting on Peacebuilding Financing
26 April 2022Statement at the Special High-Level Meeting with Bretton Woods Institutions, WTO and UNCTAD Held Under the Theme “Securing an Inclusive and Sustainable Recovery”
25 April 2022Statement at the 21st Session of The Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues Held Under the Theme “Indigenous Peoples, Business, Autonomy and the Human Rights Principles of Due Diligence, Including Free, Prior and Informed Consent”
25 April 2022Opening Remarks at the 2022 ECOSOC Forum on Financing for Development Follow-Up
21 April 2022Closing Remarks at the ECOSOC Special Meeting on “Sustainable Urbanization and the Implementation of the New Urban Agenda”
21 April 2022Opening Remarks at the ECOSOC Special Meeting on “Sustainable Urbanization and the Implementation of the New Urban Agenda”
19 April 2022Opening Remarks at the ECOSOC Youth Forum under Theme of “Covid-19 Recovery: Youth Taking Action for a Sustainable Future”
13 April 2022Closing Remarks at the Second Global Webinar for 2022 VNR Countries
11 April 2022Opening Remarks at the Second Global Webinar for 2022 VNR Countries
4 April 2022Statement at 21st Session of the Committee of Experts on Public Administration
28 March - 1 April 2022Statement on Twenty-fifth session of the Commission on Science and Technology for Development (CSTD)
28 March 2022Opening Statement on AU capacity-building workshop on Africa's Voluntary National Reviews for the HLPF 2022 and domestication of Agenda 2063
22 March 2022Statement on the occasion of the International Day of Nowruz
21 March 2022Remarks on 2022 Celebration of the International Day of Forests
14 March 2022Remarks on 65th Session of the Commission on Narcotic Drugs (CND) Opening Segment
10 March 2022Statement on the Occasion of the Commemoration of the International Day of Women Judges
3 March 2022Opening Statement on Eighth session of the Africa Regional Forum on Sustainable Development - “Building forward better: a green, inclusive and resilient Africa poised to achieve the 2030 Agenda and Agenda 2063”
3 March 2022Statement at Special Session on UNEP@50 Nairobi, Kenya
1-2 March 2022Opening Statement at the Regional preparatory workshop for African voluntary national reviews and voluntary local reviews: strengthening integration and reporting on the 2030 Agenda and Agenda 2063, Eighth session of the Africa Regional Forum on Sustainable Development
25 February 2022Statement on UN event on “Galvanizing Momentum for Universal Vaccination”
21 February 2022Statement on 24th Session of the Committee for Development Policy
18 February 2022Remarks on the Occasion of the Side Event: @From Commitment to Action – Presenting AI Solutions for the SDGs
7 February 2022Opening Remarks on Commission for Social Development Opening Session
3 February 2022Opening Statement during the 2022 Coordination Segment
2 February 2022Opening Statement during the 2022 ECOSOC Partnership Forum: “Building back better from the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) while advancing the full implementation of the 2030 Agenda on Sustainable Development”
28 January 2022Remarks on the Occasion of the Launching of the ECOSOC Handbook; “Strengthening The ECOSOC: From Practical Tools to Innovation”
26 January 2022Statement on UNITAR Virtual Orientation Course on the Economic and Social Council
20 January 2022Remarks for the Joint briefing of the President of the General Assembly and President of ECOSOC
12 January 2022Remarks on World Youth Forum 2022 (Egypt) - “The future of employment and entrepreneurship during the pandemic and beyond”
15 December 2021Closing Remarks at Joint Meeting of the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) and the Peacebuilding Commission (PBC) on “Promoting Durable Peace and Sustainable Development in the Context of Recovery from COVID-19”
15 December 2021Opening Remarks at Joint Meeting of the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) and the Peacebuilding Commission (PBC) on “Promoting Durable Peace and Sustainable Development in the Context of Recovery from COVID-19”
15 December 2021Opening Remarks at Expert Group Meeting of the Multi-Stakeholder Advisory Group on the 2022 ECOSOC Partnership Forum
14 December 2021Closing Remarks at ECOSOC Briefing on the Outcomes of the United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP26)
14 December 2021Opening Remarks at ECOSOC Briefing on the Outcomes of the United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP26)
7 December 2021Statement at World Soil Day “Halt Soil Salinization, Boost Soil Productivity”
30 November 2021Statement at Informal Plenary Meeting of the General Assembly on “End Inequalities. End Aids. End Pandemics”
29 December 2021Statement at Annual General Assembly of the Conference of NGOs with Consultative Relations with the United Nations (CoNGO)
18 November 2021Statement at 132nd Session of the International Narcotics Control Board (INCB)
16 November 2021Statement on Security Council Signature Event “Peace and Security Through Preventive Diplomacy: A Common Objective to All UN Principal Organs”
2 November 2021Statement on 26th Plenary Meeting of the 76th Session of the United Nations General Assembly - Introduction of the Report of the Economic and Social Council
28 October 2021Statement at an Event on “Raising Awareness of Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA) for Successful Application of Existing Solutions and Beyond”
26 October 2021Statement at Delivering Climate Action – For People, Planet and Prosperity
25 October 2021Statement at the First Global Webinar for The Voluntary National Reviews (VNRs) to be Presented at 2022 United Nations High-Level Political Forum for Sustainable Development (HLPF)
20 October 2021Closing Statement at the Joint Meeting of The General Assembly Second Committee and The Economic and Social Council
20 October 2021Opening Statement at the Joint Meeting of The General Assembly Second Committee and The Economic and Social Council
15 October 2021Statement on the United Nations Security Council Arria Formula Meeting on Haiti, Titled “Beyond the Inconvenient Truths about Underdevelopment in Haiti: Seeking Pan-African Solutions/Pathways and Supporting National Dialogue and Reconciliation”
15 October 2021Statement on the Occassion to Commemorate World Food Day
7 October 2021Statement at the Panel Discussion and Launch Event on  “Advancing A Tax and SDG Approach that Builds Trust and Fuels Transformation: Present and Possible Future Contributions by the UN Tax Committee”
30 September 2021The Role of Artificial Intelligence in Achieving Food Security in the Post Covid-19 Era: Investing in a Safe, Nutritious and Climate-Resilient Food Systems
24 September 2021Keynote Remarks at the Fci High-Level Roundtable Co-Hosted by The Mcgill Centre For The Convergence Of Health And Economics (Mcche) And The Global Partnerships Forum on the Occasion of the 2021 United Nations Food Systems Summit
22 September 2021Statement at the Forty-Eighth Session of the Human Rights Council
20 September 2021Statement at 2021 SDG Moment
17 September 2021Statement at the Annual Ministerial Meeting of The Group of Least Developed Countries (LDCs)
12 August 2021Message of the President of ECOSOC on the Occasion of the International Youth Day
23 July 2021Inaugural Speech at ECOSOC President Handover Ceremony
Letters
26 July 2022Cancellation of the High-level Thematic Debate on the theme “Debt Sustainability for a better recovery from the COVID-19 Pandemic
19 July 2022Joint Event on the Special High-Level Dialogue on the Sustainable Development of Africa, theme “The Africa We Want: Reconfirming the Development of Africa as a Priority for the United Nations System”
18 July 2022Joint Event on the Special High-Level Dialogue on the Sustainable Development of Africa, theme “The Africa We Want: Reconfirming the Development of Africa as a Priority for the United Nations System”
14 July 2022Ministerial Declaration of the high-level segment of the 2022
4 July 20222022 High-level Political Forum on Sustainable Development, convened under the auspices of ECOSOC 
1 July 2022Special High-level Dialogue on Africa– Concept Note and Provisional Programme
9 May 2022Joint High-Level Thematic Debate on Debt Sustainability for better recovery – Concept Note
11 April 2022Integrated summary of the ECOSOC Partnership  Forum and the Coordination Segment
8 April 2022Reminder to 2022 ECOSOC Youth Forum
6 April 2022Invitation to the 2022 United Nations high-level political forum on sustainable development (HLPF)
21 March 2022Reminder to a Briefing by the Secretary-General to ECOSOC on his report on "Our Common Agenda"
17 March 2022Invitation to a Briefing by the Secretary-General to ECOSOC on his report on "Our Common Agenda"
3 March 2022Invitation to 2022 ECOSOC Youth Forum
31 January 2022Invitation to 2022 ECOSOC Forum on Financing for Development follow-up (FfD Forum)
18 January 2022Coordination Segment of the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) 2022
14 January 2022To Chairs of ECOSOC subsidiary bodies 2022
11 January 2022Invitation to the Joint Briefing by the Presidents of the General Assembly and the Economic and Social Council
21 December 2021Invitation to 2022 Multi-Stakeholder Forum on Science, Technology and Innovation for the Sustainable Development Goals (STI Forum)
6 December 2021Invitation to the ECOSOC Briefing on COP26
29 November 2021Invitation to the Joint Meeting of ECOSOC and the Peacebuilding Commission
28 October 2021Appointment of co-chairs for Multi-Stakeholder Forum on Science, Technology and Innovation for the Sustainable Development Goals
22 October 2021Appointment of co-facilitators for the 2021 ECOSOC Forum on Financing for Development
21 October 2021Amended list of Voluntary National Reviews (VNRs) to be conducted at 2022 High-Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development (HLPF) convened under the auspices of ECOSOC
18 October 2021Invitation to the Joint Meeting of the Second Committee (Economic and Financial) of the General Assembly and the Economic and Social Council on “Building productive capacities in Least Developed Countries (LDCs), Landlocked Developing Countries (LLDCs), Small Island Developing States (SIDS) as well as Middle-Income countries (MICs) for more resilient recovery and sustainable development in the post-COVID-19 era”
18 October 2021Co-chairs of the Informal Group of Friends of the Voluntary National Reviews
13 October 2021Voluntary National Reviews (VNRs) to be conducted at 2022 High-Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development (HLPF) convened under the auspices of ECOSOC – Update
4 October 2021 Voluntary National Reviews (VNRs) to be conducted at 2022 High-Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development (HLPF) convened under the auspices of ECOSOC – Update
7 September 2021Voluntary National Reviews (VNRs) to be conducted at 2022 High-Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development (HLPF) convened under the auspices of ECOSOC 
29 July 2021Voluntary National Reviews (VNRs) at 2022 High-Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development (HLPF) convened under the auspices of ECOSOC