Bogolo Kenewendo

Bogolo Joy Kenewendo (born c. 1987) is a Botswana global economist and politician with deep expertise in international trade and development. She has a particular focus on Pan-African development and a passion for accelerating digitization and innovation across the continent. She is the former Cabinet Minister of Investment, Trade and Industry of Botswana.[1][2][3] Kenewendo was dropped from cabinet in November 2019. Since then, she serves as the Managing Director of Kenewendo Advisory, based in Gaborone, Botswana.[4] She leads Molaya Kgosi Women Leadership and Mentorship Program and the Board Chair of Molaya Kgosi Trust.[5][3]

Honorable
Bogolo Kenewendo
Bogolo Kenewendo at the World Investment Forum 2018
Special Advisor and Africa Director to the United Nations Climate Change High-Level Champions
Assumed office
June 2022
High-Level Champions
  • Nigel Topping
Minister of Investment, Trade and Industry
In office
4 April 2018 – November 2019
PresidentMokgweetsi Masisi
Succeeded byPeggy Serame
Member of the United Nations Secretary-General’s High-level Panel on Digital Cooperation
In office
12 July 2018 – November 2019
Secretary-General
Co-chairs
Member of the Parliament of Botswana
In office
27 October 2016 – 04 April 2018
PresidentIan Khama
Personal details
Born1987 (age 35–36)
Botswana
Nationality Botswana
EducationUniversity of Botswana
(Bachelor of Arts in Economics)
University of Sussex
(Master of Science in International Economics)
OccupationEconomist and politician
Websitehttps://www.kenewendo.com/

In June 2022, Kenewendo was appointed as Special Advisor and Africa Director to the United Nations Climate Change High-Level Champions.[6]

Background and education

Kenewendo was born in Motopi Village in the Boteti Area, in Botswana circa 1987. After attending primary school, she enrolled in Pitzer College. She was then admitted to the University of Botswana, graduating with a Bachelor of Arts in Economics. Later, she obtained a Master of Science in International Economics from the University of Sussex in the United Kingdom. She is also a Certified Project Manager.[7] She received training in Economic Freedom Philosophy from the Foundation for Economic Education.[8]

Career before politics

For a period of time after her postgraduate studies at the University of Sussex in the United Kingdom as Chevening Scholar earning an Msc International Economics, Kenewendo worked as a trade economist ODI Fellow in the Ghanaian Ministry of Trade and Industry. She also served as an economic consultant at Econsult Botswana, a Gaborone-based think tank.[8][9]

Political career

In 2016, the then president of Botswana, Ian Khama, nominated Kenewendo to the Parliament of Botswana, where she was elected as a presidential nominee to parliament. On 4 April 2018, the new incoming president, Mokgweetsi Masisi, appointed Kenewendo as the new Minister of Investment, Trade and Industry. She was sworn-in the same day.[9]

In her capacity as minister, Kenewendo was appointed by United Nations Secretary General António Guterres in 2018 to the High-level Panel on Digital Cooperation, co-chaired by Melinda Gates and Jack Ma.[10] As the Minister of Investment, Trade and Industry in Botswana, she implemented reforms to significantly improve the ease of doing business, open up both domestic and international markets, and position the country to succeed in the global value chains as well as the digital economy. During her tenure, she was the youngest Cabinet Minister in Africa and in Botswana’s history.[11]

Kenewendo was cited as one of the Top 100 most influential Africans by New African magazine in 2018.[12]

When the United Kingdom assumed the presidency of the G7 in 2021, Kenewendo was appointed by the country's Minister for Women and Equalities, Liz Truss, to a newly formed Gender Equality Advisory Council (GEAC) chaired by Sarah Sands.[13]

Personal life

In her spare time, Kenewendo meditates, travels and reads.[9]

See also

References
  1. Botswana Daily News (5 April 2018). "Botswana: New Botswana Cabinet Appointments". Botswana Daily News via AllAfrica.com. Gaborone. Retrieved 6 April 2018.
  2. Daniel Mumbere (5 April 2018). "Botswana's 30 year old minister becomes internet sensation across Africa". Africanews.com. Retrieved 6 April 2018.
  3. "Bogolo Kenewendo | Chevening". Retrieved 21 September 2022.
  4. Centre for Global Development (11 April 2021). "Biography of Bogolo J. Kenewendo: Non-Resident Fellow". Washington, DC: Center for Global Development. Retrieved 11 April 2021.
  5. "Team". Molaya Kgosi Leadership & Mentorship Program. Retrieved 26 May 2022.
  6. Owen-Burge, Charlotte (17 June 2022). "Bogolo Kenewendo named as Climate Champions' Special Advisor, Africa Director". Climate Champions. Retrieved 21 September 2022.
  7. Celeb News (6 April 2018). "WCW: 10 Things You Didn't Know About Bogolo Kenewendo". Gaborone: Botswanayouth.com. Retrieved 2 November 2016.
  8. Bloomberg L.P. (5 April 2018). "Executive Profile: Bogolo Kenewendo". Bloomberg Research. Archived from the original on 3 August 2018. Retrieved 6 April 2018.
  9. Mlambo, Nontobeko (6 April 2018). "Botswana: Meet Botswana's Youngest Minister, Bogolo Kenewendo". AllAfrica.com. Retrieved 6 April 2018.
  10. Secretary-General's High-level Panel on Digital Cooperation United Nations, press release of 12 July 2018.
  11. "Youthful minister opening doors for women and girls". Africa Renewal. 33 (1): 8. 3 June 2019. doi:10.18356/3cb1bf5d-en. ISSN 2517-9829. S2CID 199861164.
  12. "New African releases its list of 100 Most influential Africans". Ladybrille Magazine. 30 November 2018. Retrieved 5 January 2021.
  13. G7 Gender Equality Advisory Council membership announced Government of the United Kingdom, press release of April 9, 2021.
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