John Pangipita

Legal professional with robust background in providing strategic legal counsel and mitigating organizational risks. Proven ability to deliver precise legal solutions and support collaborative team environments. Known for adaptability and results-driven mindset. Skilled in contract negotiation and regulatory affairs, with strong focus on ethical decision-making.

• Licensed to practice law in Tanzania and East Africa. Registered Advocate/Attorney and member of the Tanganyika (Tanzania) Law Society since December 2013. (Advocate Roll No.3748).
• Member of the East African Law Society since December 2013.

• Training on Norms, International Law and Cyberspace (Certificate of Completion) - UNIDIR Geneva, July 2024
• Law of the Sea and Ocean Governance, UN-Division for Ocean Affairs and the Law of the Sea (DOALOS), July 2022
• Drafting of United Nations General Assembly Resolution, organised by UNITAR, August 2022
• China-AALCO Exchange and Research Program on International Law (Certificate), August 2019
• Refugee Protection –(Certificate) University for Peace, July – August 2018

• Head of Chancery (HoC), Head of Administration and Finance at the Permanent Mission of Tanzania to the United Nations, New York, from January to December 2023.
• My duties included, among other things, serving as the Principal Advisor to the Head of Mission in all matters relating to human resources, administration, and management of the Mission. I was also responsible for the organisation, affairs and discipline of all members of the Mission (both Home and Locally), and recruited staff. Moreover, was responsible for keeping safe custody and accounting for all funds and stores received and issued by the Government of Tanzania, which included attesting the cash book and other official accounts. Additionally, I supervised all staff at the Mission.

• Co-Facilitator of the Working Group on the Condition of Service of the Members of the Commission on the Limits of the Continental Shelf (CLCS) of the United Nations, June 2024 to date. To date, I have coordinated three sessions of informal consultations with the state parties, and had the privilege of reporting back on the progress to the 35th meeting of the state parties to the UNCLOS, held in New York from June 23rd to 27th, 2025.
• Member of the Credentials Committee of the 30th session of the Assembly of States Parties to the International Seabed Authority (ISA) held in Kingston, Jamaica from 21st to 25th July 2024.
• Member of the Credentials Committee of the 22nd session of the Assembly of States Parties to the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court (ICC) held in New York from 4th to 14th December 2023.
• Coordinator of the HRC Fact-Finding Mission for Burundi's visit to refugees’ camps in Tanzania, 2015. Following the failed coup d'état in Burundi in 2015, the United Nations Human Rights Council formed the Fact-Finding Mission to Burundi to, among other things, investigate the alleged violation of human rights during that attempt to overthrow the government in power. The members of the Commission visited the Nyurugusu Refugee camp in Kigoma, Tanzania, where some Burundian refugees had fled following the coup d'état. Having worked on refugee matters and being conversant with both refugee, human rights, and humanitarian law, I was assigned by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to coordinate the visit of the Fact-Finding Mission and arrange their meeting with the Burundian refugees at the Nyurugusu Refugee Camp, located in Kigoma, Tanzania. This was a privilege and an opportunity to work closely with the UN-led Mission on the promotion and protection of human rights.
• Member of the National Eligibility Committee for Determination of Refugee Status in Tanzania, January 2014 to July 2021. This committee is responsible for determining and making recommendations to the Minister of Home Affairs on refugee status or asylum applications in Tanzania. As a member with a legal background, I guided the committee on the position of the law at the National, Regional, and International levels governing the application and granting of refugee status.