GIZ Botswana

Since 2012, the GIZ Office in Gaborone has been responsible for the cooperation with Botswana and the Southern African Development Community (SADC).

Cooperation with the Republic of Botswana
In only three decades, Botswana has developed from being one of the world’s poorest nations into an upper middle-income economy with some of the highest indicators for good governance and social development in Africa. However, some development challenges persist, especially the shortage of skilled labour, which is crucial for Botswana’s need to diversify its economy, reduce income inequality and provide employment especially among young people.

In Botswana, GIZ currently supports its partner institutions in the area of Technical Vocational Education and Training (TVET) to improve the quality of TVET provision according to the labour market.

Cooperation with the Southern African Development Community (SADC)
Founded in 1992, SADC is a community of 16 countries with its headquarters located in Botswana’s capital Gaborone. As its member states combine for a population of more than 300 million people, SADC is the most important economic sub-regional organisation in Africa. The Federal Republic of Germany has been supporting the implementation of the SADC integration agenda since its inception.

Built on democratic principles and equitable and sustainable development, the main objectives of SADC are to achieve development, peace and security, and economic growth, to alleviate poverty, enhance the standard and quality of life of the people of Southern Africa, and support the socially disadvantaged through regional integration.

GIZ is commissioned by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Co-operation and Development (BMZ), the European Union (EU) the Austrian Development Agency (ADA) and the Green Climate Fund (GCF) to support SADC to achieve its objectives.
Currently, joint programmes are implemented in the following areas:

• Regional economic integration, peace security and good governance
• Transboundary water management
• Cross-border protection and use of natural resources, including adaptation to climate change
• Strengthening national-regional linkages throughout the SADC region

In order to foster regional economic integration, GIZ supports the development and implementation of trade protocols, the private sector and development of key industries as well as measures to establish a peaceful region that enables economic growth and sustainable development.

With regard to water management, GIZ supports the SADC in implementing harmonised policies, strategies, guidelines and instruments for transboundary cooperation in the water sector. The goal is to strengthen organisations in the management of rivers and lakes that belong to surrounding countries.

Using a cross-border approach to protect natural resources, GIZ supports the exchange between the stakeholders in the region and offers advice to the governments of the SADC countries. Issues include support in tourism, law enforcement and anti-poaching and adapting to climate change.

GIZ also aids SADC Member States to establish and strengthen national structures that coordinate and facilitate the implementation of the Regional Agenda.