United Nations Poverty-Environment Initiative

Please download the PEI Country fact sheet on Botswana (PDF)

Basic facts of the PEI in Botswana

PEI contributed to the development of the United Nations Development Assistance Framework (UNDAF) for Botswana (2008) and the Government of Botswana-UN Programme Operational Plan (2009).
The Joint GOB/UNDP/UNEP PEI Programme (2010-2011) will contribute to the achievement of two UNDAF Outcomes:

Economic Diversification and Poverty Reduction: A diversified economy whose growth is rapid, inclusive, sustainable and generates decent employment opportunities by 2016
Environment and Climate Change: By 2016, the rural poor, especially women, enjoy greater benefits from the environment and natural ecosystems.

The main institutions involved are: the Ministry of Finance and Development Planning (MFPD) (leading agency) and the Ministry of Environment, Wildlife and Tourism (MEWT) as well as Ministries of Agriculture, Tourism, Health and Water.
Funding from the programme includes UNDP/UNEP PEI Africa (USD 1 million), UNDP Botswana (USD 1 million) and Government of Botswana (USD 250,000).
Programme implementation will be supported by a PEI Secretariat based in the MFPD or Office of the President comprising of a national project manager, an adviser, and a finance/admin assistant

The context of mainstreaming of environment in Botswana

Botswana’s Vision 2010 and National Development Plan (NDP) 10 (2010 – 2016) recognize the importance of environment and natural resources within the context of ten key result areas that include: Sustainable Economic Growth, Sustainable Environment and Enhanced Well-being and Social Responsibility. Ministries, departments, and districts are expected to implement sub-sector goals related to Economic, Environment, Security and Administration.
The UN and Government of Botswana have articulated an UNDAF that responds to the National Development Plan with goals and outcomes in five areas: Governance and Human Rights Promotion; Economic Diversification and Poverty Reduction; Health and HIV and AIDS; Environment and Climate Change; and Children, Youth and Women Empowerment. The UNDAF will be implemented through a Joint UN Programme of Operational Plan.

Main activities of PEI-Botswana

Identification of key environment, growth and poverty reduction issues in Botswana.
Institutional analysis and mapping of policy processes and initiatives, roles and responsibilities of the Government of Botswana and development partners related to environmental issues within the context of the National Development Plan 10.
Review NDP-10 and other relevant planning documents to identify entry points for mainstreaming environment into national sectoral and local level planning processes.
Identify potential ‘champions’ in government, civil society, private sector, media and donors; focal points within government; and relevant donor and government-donor coordination mechanisms.
Recommend effective implementation arrangements, e.g. establishment of an inter-departmental task team/steering committee/working groups that includes environment, planning/finance and key sectoral ministries.

What has been achieved to date?

Enhanced awareness of the links between poverty and environment (PE) issues and economic growth and their contribution to national development priorities by the Rural Development Council and the Committee on Multi-sectoral Committee on Poverty Reduction.
A workshop was conducted and a report released with the objective to formulate a PEI Botswana Advocacy and Communication Strategy through identification of key stakeholders to be targeted for long term policy, institutional and behavioural change.
A Poverty and Environment Brief has been developed for advocacy and awareness-raising on PE linkages.
An Institutional Assessment was completed in October 2009.
A Government of Botswana/UNDP Botswana/UNDP/UNEP PEI Joint Programme on Poverty and Environment to achieve the objectives articulated in the UNDAF (2010-2016) and related UNPOP (2010-2014) and UNDP Country Programme (2010-2014) is awaiting signature.

Key documents for PEI Botswana

Way forward

The recruitment of the Program Implementation Team is ongoing and programme implementation is expected to commence in January 2010