Botswana
Botswana Science, Technology, and Innovation Foresight
This report was prepared as part of the Botswana Science Technology and Innovation (STI) Policy review process and should be read in conjunction with the Botswana STI Policy Review. It documents the STI Foresight exercise designed and undertaken by UNCTAD in 2022 to explore the future role of science technology and innovation and STI policy in Botswana and to stimulate a process aimed at creating a consensus on the future priorities for national investments in R&D technology and innovation. It responds to a key finding of UNCTAD's Botswana STI Policy Review that the lack of clearly defined national priorities contributes to fragmentation in the national system of innovation in Botswana and undermines its innovation performance and capacity for technology upgrading. These in turn constrain the ability of Botswana to use STI for sustainable development and reach the sustainable development goals. The STI foresight exercise aimed to provide a future dimension to strategic planning for STI in the country. It sought to involve the STI community of policymakers and practitioners in Botswana in a discussion about what the STI future could be for Botswana and what a preferred STI future is for the country. The exercise and the report are based on an understanding that foresight can help to shape the future of Botswana by looking forward into the future to see what could be possible through selective policy interventions undertaken in the present starting from today.
Botswana Science, Technology and Innovation Policy Review
The report presents UNCTAD's assessment of the national innovation system of Botswana including indicators of STI capacity key actors STI policy frameworks use of new technologies for transformation and the application of STI across different sectors and issue areas related to the sustainable development goals. It identifies key weaknesses and proposes policy recommendations to address those weaknesses.
UNCTAD ICT Policy Review and National E-commerce Strategy for Botswana
With the rapid uptake of information and communications technologies (ICTs) growing digitalization in both developed and developing countries and the catalytic role of new technological innovations in business and consumer markets global value chains and international trade e-commerce has been increasingly transforming the global economy affecting economic growth competitiveness and socio-economic development. The accelerated expansion of e-commerce has been further fueled by the Covid-19 crisis. In addition to seeking to leverage ICTs and digital technologies to support Covid-19 recovery the Government of Botswana has long recognized ICTs as enablers of national economic and social development and as a tool for strengthening the country’s competitiveness. Committed to creating an environment conducive to supporting e-commerce Botswana has in the past decades invested in and strengthened its ICT sector established key legal and regulatory measures and now stands positioned to expand its e-commerce sector. At the request of Botswana’s Ministry of Investment Trade and Industry (MITI) UNCTAD launched an UNCTAD ICT Policy Review (ICTPR) Strategy to assist Botswana in developing its national e-commerce strategy in March 2019. The national e-commerce strategy set out in this publication aims to leverage Botswana’s full potential for e-commerce to boost economic growth and socio-economic gains diversify the economy raise Botswana’s competitiveness in the global economy and support its recovery from the pandemic crisis. The strategy is the result of technical assistance work delivered by UNCTAD supported by the SADC Trade Related Facility (TRF Fund) funded by the European Union.
No. 51093. United Nations and Botswana
Exchange of letters constituting an Agreement between the United Nations and the Government of the Republic of Botswana on the hosting of the second Train-the-Trainers Course of the United Nations Standardized Pre-Deployment Training for Formed Police Units to be held at Gaborone Botswana from 16 April to 25 May 2012. New York 18 April 2012 and 14 May 2012
No. 36876. United States of America and Botswana
AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE GOVERNMENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND THE GOVERNMENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF BOTSWANA RELATING TO THE EMPLOYMENT OF DEPENDENTS OF OFFICIAL GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES. GABORONE 15 JUNE 1984 [United Nations Treaty Series vol. 2120 I-36876.]
No. 50904. United States of America and Botswana
Agreement between the Government of the United States of America and the Government of Botswana concerning an International Law Enforcement Academy. Gaborone 24 July 2000