AfDB Holds Consultations in Botswana on Strategy Review and Budget Support

AfDB Holds Consultations in Botswana on Strategy Review and Budget Support. A delegation from the African Development Bank (AfDB) is in Botswana for a three day mission focused on high level consultations with government and key stakeholders on development strategy and budget support.

The delegation was today received by the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Finance, Dr Tshokologo Alex Kganetsano. The visit forms part of engagements to inform the preparation of the 2022 to 2026 Country Strategy Paper Completion Report.

According to the Ministry of Finance, the consultations are aimed at reviewing progress made under the current country strategy framework and gathering inputs that will contribute to the completion report. The report is a key instrument used by the AfDB to assess implementation outcomes and guide future cooperation.

In addition to the strategy review, the AfDB delegation is working towards the design of a new budget support operation intended to assist in financing Botswana’s 2026/2027 national budget. Discussions around this process are taking place during the mission as part of broader engagements with relevant authorities.

The consultations are also expected to cover the implementation of Botswana’s Economic Transformation Plan and the Twelfth National Development Plan (NDP 12). These frameworks outline the country’s development priorities and policy direction over the medium term. Ongoing short to medium term structural reforms are also part of the discussion agenda.

The Ministry stated that the engagements are intended to strengthen collaboration between Botswana and the African Development Bank. The discussions are further aimed at ensuring alignment between development financing and the country’s economic priorities.

The three day mission provides a platform for dialogue on policy, planning, and financing issues that are relevant to Botswana’s development agenda. Government officials and stakeholders are engaging with the AfDB delegation to share perspectives and technical inputs related to current and future programmes.

The African Development Bank is a long standing development partner to Botswana and regularly conducts such missions as part of its country engagement processes. The current visit is focused on strategy assessment and forward looking planning linked to budget support considerations.