Review of Current and Planned Adaptation Action in Botswana

This research paper reviews the current and planned climate change adaptation actions in Botswana. It identifies a significant gap between the country's high climate vulnerability—driven primarily by water scarcity—and the government's lack of priority, policy, and funding for adaptation. While Botswana possesses high adaptive capacity due to its economic development and governance, the report finds a dearth of national adaptation programs, with most activity occurring through regional initiatives.

• Botswana's vulnerability to climate change is primarily linked to its existing high levels of water scarcity, which are expected to be exacerbated by rising temperatures, declining rainfall, and increased evapotranspiration.
• The government of Botswana has identified five sectors as particularly vulnerable to climate change: water, health, crops, grasslands and livestock, and forestry, with water being the most affected.
• Despite the identified risks, the Botswana government does not treat climate change as a national priority, resulting in a lack of guiding policy, legislation, and strategy for adaptation.
• Botswana is considered less vulnerable than its neighbors Namibia and Zimbabwe, but more vulnerable than South Africa, according to the ND-GAIN index. However, it ranks as the 34th most ready country globally to respond to climate change due to its strong economy and governance.
• Climate change is expected to disproportionately affect the rural poor and women. In the Kgalagadi District, it is projected that 97% of water demand will go unmet by 2030. Women are more vulnerable due to their primary roles in water collection and agriculture.
• National development planning has only partially integrated climate risks. While the National Development Plan 10 (NDP 10) acknowledges the need for climate mainstreaming, the overarching Vision 2016 does not mention climate change.
• There is a severe lack of dedicated adaptation funding. Botswana is one of only four sub-Saharan African countries that have received no adaptation funding from international designated climate funds.
• Most adaptation projects in Botswana are regional rather than national. Key initiatives include the Resilience in the Limpopo River Basin and the Southern Africa Regional Environmental Program, both funded by USAID.
• Institutional oversight is provided by the National Portfolio Committee on Wildlife, Tourism, Natural Resources and Climate Change (NPCWTNRCC), but it is noted that the committee typically only meets just before UNFCCC Conferences of the Parties.
• Civil society engagement in climate change adaptation is limited. While the Botswana Climate Change Network and BOCONGO exist, they lack a strong online presence and BOCONGO remains primarily focused on the HIV crisis.

APA

Crawford, A. (2016). Review of Current and Planned Adaptation Action in Botswana. International Institute for Sustainable Development. https://www.iisd.org/system/files/publications/idl-55863-botswana.pdf

Chicago

Crawford, Alec. Review of Current and Planned Adaptation Action in Botswana. International Institute for Sustainable Development, 2016. https://www.iisd.org/system/files/publications/idl-55863-botswana.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Crawford |first1=Alec |title=Review of Current and Planned Adaptation Action in Botswana |publisher=International Institute for Sustainable Development |date=2016 |url=https://www.iisd.org/system/files/publications/idl-55863-botswana.pdf |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{crawford2016review, author = {Crawford, Alec}, title = {{Review of Current and Planned Adaptation Action in Botswana}}, institution = {International Institute for Sustainable Development}, year = {2016}, url = {https://www.iisd.org/system/files/publications/idl-55863-botswana.pdf}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }