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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.

This policy briefing analyzes the water governance structure of Botswana, highlighting the country's water scarcity and the need for institutional reform. It argues that while the government has developed strategies like the 2013 IWRM-WE plan and a 2012 draft water policy, implementation has been slow, with outdated legislation and a continued reliance on supply-side expansion over demand management.

This research paper examines the capacity of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) to implement post-conflict reconstruction and development (PCRD) and explores how South Africa can leverage its membership to strengthen these activities. The author argues that SADC is currently constrained by a state-centric approach to security, structural silos, and a lack of institutional capacity, leaving PCRD responsibilities to individual member states. By comparing SADC with the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), the paper suggests that SADC needs to adopt a more holistic, human-security-based approach and improve its coordination with the African Union (AU) and international donors.

This research paper examines the shifting landscape of Africa's extractive sector, noting the rise of emerging market companies and increasing pressure on all firms to demonstrate developmental and environmental contributions. It argues that Western and OECD companies can gain a competitive edge by adapting their business models to support local processing, reskilling workers, and enhancing transparency.

This 2008 report by the South African Institute of International Affairs (SAIIA) examines non-tariff barriers (NTBs) to trade in Southern Africa, specifically focusing on the road transport corridor between Durban and Gaborone. The study aims to develop a measurement approach for NTBs by quantifying direct and indirect costs—such as toll fees, fuel consumption from stop-start operations, and downtime—to determine their impact on supply chain costs and overall export competitiveness.

This briefing provides a synopsis of discussions from a November 2007 workshop hosted by the South African Institute of International Affairs (SAIIA) regarding Non-Tariff Barriers (NTBs) and logistics-related obstacles to trade in Southern Africa.

This research paper by the Institute for Security Studies examines the purported link between the HIV/AIDS epidemic, the resulting increase in orphaned children, and rising crime rates in Africa, particularly southern Africa. The author argues that while the epidemic creates environments conducive to crime through poverty and demographic shifts, there is little empirical evidence to suggest that AIDS orphans are disproportionately more likely to commit crimes than other poor children.

This research paper examines how social stigma and cultural taboos act as primary barriers to HIV/AIDS prevention and treatment in Botswana and South Africa, arguing that financial resources alone are insufficient to combat the pandemic if fear of discrimination prevents people from seeking testing and care.

This research paper provides an overview of the progress made toward establishing the African Standby Force (ASF) as of May 2005. It details the continental policy framework adopted by the African Union (AU) and examines the specific implementation efforts, capabilities, and challenges within three regional bodies: the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD), and the Southern African Development Community (SADC). The document highlights significant gaps between policy aspirations and operational capacity, primarily driven by funding shortages and limited national military capabilities.

This research paper examines the development and operationalization of the Continental Early Warning System (CEWS) within the African Union (AU). It distinguishes early warning from traditional state intelligence, emphasizing a focus on human security and open-source data. The document reviews the transition from the Organisation of African Unity (OAU) to the AU, the legal framework of the Peace and Security Council (PSC), and the varying stages of early warning system implementation across regional economic communities in West, Central, Southern, and East Africa.

This report by the Institute for Security Studies analyzes the evolution of security architectures in Southern Africa, tracing the transition from the informal Front-Line States (FLS) alliance to the formal structures of the Southern African Development Community (SADC), specifically the Organ on Politics, Defence and Security, the Inter-State Defence and Security Committee (ISDSC), and the Southern African Police Chiefs Co-operation Organisation (SARPCCO).

This case study examines Botswana's strategy to develop downstream diamond beneficiation by leveraging its strong bargaining position during license negotiations with De Beers. The government established a framework to move from raw diamond extraction into cutting, polishing, and trading, though it faces ongoing challenges from low-cost Asian competitors and depleting reserves.

This report chapter outlines the components of a comprehensive institutional response to HIV/AIDS in the workplace, emphasizing a holistic approach that combines prevention, treatment, and the mitigation of operational impacts. It details guiding principles, the necessity of workplace policies, and strategies for maintaining institutional continuity despite personnel loss.

This report presents a case study on the impact of the HIV/AIDS epidemic on local councils in Botswana, specifically examining Gaborone city council, Lobatse town council, and Kgatleng district council. It details how the epidemic increases demand for public services while simultaneously eroding the capacity of councils to supply them through staff attrition and illness. The document highlights a gap between Botswana's comprehensive national policy framework and the lack of institutionalised, internal workplace responses within local government councils.

This research paper examines the evolution of civil-military relations in Botswana, focusing on how the Botswana Defence Force (BDF) has navigated the tension between operational secrecy, military spending, and the need for public trust within a democratic framework. It details the BDF's transition from a force struggling with legitimacy during South African cross-border raids to one seeking public acceptance through humanitarian missions and domestic support roles.

This case study examines the Non-Tariff Barrier (NTB) Monitoring Mechanism used by private sector actors in the Southern African Development Community (SADC) and the Tripartite Free Trade Area to report trade barriers. While the online database successfully registers complaints, the document highlights significant failures in the resolution process, particularly regarding transport-related barriers, due to a lack of political will, technical expertise, and effective institutional structures.

This research paper examines the trade reform of the Southern African Customs Union (SACU), focusing on the challenges and opportunities for regional integration among its member states. Through eight case studies of small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in Botswana, Lesotho, Namibia, and Swaziland (BLNS), the paper identifies significant regulatory, infrastructure, and systemic barriers that hinder the development of cross-border value chains. It argues that the current SACU structure is dominated by South Africa and that a regional development fund could be a critical tool to finance infrastructure and reforms necessary to deepen economic integration and alleviate poverty.

This case study examines the Walvis Bay Corridor Group (WBCG), a hybrid public-private partnership established in 2000 to facilitate trade and infrastructure development in Namibia and neighboring SADC countries. The WBCG coordinates a network of roads and rail—including the Trans-Kalahari, Trans-Caprivi, Trans-Cunene, and Trans-Oranje corridors—to connect the Port of Walvis Bay and the Port of Lüderitz to landlocked markets.