R 211026Z AUG 08
FM AMEMBASSY GABORONE
TO SECSTATE WASHDC 5223
INFO SOUTHERN AF DEVELOPMENT COMMUNITY COLLECTIVE

UNCLAS GABORONE 000728 
 
 
DEPT FOR OES/STC/EKANE, OES/PCI, OES/ETC, OES/FO, OES/ENV 
DEPT FOR AF/S, AF/EPS AND EEB 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: TPHY SENV SOCI EAID BC
SUBJECT: BOTSWANA'S SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY AGENDA 
 
¶1. Summary. The Government of Botswana (GOB) through the Ministry of 
Communications, Science and Technology (MCST), is determined to 
develop a credible national science and technology (S&T) capability 
that will yield globally competitive outputs.  The most daunting 
challenge for Botswana is to utilize S&T towards achieving broad 
national socioeconomic outcomes of employment creation, poverty 
alleviation, economic diversification, combating diseases, and 
environmental sustainability of its natural resources for future 
generations.  For this to happen, the development of a robust 
national system of innovation is required, as unprecedented 
landmarks in communications and information, and scientific and 
technological advances are becoming increasingly available.  Major 
constraints to progress in technology and innovation development 
have been cited as inadequate human capital, infrastructure and 
targeted research funding.  Post is strenuously pushing to increase 
S&T linkages between Botswana and the United States. End summary. 
 
¶2. REHO recently paid a courtesy call on the Director, Research, 
Science and Technology, Dr Edson Selaolo (now Director of Botswana 
Technology Center (BOTEC)) to discuss possible S&T collaboration by 
the GOB and the Embassy.  The Director informed REHO that, in 
recognizing the importance of Research, Science and Technology 
(RST), the GOB established the Ministry of Communication, Science 
and Technology (MCST) in 2002 with the responsibility to enhance the 
provision of RST, build an e-society through increased investment in 
information and communications technology (ICT), and ensure 
universal access to the media.  The Department of RST was 
established within MCST in 2004 to coordinate and provide an 
enabling environment for research in S&T.  The creation of the MCST 
also brought together a number of institutions from various existing 
ministries, with responsibilities for S&T research.  These are: a) 
Botswana Technology Center (BOTEC); b) Rural Industries Promotions 
Company (RIPCO) and its subsidiary Rural Industries Innovation 
Center (RIIC); and c) the National Food Technology Research Center 
(NFTRC). 
 
 
Science and Technology Policy 
 
¶3. The S&T policy was approved by Botswana Parliament in 1998; it 
aims to achieve sustainable social and economic development through 
the coordinated and integrated application of S&T to raise the 
standards and quality of life of Batswana and to conserve the 
environment.  Initial indications suggest that the problem of 
limited innovation in Botswana results from the lack of access to 
technology and finance, the absence of organizational capacity which 
could improve output in some areas, and limited human resources and 
weak scientific infrastructure.  The constraints to S&T development 
that were identified by the 1998 S&T Policy of Botswana still remain 
unaddressed.  These include fragmented research activities over 
several departments, low overall investment in research, a need for 
S&T coordination, rationalization and better priority setting, 
improved technology transfer systems, and inadequate S&T human 
resources. 
 
 
Science and Technology Investment Plan 
 
¶4. In Botswana, S&T funding has long been inadequate and without 
systematic coordination, resulting, in lack of significant impact on 
the economy.  Globally, it has been observed that in countries with 
advanced economies, investment in S&T has direct link to economic 
development.  The GOB has made a commitment in its National 
Development Plan (NDP) 9 (i.e. for years 2004 to 2009) to increase 
investment in science and technology as a way of enhancing research 
and development capabilities in the country.  The focus is on the 
creation of research and technology development funds, accelerated 
training of research scientists and engineers, technology 
forecasting, capacity building for existing RST organizations and 
publishing S&T research results that could have impact on the 
economy.  Botswana's Vision 2016 also emphasizes the importance of 
expanding capacity in research and development to enable technology 
adaptation and transfer. 
 
 
Training of Scientist and Technologists 
 
¶5. Generally, government departments are characterized by lack of 
experienced research scientists, managers and strategists to perform 
their daily operations.  The trend is now spreading to the lower 
technician cadres who were adequately provided for in the past.  In 
the health sector, over 90 percent of the medical professionals and 
60 percent of the medical supplies staff are foreigners. Conditions 
needing specialized health service are often referred to South 
Africa because of the lack of local expertise.  Infrastructural 
network is another important development in S&T, and is gathering 
momentum in Botswana. The country has embarked on a strong policy of 
infrastructural development, encompassing the building of health, 
educational, transport, communications, administrative and community 
facilities.  These advancements offer an opportunity for the 
development of a strong national system of innovation to support 
research, science and technology effort. Botswana has made major 
investments in education. The enrollment of Botswana citizens in 
national tertiary education institutions and international has 
increased from 9,345 in 1992 to an estimated 27,491 in 2002. Of this 
number, the GOB sponsored about 26,120 students. However, a lot of 
students (estimated at 8,570) were in training institutions outside 
the country according to a UNDP 2004 report.  It is envisaged that a 
second university with a curriculum focusing on science and 
technology will be built during the NDP 9 as well as the 
construction of a Faculty of Medicine and Applied Health Sciences at 
the University of Botswana. 
 
¶6. REHO also recently visited Professor Otlogetswe Totolo, the Dean 
of Science at the University of Botswana, who also reiterated the 
need for Botswana to find its niche in the global economy.  He 
opined that Botswana must have the capacity and capability to 
recognize technological opportunities that emerge from the globally 
scientific and technological advances.  Furthermore, the country is 
emerging as a respected world center in the control and treatment of 
HIV/AIDS, using the most up-to-date research techniques and 
technologies.  Botswana also has the opportunity to be a center of 
excellence in research in a number of fields, including amongst 
other things, savannah ecosystems and solar energy, according to 
Totolo. 
 
¶7. REHO also hosted January 2008, the Global Dialogue on Emerging 
Science and Technology (GDEST) team from Washington.  The aim of the 
visit was to come and meet with institutions, scientists and 
practitioners to determine their use of geospatial information; 
identify key constraints to the use and exchange of this 
information; and determine opportunities for future collaboration in 
geospatial analysis, capacity building and data exchange. The visit 
was a success and proved a catalyst for a vibrant response from 
Botswana's S&T community to the call for participation in the 
Embassy Science fellow Program. 
 
Final Comment 
------------- 
 
¶8. In order to ensure sustainable development, it is necessary that 
further measures to increase the use and value of resources are 
initiated, and that Botswana becomes highly competitive in specific 
strategic areas. This requires, among other things, investment in 
science and technology research and capacity building, as well as 
collaboration with national and international organizations to drive 
the S&T agenda across board nationwide. The Botswana National 
Research Science and Technology plan will be fundamental to driving 
S&T activities in Botswana.  The increased investment that the GOB 
is determined to put in S&T will be essential in establishing a 
robust national system of innovation, as well as moving the country 
competitively ahead in this important field. 
 
 
DROUIN