Staff Writer
Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) in Botswana are set to receive direct government funding following the allocation of P16 million in the 2026/27 financial year budget.
Presenting her ministry’s budget estimates on Tuesday in Parliament, the Minister of Youth and Gender Affairs, Lesego Chombo, announced that the funding will support civil society initiatives, particularly those aligned with gender development and the fight against Gender-Based Violence (GBV).
Chombo said the grant will, in its first phase, focus on strengthening the implementation of the National Policy on Gender and Development as well as the National Strategy to End Gender-Based Violence. Both frameworks are currently under review and are expected to be finalised by August this year.
“This allocation is aimed at enhancing collaboration between government and civil society while ensuring that gender-focused programmes are effectively delivered at community level,” Minister Chombo told Parliament.
The minister noted that civil society organisations in Botswana have historically relied largely on external donors for operational and programme funding. The new allocation indicates a shift towards sustainable, locally supported partnerships.
In addition to supporting policy implementation, the funding will also boost grassroots development initiatives and re-energise GBV prevention programmes across the country. The government expects the initiative to address service delivery gaps, particularly in vulnerable communities, including minority populations, women, and children.
Chombo further revealed that her ministry is working to strengthen networks that support the fight against GBV. This includes enhanced coordination with local authorities, churches, traditional leaders (dikgosi), and civil society actors to ensure a unified and effective national response.
Highlighting the urgency of the intervention, the minister disclosed that Botswana recorded 31,975 criminal cases in 2024. Of these, 10,747 were related to GBV. The cases included serious offences such as murder, rape, defilement of children under the age of 18, and incidents where parents killed their own children.
As a result, she emphasised that the P16 million allocation demonstrates government’s commitment to intensifying efforts to curb GBV, promote gender equality, and strengthen community-based support systems through sustained partnerships with civil society.
