Botswana National Development Plan 11.

Botswana National Development Plan 11 Volume 1 (April 2017- March 2023) is a national strategy developed to guide the medium term economic development path for the country under the theme “Inclusive Growth for the Realization of Sustainable Employment Creation and Poverty Eradication”. NDP 11 focuses on six broad-based national priorities of: Developing Diversified Sources of Economic Growth; Human Capital Development; Social Development; Sustainable Use of Natural Resources; Consolidation of Good Governance and Strengthening of National Security; and Implementation of an Effective Monitoring and Evaluation System.
Sustainable environment is one of the main pillars of the strategy. In this regard, the strategy will focus on two broad areas: environmental protection and management of natural resources. To this end, the following programmes will be supported: a) Clean Air Programme aimed at strengthening air pollution control policy, developing standards and intensifying compliance efforts, developing air quality monitoring technology, institutional capacity building, and intensification of public education and awareness; b) Chemicals and Waste Management Programme will include, among other things, the implementation of the national waste management policy, development of hazardous waste treatment and disposal facilities, finalisation of the Chemical Substance and Products Bill and commencement of its implementation, and privatisation of chemical treatment and disposal facilities; c) Clean Water Sanitation Programme; d) Water Resources Management; e) Species Management; f) Cultural Heritage Preservation; g) Conservation of Agricultural Resources Programme; h) Integrated Planning and Land Management Programme; i) Climate Change Resilience Programme; j) Renewable Energy Programme; k) Energy Efficiency Programme.
To reduce rural poverty, natural resources management efforts will focus on ensuring conservation and equitable realization of benefits by the majority of the country’s population. The focus will be on strengthening and development of policies, legislation and strategies to address the threat as well as measures to enhance the state of the environment. Other areas of focus will be land, water, minerals, energy, biodiversity and cultural resources. Adoption of indigenous knowledge will also be promoted. Expertise in applied research and innovation will also be increased to assist creating and harnessing opportunities and generating sustainable jobs from environmental management activities such as waste disposal. Government will also work on the development of the “National Spatial Plan”, which is intended to provide robust spatial solutions to socioeconomic development into the future.
To address the challenges associated with climate change, the Government is currently formulating the climate change policy, its strategy and action plan. Consideration will also be given to adopt “smart agriculture”, an approach that will help Botswana transition towards more productive, efficient, resilient and sustainable systems. Through the inclusion of thermal comfort technologies within the built environment, the effects of global warming will be mitigated within buildings. Government will further integrate climate resilient buildings in the country’s construction landscape through the inclusion of energy efficiency principles in the Building Regulations, and formulation of the National Minimum Energy Performance Standards. Climate change and resilience programmes will take gender mainstreaming into consideration at all levels.
Regarding governance, there are many key players participating in the development, implementation and ongoing operation of an M&E system to ensure that it is effective and sustainable. NSO will provide leadership in monitoring and evaluation of implementation of medium-tem and long-term National Development Goals and will be responsible for coordination of all other institutions and M&E processes, including setting of M&E standards. An Integrated Results Based Management will be used in monitoring the implementation of NDP 11 that is expected to ensure transparency and accountability by various implementing agencies, and ultimately, by Government to the citizen.