Botswana

UNDP ADMINISTRATOR PRESENTS AIDS INITIATIVE TO BOTSWANA

In a three-nation mission to southern Africa the UNDP Administrator Mark Malloch Brown visited Botswana from 11th - 12th March 2004. His visit focussed primarily on the impact of the HIV/AIDS crisis. He also discussed the Southern Africa Capacity Initiative, a regional project developed by UNDP to help nine African countries with high HIV/AIDS prevalence rates to deal with the effects the epidemic has had in reducing national capacity in education, health and other key sectors.

While in Botswana the Administrator held meetings with a number of stakeholders, including, among others, His Excellency President Festus Mogae, Permanent Secretaries from a number of ministries, civil society organisations as well as UN staff.

He took the opportunity to brief President Mogae on the Southern African Capacity Initiative (SACI), an intervention aimed addressing the human resource dimension in the face of the HIV/AIDS scourge currently reeking havoc to the SADC nations.

	Photo: Marx Garekwe: The UNDP Administrator Holding Talks on AIDS Initiative in Botswana

In his discussions with Permanent Secretaries the Administrator informed them that he was delighted to be in Botswana. He said Botswana has been a superstar of the sub region and well quoted for her successes. He however noted that these successes were jeopardized by the HIV/AIDS. Botswana is a leader in fighting HIVAIDS, its well run and managed, has strong financial management and has reduced poverty. He further said he was also proud of the Botswana National Human Development Report 2000, which won an UNDP award. Though development is prone itself, Botswana should nurture the successes.  He hoped in the process of fighting HIV/AIDS Botswana will be able to turn the tide around.

On the Southern African Capacity Initiative (SACI) he informed the decision makers that the initiative has some of the following components:

Training

• There will be networking of training institutions in the region for training of trainers in critical areas of health and education to offset capacity erosion in these key sectors.
• The UNVs provided will train the trainers

Reinventing Government

• There is recognition that its hard to maintain the existing public sector model with loss of skilled personnel from HIV/AIDS
• There is therefore need for innovative public sector models.
• There is recognition that Civil Society Organisations (CSO), community practitioners and private sector can be important partners in delivering health related services. There is room for private sector in delivering clean water, sanitation and energy.
• There is need to franchise services to CSO & private sector and government maintaining delivering of core responsibilities and services.

Information Technology & Partnership Building

• Already Microsoft and the Government of India have been brought on board. The Director of Regional Bureau for Africa (RBA), Mr. Janneh was in India recently exploring on the type of relationship and partnership with India.
• Brazil experience is already in Botswana
• SACI will bring players over to the table.
• There will be enhanced delivery of services using IT, e.g., telemedicine, issuance of permits, drivers licenses etc.
• 70 people would support SACI from RSA and would collaborate with UNAIDS and WFP

Delivering of Antiretroviral Treatment (ART)

• Objective is to keep people alive to minimize the social impact of HIV/AIDS.
• This presents a challenge to the public sector, CSOs and indeed private sector.
• There is need to build capacities in Health Care Systems to manage ART.

In all this, UNDP would be a network and repository of knowledge and channel for funding through SACI. 

His visit to the country also took him to a local school, Ben Thema Primary School in the heart of the city, where, in the company of the Minister of Education, Mr George Kgoroba, and the Minister of Local Government Honourabe Michael Tshipinare, he witnessed the Teacher Capacity Building Programme, which the Administrator adopted from Brazil to be used in Botswana. This is an interactive television programme called Talk Back, geared at equipping both teachers and students about HIV/AIDS and how to avoid getting infected. (Please see attached the picture showing pupils welcoming Mark Malloch Brown at their school). The Administrator was singularly impressed with how the programme is being used and how it's benefiting its recipients. He was particularly touched by a young pupil who presented a poem/song praising "Mark Malloch Brown" for his good ideas. "Mark Malloch Brown where are you man? I want to see you. Your ideas are good but I want to see you", recited the little girl.

At a meeting with civil society organisations Mark Malloch Brown re-united with Helen Ditsebe-Mhone, the winner of the 2003 International Day for the Eradication of Poverty (IDEP), who gave him a hearty welcome. In her welcoming remarks Helen alluded to the recognition gained by NGOs in Botswana nationally and internationally, as evidenced by the poverty award given to her and her organization by UNDP. She urged government to treat CSO as equal partners in development, and with respect and should consult them before making decisions that affect their operations and on other important national issues.

Ms Bagaisi Phaphe-Mabilo, Program officer, BONASO, who spoke on behalf of the collective body of civil society organisations also reiterated the complimentary role played by CSO, and mentioned they are strategically placed to reach further corners of the country. They can, and do contribute to national development through programme implementation, she said.

She however voiced concern that there is lack of clarity from government as to how much (if at all) should CSO be funded from national budget.

For his part the Administrator assured his audience that UNDP very committed to Civil Society Organizations as development partners. CSO are very important development agents at two levels: that is confronting social problems and possessing more credibility in the raising of donor funding, he said. He explained that no country can deliver community services efficiently without CSO involvement, hence there is need to form strategic partnership with CSO.

The Administrator further noted: "luckily, in Botswana because of the stable economy and strong political commitment there is less friction between government and CSO. This augurs well for effective collaboration".

UNDP Resident Representative, Mr Bjoern Foerde, and Deputy Resident Representative Mrs Comfort Tetteh accompanied the Administrator, in his meetings.