Botswana

Poverty Reduction

Anti-Poverty Projects

Overview

The UNDP Economic Management, Job Creation and Poverty Reduction Programme in Botswana partners various ministries of the Government of Botswana, resident and non-resident UN system organisations, development agencies, private sector corporations, NGOs and civil society organisations in managing diverse development challenges. It combats obstacles to human development such as poor health, lack of education, and lack of access to resources necessary for a decent standard of living through a number of current and pending job creation programmes.

The Economic / Poverty programme is primarily responsible for the promotion and advancement of human development while combating its antipode, poverty. Poverty can be defined and measured in many ways, but, generally, poverty is presented as income poverty and human poverty. Income poverty refers to a lack of income necessary to satisfy basic food needs and essential non-food needs (i.e. clothing, energy and shelter), whereas human poverty refers to a lack of basic human capabilities.

Partners

Like all UNDP programmes, at the national level the Economic unit works primarily with Government in the areas of economic management, job creation & poverty reduction. Its key partners in government are the Ministries of Finance and Development Planning, Trade, Industry, Wildlife & Tourism, Agriculture and Education, as well as the Central Statistics Office (CSO).

Apart from the government, the programme also works with national institutions such as the Botswana Institute for Development Policy Analysis (BIDPA), the University of Botswana and several Non Governmental Organisations (NGOs). Some of the UN agencies that work with the Economic unit on various projects are the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD), World Tourism Organisation (WTO), UN Industrial Development Organisation (UNIDO), International Labour Organisation (ILO) and the Economic Commission for Africa (ECA). The Economic Programme also works closely with the Bank of Botswana.

Statistics

• Per capita income P18.340 (US$ 3,056)
• Per capita income at independence (1966) P70 (US$12)
• Annual economic growth rate (1992-02) 5%
• Annual economic growth rate (1966-91) 13%
• Real GDP per Capita (Pula) 3845
• Real GDP per Capita (PPP$) 7690
• Mining share of GDP 33%
• Manufacturing share of GDP 6 %
• Government share of GDP 16%
• Gross Domestic Investment 38% of GDP
• Gross Domestic Savings 26% of GDP
• Foreign reserves US$ 6.3 Billion (represents 36 mouth of imports)
• Export 51.2% of GDP
• Import 32.6% of GDP
• 47% of the population live below national poverty line
• 50% of female-headed households live below national poverty line
• 44% of male-headed households live below national poverty line
• Gini-coefficient 0.6
• Poverty gap ration 56.3
• Income of poorest 20% population 4% of total
• Income of poorest 40% population 11.7% of total
• Income of richest 20% population 59.3% of total
• Unemployment 15.8%

More Information

Botswana Poverty Bulletin
Anti-Poverty Projects
Botswana HD Report 2005