SIWI partners with Botswana government for more effective water management

An arid country with a dispersed population, Botswana faces major challenges in water resources management and service provision. The country’s dry climate is exacerbated by high rainfall variability, with years of drought commonly being followed by flooding in local areas. The Government of Botswana has recently reviewed its national water master plan and embarked on mission to restructure the country’s water sector. In July 2011, SIWI – a policy institute with an internationally renowned track record in water sector capacity building – and the Ministry of Minerals, Energy and Water Resources of Botswana signed a Memorandum of Understanding for SIWI’s support in this process. Over the past year, SIWI has worked with Botswana’s government to develop a series of training courses, which will run from March 2012 – December 2013.

This programme is jointly funded by the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (Sida) and the Government of Botswana.

Smarter structure for water governance in Botswana
Water resource management and water supply services in Botswana are governed under the Ministry of Minerals, Energy and Water Resources, which divided management between the Department of Water Affairs and the Water Utilities Corporation. In the past, the Water Utilities Corporation was responsible for water supply in urban areas, while the Department of Water Affairs was in charge of both water resources management and water supply service provision in rural areas. Administration was further complicated by district councils that were responsible for local water and sewer reticulation. The current changes will give the Department of Water Affairs exclusive mandate over water resources policy and management, while the Water Utilities Corporation will be responsible for water supply and wastewater management for the entire country.