Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08GABORONE728
2008-08-21 10:26:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Gaborone
Cable title:  

BOTSWANA'S SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY AGENDA

Tags:  TPHY SENV SOCI EAID BC 
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R 211026Z AUG 08
FM AMEMBASSY GABORONE
TO SECSTATE WASHDC 5223
INFO SOUTHERN AF DEVELOPMENT COMMUNITY COLLECTIVE
UNCLAS GABORONE 000728 


DEPT FOR OES/STC/EKANE, OES/PCI, OES/ETC, OES/FO, OES/ENV
DEPT FOR AF/S, AF/EPS AND EEB

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: TPHY SENV SOCI EAID BC
SUBJECT: BOTSWANA'S SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY AGENDA

UNCLAS GABORONE 000728


DEPT FOR OES/STC/EKANE, OES/PCI, OES/ETC, OES/FO, OES/ENV
DEPT FOR AF/S, AF/EPS AND EEB

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: TPHY SENV SOCI EAID BC
SUBJECT: BOTSWANA'S SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY AGENDA


1. Summary. The Government of Botswana (GOB) through the Ministry of
Communications, Science and Technology (MCST),is determined to
develop a credible national science and technology (S&T) capability
that will yield globally competitive outputs. The most daunting
challenge for Botswana is to utilize S&T towards achieving broad
national socioeconomic outcomes of employment creation, poverty
alleviation, economic diversification, combating diseases, and
environmental sustainability of its natural resources for future
generations. For this to happen, the development of a robust
national system of innovation is required, as unprecedented
landmarks in communications and information, and scientific and
technological advances are becoming increasingly available. Major
constraints to progress in technology and innovation development
have been cited as inadequate human capital, infrastructure and
targeted research funding. Post is strenuously pushing to increase
S&T linkages between Botswana and the United States. End summary.


2. REHO recently paid a courtesy call on the Director, Research,
Science and Technology, Dr Edson Selaolo (now Director of Botswana
Technology Center (BOTEC)) to discuss possible S&T collaboration by
the GOB and the Embassy. The Director informed REHO that, in
recognizing the importance of Research, Science and Technology
(RST),the GOB established the Ministry of Communication, Science
and Technology (MCST) in 2002 with the responsibility to enhance the
provision of RST, build an e-society through increased investment in
information and communications technology (ICT),and ensure
universal access to the media. The Department of RST was
established within MCST in 2004 to coordinate and provide an
enabling environment for research in S&T. The creation of the MCST
also brought together a number of institutions from various existing
ministries, with responsibilities for S&T research. These are: a)
Botswana Technology Center (BOTEC); b) Rural Industries Promotions
Company (RIPCO) and its subsidiary Rural Industries Innovation
Center (RIIC); and c) the National Food Technology Research Center
(NFTRC).


Science and Technology Policy


3. The S&T policy was approved by Botswana Parliament in 1998; it
aims to achieve sustainable social and economic development through

the coordinated and integrated application of S&T to raise the
standards and quality of life of Batswana and to conserve the
environment. Initial indications suggest that the problem of
limited innovation in Botswana results from the lack of access to
technology and finance, the absence of organizational capacity which
could improve output in some areas, and limited human resources and
weak scientific infrastructure. The constraints to S&T development
that were identified by the 1998 S&T Policy of Botswana still remain
unaddressed. These include fragmented research activities over
several departments, low overall investment in research, a need for
S&T coordination, rationalization and better priority setting,
improved technology transfer systems, and inadequate S&T human
resources.


Science and Technology Investment Plan


4. In Botswana, S&T funding has long been inadequate and without
systematic coordination, resulting, in lack of significant impact on
the economy. Globally, it has been observed that in countries with
advanced economies, investment in S&T has direct link to economic
development. The GOB has made a commitment in its National
Development Plan (NDP) 9 (i.e. for years 2004 to 2009) to increase
investment in science and technology as a way of enhancing research
and development capabilities in the country. The focus is on the
creation of research and technology development funds, accelerated
training of research scientists and engineers, technology
forecasting, capacity building for existing RST organizations and
publishing S&T research results that could have impact on the
economy. Botswana's Vision 2016 also emphasizes the importance of
expanding capacity in research and development to enable technology
adaptation and transfer.


Training of Scientist and Technologists


5. Generally, government departments are characterized by lack of
experienced research scientists, managers and strategists to perform
their daily operations. The trend is now spreading to the lower
technician cadres who were adequately provided for in the past. In
the health sector, over 90 percent of the medical professionals and
60 percent of the medical supplies staff are foreigners. Conditions
needing specialized health service are often referred to South
Africa because of the lack of local expertise. Infrastructural
network is another important development in S&T, and is gathering
momentum in Botswana. The country has embarked on a strong policy of
infrastructural development, encompassing the building of health,
educational, transport, communications, administrative and community
facilities. These advancements offer an opportunity for the
development of a strong national system of innovation to support
research, science and technology effort. Botswana has made major
investments in education. The enrollment of Botswana citizens in
national tertiary education institutions and international has
increased from 9,345 in 1992 to an estimated 27,491 in 2002. Of this
number, the GOB sponsored about 26,120 students. However, a lot of
students (estimated at 8,570) were in training institutions outside
the country according to a UNDP 2004 report. It is envisaged that a
second university with a curriculum focusing on science and
technology will be built during the NDP 9 as well as the
construction of a Faculty of Medicine and Applied Health Sciences at
the University of Botswana.


6. REHO also recently visited Professor Otlogetswe Totolo, the Dean
of Science at the University of Botswana, who also reiterated the
need for Botswana to find its niche in the global economy. He
opined that Botswana must have the capacity and capability to
recognize technological opportunities that emerge from the globally
scientific and technological advances. Furthermore, the country is
emerging as a respected world center in the control and treatment of
HIV/AIDS, using the most up-to-date research techniques and
technologies. Botswana also has the opportunity to be a center of
excellence in research in a number of fields, including amongst
other things, savannah ecosystems and solar energy, according to
Totolo.


7. REHO also hosted January 2008, the Global Dialogue on Emerging
Science and Technology (GDEST) team from Washington. The aim of the
visit was to come and meet with institutions, scientists and
practitioners to determine their use of geospatial information;
identify key constraints to the use and exchange of this
information; and determine opportunities for future collaboration in
geospatial analysis, capacity building and data exchange. The visit
was a success and proved a catalyst for a vibrant response from
Botswana's S&T community to the call for participation in the
Embassy Science fellow Program.

Final Comment
--------------


8. In order to ensure sustainable development, it is necessary that
further measures to increase the use and value of resources are
initiated, and that Botswana becomes highly competitive in specific
strategic areas. This requires, among other things, investment in
science and technology research and capacity building, as well as
collaboration with national and international organizations to drive
the S&T agenda across board nationwide. The Botswana National
Research Science and Technology plan will be fundamental to driving
S&T activities in Botswana. The increased investment that the GOB
is determined to put in S&T will be essential in establishing a
robust national system of innovation, as well as moving the country
competitively ahead in this important field.


DROUIN