Overview

The Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH is Germany’s federal agency for international cooperation. In Botswana, GIZ works both through bilateral cooperation between Germany and Botswana and regional cooperation via the Southern African Development Community (SADC), which is headquartered in Gaborone.

Its mission in Botswana focuses on sustainable development, supporting the country’s transition to a high-income economy while promoting climate resilience, renewable energy, good governance, and regional integration.

Local Presence

GIZ’s main office in Botswana is located in Gaborone. The organization employs both local and international staff and collaborates closely with the SADC Secretariat and the Government of Botswana.

Key Focus Areas and Projects
1. Climate Resilience & Natural Resource Management

GIZ supports Botswana and the SADC region in adapting to climate change through:

Integrating climate-smart agriculture into policy and practice.

Restoring degraded rangelands and promoting sustainable land management.

Strengthening regional frameworks for climate adaptation and environmental protection.

2. Water Resource Management

Projects focus on transboundary water governance, supporting river basin organizations and promoting Integrated Water Resource Management (IWRM) across member states.

3. Renewable Energy & Energy Efficiency

GIZ promotes renewable energy adoption, off-grid solutions, and energy efficiency initiatives to reduce emissions and expand energy access in Botswana and the broader SADC region.

4. Regional Integration and Trade

Efforts include:

Enhancing regional trade and removing non-tariff barriers.

Supporting customs modernization and trade facilitation.

Strengthening economic linkages among SADC member countries.

5. Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET)

GIZ helps improve vocational training systems by aligning education programs with labor market needs, strengthening institutional capacity, and promoting skills for youth employability.

6. Climate Finance and Green Growth

Through its support for the Green Climate Fund (GCF), GIZ helps Botswana strengthen its national systems for accessing and managing international climate finance.

7. Gender and Inclusion

Gender equality and social inclusion are integrated into all projects, ensuring women and marginalized groups have equitable access to opportunities and benefits.

Recent Initiatives

Non-Tariff Barrier Workshop (2025): GIZ partnered with SADC to train border and customs officials in identifying and resolving trade barriers.

Growing Greener Programme: Promotes sustainable land restoration and community-based natural resource management in arid regions.

Institutional Capacity Building: Ongoing work with the SADC Secretariat to improve regional planning, monitoring, and evaluation systems.

Strategic Outlook

As Botswana’s economy advances, GIZ’s role has evolved from direct development aid to providing technical assistance, policy advice, and institutional strengthening. The focus is on:

Enhancing sustainability and local ownership of projects.

Strengthening the link between national policies and regional goals.

Building resilience through innovation, capacity development, and inclusive governance.

Contact Information

GIZ Botswana / SADC Office
Private Bag X12, Gaborone, Botswana
Phone: +267 395 7400
Fax: +267 395 9750
Country Director: Christoph Schmidt