EU Support to digital transformation in Botswana

Botswana aims to become a knowledge-based, high-income economy by 2036, recognizing digitalisation as a key driver. 

In February 2020, the government launched the SmartBots Fourth Industrial Revolution Digital Transformation Strategy to accelerate digital transformation across all sectors, particularly after COVID-19 highlighted the need for safe, innovative, and accessible services. The strategy focuses on connecting the country inclusively, strengthening education for a knowledge workforce, digitising public services, co-creating data-driven solutions, and fostering a vibrant innovation ecosystem for start-ups and entrepreneurship. 

However, progress is hindered by stagnant regulations, limited connectivity, fragmented infrastructure, weak coordination among ministries, slow innovation, change management challenges, and insufficient quality data for monitoring and evaluation. Gaps were identified across six themes: governance, legal frameworks, service delivery ecosystems, human resources, infrastructure, and economic growth/diversification.

Despite improvements in ICT indicators, Botswana’s E-Government Development Index (EGDI) in 2022 (0.5495) remains below the global average, with online service availability and e-participation particularly low, although telecommunication and human capital are strong. Key recommendations include:

• strengthening SmartBots governance;
• updating policies and regulations;
• establishing interoperability frameworks;
• conducting digital skills assessments;
• ensuring accessible and quality ICT infrastructure;
• placing industry at the centre of innovation. 

An inclusive approach is emphasized to bridge the digital divide for women, rural populations, people living in poverty, and those with disabilities, ensuring equitable benefits from digitalisation.

To meet this objective, our activities revolve around two lines of action:

1. Strengthening mapping and monitoring of legal and governance framework for SmartBots implementation and digital ecosystem: SmartBots receive assistance through the setting up of an advisory service and a monitoring and evaluation framework of digital transition processes. A data-driven dashboard is implemented to monitor the progress of public policies in digital development and provide tools for inter-ministerial governance and private partnerships.
2. Improving governance and intergovernmental cooperation and coordination on digital service delivery: It includes identifying key stakeholders to champion change and strengthening institutional capacities through the establishment of an open-source e-learning system. We also offer a capacity-building programme for leadership and staff, as well as tailored training for ICT businesses based on identified capacity gaps.

In close collaboration with the Estonian Centre for International Development (ESTDEV), we implement actions which aim to:

1. Improve and align National Interoperability framework, standards, guidelines and tools for e-government services with best practices: We support government institutions, private sector entities and academies to facilitate data exchange and simplify administrative procedures; and we also contribute to the improvement of core registries and the development of proof-of-concept solutions to enhance back-office processes.
2. Adopt a “digital by default” and effective communication strategy: Activities include the identification of key high-volume and high-frequency e-services, the development of a roadmap for the enhanced roll-out of human-centred e-services the creation of a digital by default strategy for the government ecosystem.

We work alongside the Finnish institute of Public Management (HAUS) to: 

1. Increase participation of the private sector in digital innovation and entrepreneurship: We bring support to our partners to review and update existing national strategies and ecosystem mappings and to develop a roadmap for a national digital innovation network aligned with national priorities. Moreover, we provide advisory support to the Botswana Digital and Innovation Hub in the implementation of the SmartBots Lab and in the role of national contact point to regional and international digital & innovation networks.
2. Strengthen digital, innovation, entrepreneurship ecosystems and corresponding value chains by organizing open innovation challenges and competitions. These initiatives foster collaboration between government entities, the private sector, and start-ups to address concrete challenges using shared resources such as open data.
3. Enhance digital skills and capacities, in particular for women and youth entrepreneurs by supporting and expanding existing digital innovation programmes. We strengthen their outreach with research and education institutions and non-profit organizations, in partnership with Botswana Digital and Innovation Hub and EU leading organizations.

• Strengthened legal and governance frameworks for the implementation of SmartBots and the digital ecosystem
• Improved governance and intergovernmental coordination with stakeholders from the public and private sectors, regarding the provision of digital services
• Harmonised and operational national interoperability framework for e-government services
• Adoption of a default and effective digital communication strategy
• Increased private sector participation in digital innovation and entrepreneurship
• Strengthened digital ecosystems, innovation, entrepreneurship, and the corresponding value chains
• Enhanced digital skills and capacities, particularly among women and youth entrepreneurs