Botswana GCF Project

Ecosystem-Based Adaptation and Mitigation in Botswana’s Communal Rangelands

The Government of Botswana through the Ministry of Agriculture in partnership with Conservation International (Botswana) is implementing the Green Climate Fund Ecosystem-Based Adaptation and Mitigation in Botswana’s Communal Rangelands Project in the three target project areas of Ngamiland, Kgalagadi and Bobirwa (covering Okavango, North West, Hukuntsi, Tsabong, Mabutsane and Bobirwa Administrative Districts) to restore vegetation in communal rangelands that are severely impacted by climate change and, to reduce greenhouse gas emissions over 8.5 years.

Financing

Project Finance: $97.6M in total

$36.8 Million by Green Climate Fund (GCF) Grant
$54 Million Co-finance from the Government of Botswana
$6.8 Million Co-finance from Conservation International (CI)

Conservation International Botswana will work with Botswana Government, non-governmental organizations, private sector, academia, development partners and local communities to restore 4.6 million hectares of degraded land using the Herding for Health programme model for climate-responsive planning and management of the communal grazing areas. The Project was launched by the Minister of Agriculture, Hon. Fidelis Molao on 18th August 2022.

Project goals

Increase climate resilience

of vulnerable populations through rangeland management and professional herding.

Reduce green house gases emissions

by targeting vulnerable populations in communal farming by building economic resilience through the beef value chain.

Project outcomes

Professionalization of Herding

Enhanced skills on livestock management
Professional herding qualification
Further education opportunities
In service training for skills development

Capacity Building

Strengthening farmers and community participation
Generating demand and buy in the rangeland stewardship programme
Support with Grazing plan packages
Land management stewardship
Collective herding and kraaling
Building on Indigenous knowledge
Gender mainstreaming and youth empowerment in livestock
Resources for improved veterinary services

Building resilient rural economies

Development of livestock markets
Training on climate-smart value chains and financial literacy
Development of climate-resilient financing products
Improved Commodity based trade

Sharing Lessons Learnt

Return on investment for Government and GCF
Linkages with GDSA and SADC Climate Resilient Production
Inform and influence policy development
Collaboration with climate change partners

Project benefits

Green Job Creation

6000 Ecorangers, Restoration Workers and Graduate Monitors employed from project areas
Enhanced skills development for Ecorangers on basic livestock management
Capacity building on rangeland restoration for climate resilient land management

Restoration of Rangelands

Sustainable Rangeland Stewardship
Rangeland rehabilitation
Improved livestock management
Climate-resilient livestock production
Reduction of 4.7 million tCO2e (tons) during project implementation and 21.5 million tCO2e (tons) over 20 years

Sustainable Economic & New Market Development

Household Income Improvement
Promotion of livestock value investment opportunities
Branding Botswana’s organic beef and promotion of market access

Project impacts

247,000 Direct Beneficiaries

More than half (54%) are women with increased climate change resilience and improved livelihoods

2.3 million Indirect Beneficiaries

National policy interventions and data access will benefit Botswana’s entire population.

47% of Emissions Reductions Target

Contributing to nearly half of Botswana’s 2030 Emissions Reduction Target for Botswana's Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC).

Project updates

Government of Botswana signs Memorandum of Agreement with Conservation International

To strengthen the collaboration between the Government of Botswana and Conservation International in the implementation of the CI Botswana GCF Project the Government of Botswana entered into a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with CI Botswana. The MoU is to enhance the collaboration between the parties in the implementation and achievement of the project goal by the parties. Read the full statement

Farmer Facilitation Team trained on Behavior Change

On 22nd-31st May, 2023, an interactive workshop on land-use behavior change and social marketing to promote climate-appropriate and gender-sensitive rehabilitation and grazing methods was conducted for the Farmer Facilitation Teams of the Tshane-Hukuntsi cluster. The purpose of training was twofold: to introduce the teams to the principles of sustainable grazing from the Herding for Health approach and to equip them with social marketing skills to effectively promote the adoption of sustainable grazing behaviors. Read the full statement

Herding 4 Health – A livelihood model with conservation outcomes

The CI Botswana GCF project team attended a workshop to learn more about the Herding 4 Health (H4H) Model of climate-smart agriculture and livestock management on which the Ecosystem Based Adaptation and Mitigation in Botswana Communal Rangelands project is premised. Together with the project team, the workshop was attended by delegates from Ministry of Agriculture, Botswana University of Agriculture and Natural Resources, Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development, Ministry of Environment and Tourism, Ministry of Lands and Water Affairs, Ministry of Youth, Gender, Sport, and Culture. Read the full statement

Publications and presentations

Setswana Fact Sheet Fact Sheet: Ecosystem-Based Adaptation and Mitigation in Botswana's Communal Rangelands Funding Proposal: Ecosystem-Based Adaptation and Mitigation in Botswana's Communal Rangelands CI Botswana GCF Project Launch Presentation CI Botswana GCF Project Media Awareness Workshop