In an historic milestone, H. E. Advocate Duma Gideon Boko officially opened the UN-Habitat Regional Office for Southern Africa based in Gaborone, Botswana, marking a significant step in strengthening sustainable urban development and regional cooperation. The office will promote housing and sustainable urban development aligned with Agenda 2063, the New Urban Agenda, and the Sustainable Development Goals, especially SDG 11, which seeks to make cities inclusive, safe, resilient, and sustainable.Speaking at the ceremony in Gaborone, the capital of Botswana, President Duma Boko emphasized that the UN-Habitat's presence would bolster the country's efforts to achieve affordable housing for all by leveraging global expertise, technical resources, and policy experience."Your global expertise, technical resources, and policy experience will be instrumental in helping us design and implement tailored solutions, from informal settlement upgrades and slum prevention to climate-resilient infrastructure and inclusive urban planning for youth and gender equity," Boko said.He highlighted urbanization as one of Botswana's major challenges, with nearly 70 percent of the population now residing in urban areas. Wenyan Yang, UN Resident Coordinator in Botswana, noted that the new hub positions UN-Habitat to better serve Southern Africa by functioning as a platform for policy advice, capacity development, and knowledge exchange. Key focus areas include housing, land governance, smart cities, and climate adaptation."It enhances our technical support to the government and anchors our efforts in one of today's most dynamic development priorities, urban transformation," Yang said.Anaclaudia Rossbach, Executive Director of the UN-Habitat, described the hub as a testament to the shared commitment to tackling the region's most pressing urban challenges."This initiative stems from the Memorandum of Understanding between UN-Habitat and Botswana, outlining our collaboration to advance sustainable urban development in line with (African Union) Agenda 2063, the New Urban Agenda, and the (United Nations) Sustainable Development Goals (SDG), particularly SDG 11, which aims to make cities inclusive, safe, resilient, and sustainable," Rossbach explained. 

The United Nations in Botswana has inaugurated the “Office Energy Efficient Project”, a 75kWp rooftop solar photovoltaic system, and an electric vehicle.The newly installed system will meet the office's daily energy needs with 141,959kWh per year, with 50,081kWh sold back to the grid. The system will provide the office with a US$11,566.00 reduction in electricity costs annually and 201 tonnes of total carbon emissions savings yearly.  After ten years, a return on investment will be achieved. This supports the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), while also promoting green energy solutions and inspiring local communities to adopt similar solutions.This move comes with the UN's revised Business Operations Strategy (BOS) that guides strategic planning, management, monitoring, and reporting of the UN Country Team's joint support. EXTRAORDINARY BENEFITSThe new solar powered office contributes to five sustainable development goals, spotlighting an extraordinary achievement. SDG 7: Affordable and clean energySDG 9: Industry, innovation and infrastructureSDG 11: Sustainable cities and communitiesSDG 12: Responsible consumption and productionSDG 13: Climate action"In Botswana, our road to the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development starts at home. Our solar energy system can be a model for other UN Country Offices to show how we can jointly, sustainably and effectively tackle greenhouse emissions while reducing operational costs, and scale up support across the United Nations System. Greening our business operations can help maximise efficiency, improve productivity, and in turn support the transition of the country to a more sustainable energy future," said UN Botswana Resident Coordinator Zia Choudhury. AN IDEAL ENVIRONMENT FOR CLEAN ENERGYBotswana possesses the ideal geography, topography, and climate for a seamless transition to renewable energy. Across Botswana, there is an average of 3332 hours of sunlight per year (of a possible 4383) with an average of 9:07 of sunlight per day. suitable for solar energy solutions. UNDP also unveiled an electric vehicle which will be powered by the solar PV system, marking a significant step towards sustainable transportation. “UNDP urges more stakeholders to embrace electric mobility as a vital move towards reducing emissions and preserving the environment,” said UNDP Resident Representative Balazs Horvath.

E-Mobility is a crucial factor in the sustainable growth of the UN system, aiming to achieve zero-carbon emissions and promote risk-informed sustainable development. This includes the substitution of Internal Combustion Engines (ICE) with cleaner energy alternatives. In line with the UN's commitment to the 'Smart UN Facilities and the Sustainable Development Goals', this solar project shows how a UN Common premises can work in action, and how the United Nations Sustainable Development Coordination Framework can be coherently implemented in countries.

Mkeyo*, a refugee from the Democratic Republic of Congo, expressed his joy upon receiving cash assistance: “We have been waiting for this for a long time. With cash, we can buy anything we want.” 
As the sun rose over the plains of eastern Botswana, refugees, and asylum-seekers in the remote village of Dukwi eagerly awaited their cash assistance at the local post office. This distribution was part of a Cash-Based Intervention (CBI) programme recently launched by UNHCR, in collaboration with the Government of Botswana, to provide critical financial support to vulnerable refugees and asylum-seekers at the Dukwi refugee camp, replacing the previous system of distributing food and non-food items.
Since its launch in Botswana, the CBI programme has benefited approximately 855 refugees and asylum-seekers from 249 households. With cash in hand, Mkeyo plans to invest in his bakery business by purchasing additional baking trays. “I have already purchased additional baking trays and plan to bake more. This will allow me to offer credit to customers, knowing that they will pay back once they receive their monthly CBI transfers. He noted that cash assistance has also created a market for local vegetable vendors.
During the annual engagement with refugees at Dukwi camp, Botswana’s Justice Minister, Machana Ronald Samukuni, applauded the CBI initiative: “This intervention empowers refugees to determine their own needs and promotes peaceful co-existence with host communities, benefiting the local economy.” The minister highlighted Botswana’s efforts to protect refugees, including overhauling its Refugee Act as part of its Global Refugee Forum pledges, appointing members of the Refugee Advisory Committee in April 2024, and planning to grant more citizenships to enhance integration and social cohesion. 
Yusuf*, an 18-year-old refugee from Somalia, shared his excitement about receiving cash assistance: “it feels great going to the post office like everyone else. Now I can buy additional items like toiletries and access my money outside the camp.”
Graca*, a 54-year-old widow and asylum-seeker from Angola, hopes to become a citizen and saves a portion of her CBI each month to start a new life outside the camp. One of her five children has already received an identity document, a little but significant step towards their new life.  
“I am happy because I am currently in the process of becoming a citizen’ she says, “Once I get my citizenship, I will be able to use my savings to start a new life outside the camp,” said Graca.
“The rollout of CBI in Botswana marks a significant milestone, improving business processes and operational efficiencies, and ensuring timely provision of basic needs assistance” explained UNHCR’s CBI Officer, Gloria Ekuyoa, in appreciation to the government’s support.
In 2023, UNHCR provided over USD 700 million in cash assistance to 7 million people across 100 countries, with 95% of this cash being unrestricted. As for Mkeyo, Graca, Yusuf, and other UNHCR persons of concern at Dukwi camp, they remain optimistic about their future. “I cannot wait to finally become a Motswana,” said Graca.
*Only first names have been used for protection reasons.
 

UNICEF, alongside the Ministry of Health, NAHPA, CDC, and partners Sentebale and Baylor Botswana, have just rolled out Operation Triple Zero, also known as OTZ, in Gaborone.Although Botswana has made major strides in addressing the HIV epidemic, stigma and discrimination, continue to pose a significant barrier for children and adolescents living with HIV, to accessing HIV testing and treatment services, staying on treatment and becoming virally suppressed. According to the latest Botswana AIDS Impact Survey (BAIS V) launched in 2023, young people’s HIV treatment outcomes seem lower when compared to adults. Adolescent girls and young women are proportionately more affected and continue to face gender-based inequalities and violence. To tackle this HIV treatment gap among adolescents, and address some underlying contributors to poor treatment outcomes, the Ministry of Health has partnered with the National AIDS and Health Promotion Agency (NAHPA), UNICEF, CDC, Botswana-Baylor and Sentebale, to launch a comprehensive package of interventions aimed at strengthening the capacity of the national response to cater for the specific needs of adolescents living with HIV.