16 March 2026
The Government of Botswana has announced a partnership with the Southern African Science Service Centre for Climate Change and Adaptive Land Management (SASSCAL) to establish a Centre of Excellence focused on biodiversity and ecosystem health.
The initiative aims to strengthen research, guide environmental policy, and improve the country’s capacity to respond to climate and land-use challenges. The centre will bring together scientists, policymakers, and communities to collaborate on sustainable land management, climate adaptation, and biodiversity conservation.
Speaking at the 4th Ordinary Council of Ministers meeting in Gaborone, Minister Wynter Mmolotsi said the government will provide land and operational support for the facility, while Germany will fund its construction. He noted that the centre will expand research capacity and help translate scientific findings into policies that support sustainable development and effective ecosystem management.
Mmolotsi also highlighted Botswana’s progress under the SASSCAL 2.0 programme, which has funded 13 research projects worth P34 million addressing issues such as water resource management and ecosystem conservation.
He pointed to three Botswana scholars who completed doctoral studies through the SGSP-IWRM programme in Namibia and are now contributing to national water security efforts.
During the meeting, ministers were encouraged to champion SASSCAL initiatives within their governments and ensure that scientific evidence informs national development plans and legislation. The new Centre of Excellence is expected to strengthen collaboration between science and policy while advancing Botswana’s long-term strategy for climate resilience, biodiversity protection, and sustainable ecosystem management.
Source: https://shorturl.at/QYWFB
