Botswana skills strategy falls behind schedule
The African Development Bank reports delays in a 10-year plan to address unemployment and diversify the economy.
A 10-year National Human Resource Development Strategy aimed at tackling graduate unemployment and reducing diamond dependence is behind schedule. The African Development Bank flagged incomplete work, inadequate participation from youth and businesses, and weaknesses in project administration.
The strategy, intended to cover 2026–2036, aims to transform human capital development and align skills with Vision 2036 and a knowledge-based economy. The African Development Bank's report noted that the finalisation of the draft strategy is now scheduled for the fourth quarter of 2026, a revision from the original timeline.
The delays raise concerns about Botswana's readiness to address unemployment and the persistent gap between educational outputs and employer demands. The African Development Bank's evaluation of the previous strategy (2009–2022) has been completed, but the development of the successor strategy has faced setbacks.
Why it mattersThe National Human Resource Development Strategy's delays impact Botswana's efforts to reduce unemployment and diversify its economy away from diamonds.