The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) has reaffirmed its commitment to supporting Botswana’s agricultural transformation, policy development and climate finance initiatives. The pledge followed a courtesy call on the Minister of Lands and Agriculture, Edwin Gorataone Dikoloti, by FAO Senior Policy Officer Adriano Campolina de Oliveira Soares of the Rural Transformation and Gender Equality Division, Economic and Social Development Stream.
Dikoloti stressed the importance of strengthening partnerships to support the Ministry’s efforts to transform the agricultural sector and improve the country’s economic resilience. Partnerships, he said, remain a key priority as the Ministry works on policies and programmes that need financial and technical assistance including land transformation and the rebuilding of agricultural policies. He noted that Botswana is facing economic challenges, which makes collaboration with development partners increasingly important for mobilising resources and accelerating key initiatives. “FAO is an important partner in the development of agricultural policies including the fodder strategy,” said Dikoloti.
Soares said middle income countries, including his own, continue to face challenges such as poverty, which makes international cooperation and knowledge sharing essential. He pointed to the Global Alliance against Hunger and Poverty, which brings together about 200 members to speed up policies that tackle hunger and poverty through social protection, technical assistance and support for implementation. Soares explained that the alliance gives countries a platform to share experiences and strengthen policies that improve livelihoods and promote inclusive development. He also acknowledged the growing weight of climate finance, calling it a major challenge that demands coordinated effort and innovative financing approaches. “Climate finance is a challenge around the world and it is extremely important. We are happy to support Botswana on that,” added Soares.
Furthermore, Soares said FAO is prepared to share experience and explore ways to support Botswana through technical expertise, resource mobilisation and the design of effective financing strategies. The organisation could also facilitate the exchange of knowledge on public financing approaches and help strengthen systems for land transformation such as greater transparency and efficiency in land administration. In conclusion, he expressed FAO’s readiness to work with the Ministry on its policy priorities and to explore funding opportunities for agricultural programmes and he reaffirmed his willingness to work closely with the Ministry on developing and financing policies that support agricultural transformation and sustainable development.
