Botswana country climate and development report

The Botswana Country Climate and Development Report identifies water scarcity, persistent droughts, rising temperatures, and more frequent floods as key threats to the country’s sustainable development. Climate change is already affecting agriculture, livestock, and rural livelihoods, with rainfed crop yields projected to decline by up to 25 percent and livestock productivity falling sharply under hotter, drier conditions. These impacts compound vulnerabilities among smallholder farmers and rural women, who rely heavily on natural resources and have limited adaptive capacity. The Okavango Delta, Botswana’s ecological and tourism hub, faces reduced water inflows and declining flooded areas, threatening biodiversity and tourism revenues that sustain local communities. Without strong adaptation action, climate shocks could reduce GDP by up to 7 percent by 2050, with poorer households in drought- and flood-prone districts—such as the Southern, Kgalagadi, and Ngamiland regions—disproportionately affected.

The report emphasizes that strengthening climate adaptation and disaster risk management is critical for protecting Botswana’s development gains. It calls for integrated water resource management, investment in climate-smart agriculture, and resilient infrastructure, alongside reforms to improve early warning systems and update outdated disaster risk assessments. Social protection and disaster management systems provide a strong foundation but require reforms to improve coordination, financing, and responsiveness to climate-induced shocks. Recommended actions include establishing a national disaster risk financing strategy, linking social registries with hazard and vulnerability data, and developing parametric insurance or cash transfer mechanisms for drought and flood relief. The report highlights that institutional reform, targeted investments, and inclusive approaches—particularly those empowering women and local communities—are essential to building resilience and ensuring equitable climate adaptation across Botswana.