AGP Executive Report

AI Education Access: Google expands its free one-year Google AI Plus student offer from six African countries to 27, adding Botswana and others, with Gemini tools plus 400GB storage after SheerID verification. Health Tech Partnership: Abu Dhabi’s M42 signs a 10-year deal with Botswana’s Ministry of Health for digital health transformation, a national genomics programme, precision medicine and local capability building. Power Infrastructure Push: USTDA lines up a Southern Africa delegation (including Botswana) to the US to modernize power grids, featuring AI-based outage prediction and real-time electricity flow optimization. Fuel Quality Accountability: Kwa Nokeng Oil disputes a WhatsApp diesel contamination claim, says internal checks found no off-spec product, and invites BERA to conduct unannounced depot testing at its cost. Climate Risk for Farmers: SARCOF warns Botswana and parts of the region face higher chances of below-normal rains from Oct 2026 to Mar 2027, alongside above-normal temperatures. Agriculture & Food Security: Botswana targets lifting agriculture’s GDP share from 2% to 6%, citing a surge in horticulture projects, while SADC faces a potential El Niño-driven grain shortfall. Tourism Skills & Policy: HATAB outlines its advocacy push to reduce regulatory barriers and improve tourist visa approvals, aiming to strengthen Botswana’s tourism growth.

Education & Literacy: DepEd Philippines is expanding its ARAL reading recovery after an independent impact evaluation with reported drops in struggling readers and gains in grade-level proficiency. Industrial Policy: Botswana is rolling out “Infant Industry Protection” via temporary tariff protection, pushing local firms to translate protection into jobs, investment and competitiveness. Banking Outlook: First National Bank Botswana expects profit before tax to rise by P200m–P235m for FY ended June 2026, with full results due in September. Monetary Sovereignty: As Botswana marks 50 years of the Pula and Thebe, Finance Minister Ndaba Gaolathe links currency confidence to building a broader, more productive economy amid diamond-market pressure. Trade Governance: The Trade Ministry wants state institutions to stop duplicating services, starting with tighter coordination among MTE state-owned entities. Mobile Money & Digital Economy: A report highlights how mobile money is fueling Africa’s online gaming boom, driven by transaction patterns that fit wallets. Agriculture Tech & Growth: Botswana targets lifting agriculture’s GDP share to 6% as horticulture projects surge, with calls for irrigation, digital tech and innovation. Health Tech & Genomics: Abu Dhabi’s M42 signs a 10-year partnership with Botswana’s health ministry for digital health transformation and a national genomics push. Tourism Digitisation: Ukraine’s Map Cam Project trains Batswana to digitise tourism and heritage sites for better visibility on platforms like Google Maps. Wildlife Science & Conservation Media: Wildlife Photographer of the Year 2026 releases a sneak peek from a record 65,000 entries, ahead of the London exhibition. Heat & Human Limits: A new piece warns that rising temperatures are pushing the human body toward physiological thresholds, with Botswana already seeing harsher heat patterns.

Botswana Agriculture Push: Botswana aims to lift agriculture’s GDP share from 2% to 6%, with horticulture projects in Kweneng District rising from 253 to 430 in a year and domestic output growing as import restrictions bite. Regional Food Security: SADC could face a sharper El Niño shock in 2026/27, with Zimbabwe, Botswana and Namibia already buying South African grain as buffers run thin. Digital Health & Genomics: Abu Dhabi’s M42 signed a 10-year deal with Botswana’s health ministry for a national genomics program, digitised health records, and stronger medicine supply chains via Mubadala Bio. Tourism Tech Mapping: Ukraine’s embassy in Botswana launched the Map Cam Project to train Batswana to digitise heritage and attractions, uploading images to platforms like Google Maps to boost discoverability. STEM & Learning Tech: AWS and NBA Africa partnered with Learn Fresh to expand NBA Math Hoops, a basketball-based math and social-emotional learning programme that previously trained educators in Botswana. Wildlife & Conservation Media: Wildlife Photographer of the Year 2026 released a Botswana-linked preview shot (a young leopard outsmarted by a squirrel), ahead of the London exhibition opening Oct 16. Governance & Jobs Pressure: President Duma Boko admitted his 100,000 jobs-a-year pledge has been delayed by fiscal constraints, despite plans for mega projects to drive employment.

Digital Health & Genomics: Abu Dhabi’s M42 has signed a 10-year partnership with Botswana’s Ministry of Health to digitize health records, launch a national genomics program, and strengthen medicine and medical supply chains via Mubadala Bio. Tourism Policy & Industry Advocacy: HATAB outlines how it represents airlines, lodges, conservation groups and tour operators, pushing reforms like local per diem changes and resolving tourist visa delays. STEM & Skills for Botswana: BIUST and BITC are teaming up to fast-track Botswana’s STEM economy, while BIBF launched Botswana’s first indigenous Management Development Programme accredited by HRDC and aligned to international standards. Capital Markets Push: The UK’s MOBILIST programme partners with the Botswana Stock Exchange to unlock private investment and expand listed products for pension funds and asset managers. Insurance Sector Growth: Continental Reinsurance opens Botswana’s first reinsurer public offer on the BSE, targeting expansion and a new retail/institutional listing. Wildlife & Conservation Media: The Wildlife Photographer of the Year 2026 releases a sneak peek from a record 65,000+ entries, with Botswana images among the preview winners. Heat Stress Research: A new look at rising Southern Africa temperatures highlights the human body’s limits as heat increasingly reaches and exceeds 35°C in Botswana. Sports Tech Angle: AWS and NBA Africa back NBA Math Hoops, a basketball-based math and social-emotional learning programme that previously trained educators in Botswana and is set to expand.

Botswana Health Tech: Abu Dhabi’s M42 has signed a 10-year partnership with Botswana’s Ministry of Health to launch a national genomics programme, digitise health records, and strengthen medicine supply chains—its first Africa government-level deal. Mining & Exploration: One Bullion has started a 2026 diamond drilling programme at its Vumba Gold Project, targeting mineralised structural corridors with about 3,000m across ten holes. Digital Finance: Continental Reinsurance has opened Botswana’s first reinsurer public offer on the Botswana Stock Exchange, aiming for a listing that could broaden local access to pan-African reinsurance. STEM & Skills: Botswana’s BIBF launched an indigenous Management Development Programme accredited by HRDC and recognised internationally, pushing leadership quality as a competitive edge. Climate & Human Limits: A new report argues that Southern Africa’s rising heat is pushing the human body toward physiological limits, with Botswana seeing dangerous 35–45°C conditions. Botswana in the Spotlight: Dumela Creative Stock is relaunching to connect African creatives with global markets, aligning with Botswana’s diversification push beyond mining. Science & Tech Culture: Radio astronomy is shifting toward distributed, software-driven systems—raising demand for advanced computing and networking across Africa. Education via Tech: AWS and NBA Africa are backing NBA Math Hoops, using a mobile app to build maths and social-emotional skills, with prior pilots including Botswana.

Genomics for Botswana: Abu Dhabi’s M42 signed a 10-year deal with Botswana’s health ministry to roll out a national genomics programme, digitise health records, and improve access to medicines, including population-level sequencing and supply-chain support via Mubadala Bio. Capital Markets Push: The UK’s MOBILIST programme partnered with the Botswana Stock Exchange to unlock private investment and broaden listed products for pension funds and asset managers, aiming to deepen Botswana’s capital markets. Digital Skills for Youth: Botswana School of Business Sciences (BAC) and the Botswana National Youth Council trained 14 out-of-school youth in ICT and digital skills, including AI, CV writing and online profiling, as part of World Youth Skills Day activities. STEM and Training Ecosystem: BIUST and BITC joined forces to fast-track Botswana’s STEM economy, while BIBF launched Botswana’s first indigenous management development programme accredited by HRDC and recognised internationally. Botswana in Regional Governance Talks: Botswana is expected to join high-level delegations at Ghana’s APSCA 2026 (14–16 Oct) focused on “Governance 2030” for a digital, green and secure Africa. Wildlife Tech & Conservation Spotlight: Botswana-linked Wildlife Photographer of the Year previews highlighted an Okavango Delta leopard image, with the full 100-image set to be exhibited from 16 Oct 2026 to 11 Jul 2027. Education Meets Tech: AWS and NBA Africa partnered with Learn Fresh to expand NBA Math Hoops across Africa, with a pilot that already trained educators in Botswana.

Health Tech Deal: Abu Dhabi’s M42 signed a 10-year contract with Botswana’s Ministry of Health to roll out a national genomics programme, digitize health records, and improve access to medicines. Digital Skills for Youth: Botswana School of Business Sciences (BAC) and Botswana National Youth Council (BNYC) trained 14 out-of-school youth in Gaborone with ICT and digital skills, including AI basics, CV writing and online profiling. STEM Push: BITC and BIUST teamed up to fast-track Botswana’s STEM economy. Mining Skills Pipeline: Botswana’s Higher Education Ministry and China-invested Khoemacau Copper Mining agreed to set up a Mining Centre of Excellence at Maun Technical College to train technical workers for the sector. Capital Markets: Continental Reinsurance opened Botswana’s first reinsurer public offer on the Botswana Stock Exchange, aiming for a first listing on Oct. 5. Energy & Grid Partnerships: U.S. Trade and Development Agency (USTDA) will bring power-sector decision-makers from Angola, Botswana, Mozambique and Zambia to the U.S. to build partnerships for modernizing transmission and distribution systems. Security & Fraud: Botswana’s Village Digital Safety initiative highlights that village cybercrime is often driven by phone calls, WhatsApp scams and mobile money fraud—not advanced hacking. Fuel Revenue Crackdown: BURS and BERA signed an MoU to tackle illicit fuel trading and revenue leakages, citing losses sometimes estimated at P4 billion.

Reinsurance & Capital Markets: Continental Reinsurance Holdings opened Botswana’s first reinsurer public offer on the Botswana Stock Exchange, with a $156.1m offer (new capital plus an exit for existing shareholders) aimed at expanding underwriting and enabling a planned Oct. 5 listing. Digital Skills for Youth: BAC partnered with BNYC to train 14 out-of-school youth in Gaborone with ICT and digital skills, including AI, Microsoft Office, CV writing and online profiling, culminating in certification. Digital Safety in Villages: Village Digital Safety Botswana is flagging a growing rural cybercrime problem driven less by hacking and more by phone calls, WhatsApp scams, fake competitions and mobile money fraud. STEM & Innovation Push: BITC and BIUST signed a five-year MoU to connect research, investment and youth talent to fast-track Botswana’s STEM economy. Mining Skills Pipeline: Botswana’s Ministry of Higher Education and China-invested Khoemacau Copper Mining agreed to set up a Mining Centre of Excellence at Maun Technical College to close the local technical skills gap. Power Infrastructure Under Threat: BPC says cable theft and vandalism are costing the country heavily, with losses exceeding P100m over five years and more than 1,800 new theft incidents reported this year. Innovation Barriers: A Falling Walls Lab Gaborone discussion highlighted silos between research, policy, capital and industry, calling for better commercialization, IP support and stronger university-industry links. Space Ambitions (Regional): A wider Africa-focused report notes growing satellite and space programme activity across the continent, including nanosatellites for practical uses like drought and fire monitoring. Wildlife Coexistence Tech: A Botswana lion-friendly beef initiative won a global stewardship award, linking predator-alert tech and predator-proof farming practices to rural livelihoods.

Botswana Digital Safety: Village Digital Safety Botswana is flagging a growing rural cybercrime problem driven less by hackers and more by phone calls, WhatsApp scams, fake competitions and mobile money fraud. STEM & Skills Pipeline: BITC and BIUST signed a MoU to fast-track Botswana’s STEM economy by linking research, investment and youth talent to real commercial outcomes. Mining Workforce Training: Botswana’s Higher Education Ministry and China-invested Khoemacau Copper Mining will set up a Mining Centre of Excellence at Maun Technical College to close local skills gaps. Power Infrastructure Under Attack: BPC says cable theft and vandalism are costing the utility heavily, with losses over P100 million in five years and more than 1,800 new theft incidents this year. Fuel Revenue Leakages: BURS and BERA launched coordinated action to curb illicit fuel trading, citing losses sometimes estimated at P4 billion. Wildlife-Friendly Livelihoods: Wilderness and CLAWS Conservancy won a global stewardship award for wildlife-friendly beef, using predator-proof practices and a Lion Alert System to protect farmers and lions. Regional Energy Security: CPMZ is expanding the Beira-Harare fuel pipeline capacity by 67%, strengthening supply for inland nations including Botswana. Space Ambitions: African countries plan to allocate over $800m to space projects in 2026, with satellites increasingly used for agriculture, drought and disaster monitoring.

Mining Skills & Training: Botswana’s Ministry of Higher Education and China-invested Khoemacau Copper Mining signed a deal to set up a Mining Centre of Excellence at Maun Technical College, aiming to close the mining skills gap with industry-linked training. Power Grid Security: Botswana Unified Revenue Service and BERA teamed up to clamp down on illicit fuel trading, warning revenue losses could run into billions of pula. Electricity Theft: Botswana Power Corporation says cable theft and vandalism are costing the country over P100 million in five years, with outages and wider damage to other infrastructure. Digital Safety: A new look at Village Digital Safety Botswana highlights how scams and fraud are reaching rural communities through calls, WhatsApp messages, fake competitions and mobile money tricks. STEM & Research-to-Jobs: BITC and BIUST announced a push to fast-track Botswana’s STEM economy by linking research, investment and youth talent. Innovation Barriers: Falling Walls Lab Gaborone heard that Botswana’s main problem is weak coordination between research, policy, capital and industry, leaving ideas stuck before commercialization. Tourism Value Gap: A BIDPA study says tourism arrivals don’t translate into strong economic gains, pointing to underinvestment and fragmented policy. FMD Response: Botswana donated 100,000 FMD vaccine doses to Lesotho to support cross-border livestock disease control. Regional Power Modernisation: USTDA plans a Southern Africa delegation (including Botswana) to the US to build partnerships for modern, secure transmission and distribution systems. Resource Wealth Discipline: A policy piece argues sovereign wealth funds and better budgeting rules are key to turning volatile commodity income into lasting productive capacity.

Botswana Digital & Finance: The Botswana Stock Exchange (BSE) says 2026’s first seven months brought a surge in market value, driven by foreign-listed firms and a push to internationalise—highlighted by the Tabadul deal with Abu Dhabi Securities Exchange and a BSE-Dubai Multi Commodities Centre MoU. Innovation & Policy Gaps: Falling Walls Lab Gaborone heard that Botswana’s innovation system is stuck in silos, with weak links between research, policy, capital and industry slowing commercialization and patents. Energy Security: Botswana Power Corporation reports cable theft and vandalism are costing it over P100 million in five years, with more than 1,800 new theft incidents this year—fueling outages and hitting multiple infrastructure networks. Tourism Value Problem: A BIDPA study argues tourism’s economic impact is far below potential, with arrivals translating into modest GDP gains, pointing to underinvestment and fragmented policy. Trade & Enterprise Growth: Ongwediva’s trade fair has outgrown its facilities—1,872 applications for space but only 485 exhibitors—prompting calls for expansion. Local Industry Linkages: Debswana and CEDA are teaming up to connect diamond procurement ecosystems to citizen enterprise financing, aiming to build local supply chains around real demand. Agriculture Tech for Resilience: Botswana is scaling interest in safflower as a drought-tolerant crop for food security and income, with processing potential for livestock feed and oil. Regional Tech & Connectivity: A Zimbabwean network booster in Beitbridge West is set to improve local mobile coverage and services for residents.

Electric mobility for tourism: Kenya’s Maasai Mara is seeing early adoption of solar-charged electric safari vehicles, aiming for quieter wildlife encounters as safari growth boosts vehicle noise and exhaust. Wildlife monitoring in Botswana: SANParks and the Endangered Wildlife Trust have launched a three-month lion survey in Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park, using camera traps and vehicle-based counts to track population size, movement, and male-to-female ratios across the SA–Botswana ecosystem. Botswana boosts regional livestock health: Botswana has donated 100,000 FMD vaccine doses to Lesotho, with officials stressing cross-border disease monitoring, vaccination, veterinary services, research and livestock movement control. AI in African banking: Absa says its agentic AI chatbot now handles 100,000+ queries per month for about 1.6m users, as the bank links tech upgrades to faster credit decisions and more responsive service. Payments for cross-border e-commerce: Standard Bank and UnionPay expanded online acceptance to nine African markets including Botswana, giving merchants more options for UnionPay cardholders at checkout. STEM education via tech: AWS is backing NBA Math Hoops with AI and cloud tools, building on pilots that reached educators and learners including in Botswana. Climate-health warning for Botswana: With El Niño likely to bring hotter, drier conditions in 2026/27, health experts warn of rising heat stress and related illnesses. Capital markets push: BDC and the Botswana Stock Exchange signed an MoU to improve SME investment readiness and create pathways for long-term capital into productive sectors.

Wildlife Research in Kgalagadi: SANParks and the Endangered Wildlife Trust have started a three-month lion survey in the Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park, using vehicle patrols and camera traps to map lion numbers, movements, and sex ratios across the Botswana–South Africa landscape. Public Health & Climate Risk: Botswana is bracing for a possible strong El Niño in 2026/27, with experts warning of hotter temperatures and longer dry spells that could drive heat-related illness and water stress. Livestock Disease Support: Botswana has donated 100,000 FMD vaccine doses to Lesotho, with officials stressing cross-border cooperation on monitoring, vaccination, veterinary services, and livestock movement controls. AI in Banking: Absa reports its agentic AI chatbot is handling 100,000+ queries monthly for about 1.6 million users, as the bank pushes platform modernisation and faster customer services. Payments for Cross-Border E-commerce: Standard Bank and UnionPay expanded online acceptance to nine African markets, including Botswana, giving merchants more ways to take UnionPay card payments. STEM Learning via Sports Tech: AWS is scaling NBA Math Hoops across Africa, building on a pilot that trained educators in Botswana and Mozambique, and adding AI/cloud tools to reach more learners.

Regional Industry Push: Bulawayo’s COMESA chairmanship bid is framed as a “golden ticket” for industrial revival, leveraging a manufacturing base and market access across 21 member states. Climate-Smart Farming: Botswana is scaling up safflower as a drought-tolerant, low-input crop to boost food security and smallholder incomes, with oil and livestock-feed potential. Payments & E-commerce: Standard Bank and UnionPay expand online acceptance to nine African markets including Botswana, helping merchants serve cross-border customers. AI in Banking: Absa’s agentic AI chatbot is handling 100,000+ queries monthly for 1.6m users as the bank modernises platforms and speeds decisions. Education Tech: AWS backs NBA Math Hoops across Africa, building on a pilot that already reached educators and learners in Botswana. Health Risk Watch: Botswana braces for El Niño-driven heat and drought risks in 2026/27, warning of heat-related illness and water scarcity impacts. Animal Health: Botswana intensifies foot-and-mouth disease controls to protect livestock trade and regional disease-free zones. Conservation Research: SANParks and EWT begin a lion survey in Kgalagadi using vehicle tracking and camera traps to guide long-term management. Capital Markets: BDC and BSE sign an MoU to improve SME investment readiness and mobilise long-term capital. Tourism Investment Debate: A new review questions why Africa still attracts limited tourism investment, pointing to visa, infrastructure and land-tenure barriers.

Botswana Digital Payments: Mukuru has launched its Visa-branded Companion Card in Botswana, letting customers pay for everyday needs straight from their Mukuru Wallet balance—aimed at reducing cash reliance for the still-unbanked. Regional Connectivity: In Zimbabwe’s Beitbridge West, NetOne installed a tall network booster to expand local mobile coverage across a wide radius, improving access to calls and mobile money. AI in Finance: Absa says its agentic AI chatbot now handles 100,000+ queries per month from about 1.6m users, as the bank pushes measurable tech outcomes. Capital Markets Boost: BDC and the Botswana Stock Exchange signed an MoU to improve SME investment readiness and create pathways for businesses to access long-term capital. Health & Climate Risk: Botswana is bracing for El Niño-driven heat and dry spells, with warnings focused on heat-related illnesses and water scarcity. Agriculture & Disease Control: Botswana is intensifying foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) measures to protect cross-border livestock trade, including keeping Namibia FMD-free. STEM & Learning: AWS is expanding NBA Math Hoops across Africa with an AI/cloud layer; the programme previously trained educators in Botswana. Wildlife Monitoring: SANParks and EWT have started a lion survey in the Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park using vehicle checks and camera traps.

AI in Banking: Absa says its agentic AI chatbot is handling 100,000+ queries a month for about 1.6m users, as the bank pushes measurable customer and business outcomes. Digital Payments: Standard Bank and UnionPay expand online acceptance to nine African markets, including Botswana, giving merchants more cross-border checkout options. Mobile Money Access: Mukuru launches a Visa Companion Card in Botswana, letting customers pay cashlessly from their Mukuru Wallet without a bank account. STEM & Learning Tech: AWS backs NBA Math Hoops with an AI/cloud layer, scaling the basketball-based maths programme to learners across Africa, building on pilots that already reached educators in Botswana. Climate & Health: Botswana braces for El Niño-driven heat and dry spells, with health experts warning of heat stress and water-scarcity risks in 2026/27. Agriculture & Livestock Biosecurity: Botswana intensifies foot-and-mouth disease controls after outbreaks threaten regional livestock trade; it also donated 100,000 FMD vaccine doses to Lesotho. Conservation Tech: SANParks and partners begin a new Kgalagadi lion survey using vehicle tracking and camera traps to map numbers and movements across the Botswana–South Africa park. Regional Trade & Value Addition: SADC leaders push faster industrialisation and beneficiation to stop exporting raw minerals and agricultural goods, aiming to boost jobs and intra-regional trade. Critical Minerals Inclusion: Women miners call for stronger participation in SADC critical mineral value chains as demand rises for battery and energy-transition minerals.