The Pan Afrikanist Watchman

The University of Botswana and the Non-Governmental Organisations Council (NGO Council) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) through which they undertake to work together to enhance the voice of civil society and achieve impact in national development.

The partnership will also promote global partnerships towards establishing third-stream income, in collaboration with the government of Botswana and development partners to ensure a sustainable foundation for the development of Civil Society Organisations (CSOs).

Speaking at the signing ceremony on August 27, 2021, Vice-Chancellor, Professor David Norris, reiterated his view that universities existed to help in the development of the country through, among others, impactful research.

Professor Norris said, therefore, the University of Botswana would, through its new strategic plan, position itself as an engine of economic growth and social transformation for the country.

“Apart from capacity building in terms of developing the critical manpower that can serve the economy, our research efforts should be geared towards developing the country,” he added.

He observed that the NGO Council was equally important in fostering nation-building and social cohesion besides facilitating the active participation of communities in decision making as well as the creation of their own wealth and prosperity.

The Vice-Chancellor said the NGO Council must not only be defined as a source of intervention during crises but it must as well be a driving force for social justice. He added that given the dwindling government resources, the onus was now on the University of Botswana and NGO Council to help rejuvenate economic activity in the country.

Professor Norris revealed that through stakeholder engagement the University was in the process of developing economic clusters that
would eventually become pillars for stimulating the country’s economy.

Giving an overview of the MoU, UB Stakeholder Relations Manager, Professor Jean Delport, underscored the need for the University of Botswana and NGO Council to work collaboratively in making Botswana visible to the global third stream funding community.

Professor Delport observed that it was becoming extremely difficult for Botswana to attract foreign direct investment.

As such, civil society organisations and institutions of learning must work together to attract third stream income for research, social justice, and development, he said.

In response, NGO Council Chairman David Tribe, gave a brief history of the NGO Council that it was established, among others, to create strategic partnerships for resource mobilisation as well as an endowment fund that would serve as a basket of funds for civil society support.

Tibe observed that the civil society sector had been through a rough patch in its quest to source funds. Consequently, he was upbeat that the partnership between the NGO Council and the University of Botswana could not have come at a better time since it would help reinvigorate the civil society sector once again.

He said the partnership with the University of Botswana would open a number of opportunities for the NGO Council to re-articulate its mandate as well as for the civil society sector to play an active role in helping to reduce poverty in the country.

Deputy Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Nationality, Immigration and Gender Affairs, Motse Othabanye was excited that the University of Botswana was now visible and impactful in society.

Othabanye added that it was critical for the University of Botswana to
embark on research that would help society to resolve its problems easily.

In that regard, he said the NGO Council and University of Botswana partnership would help in capacitating the civil society sector to serve Batswana better.

The University of Botswana has so far signed a handful of similar partnerships, among them with Gaborone City Council and HEVEFRU to name only two.