31 Jan 2017

Botswana Institute for Technology Research and Innovation (BITRI) in collaboration with London School of Economics and Political Science is undertaking a study entitled “Economic impacts of the 2015 El Niño related drought on small and medium enterprises in Gaborone.”

A press release from BITRI states that the study evaluates the economic consequences for small and medium enterprises (SME) in Gaborone due to water supply disruption during drought.

It is funded by the Department of International Development in the United Kingdom to the tune of more than P396 324 and the study will be conducted over 18 months, states the release.

According to the release, the lead researcher in Climate Change Prof Nnyaladzi Batisani said climate change brings with it an increase in the frequency and severity of extreme weather events such as droughts and El Niño and the risk of water scarcity also rises.

It states that small and medium businesses are among those who suffer from the effects of water stress due to their vulnerability and limited ability to adapt. BOPA