27 Aug 2019

Bobirwa Subordinate District has been selected for a climate change adaptation project to be implemented by Gaborone Declaration for Sustainability in Africa (GDSA) through Green Climate Funding. 

Speaking during a Bobirwa Sub District session, chairman Mr Sylvester Masweu said the climate change adaptation project was aimed at reducing vulnerability of communal farmers in Bobirwa by restoring rangelands, enabling and monitoring climate resilient livestock farming inter alia.

In providing a synopsis of the background of the project, Mr Masweu said, ‘In November 2016. Conservation International’s South Africa programme visited the GDSA offices and shared the herding for health model with a range of stakeholders with a view to preparing a Southern Africa regional proposal.’

At the visit, he said, Botswana stakeholders preferred a national initiative which Conservation International supported. Consequently, Conservation International supported a ‘Botswana consultant team to develop a concept based on research and further stakeholder consultations.’

Accordingly, the consultancy was completed and submitted in August 2017 before being approved to a full proposal development in December of the same year, Mr Masweu further elucidated.

In May 2018, a project request funding was submitted to Green Climate Funding (GCF). 

The GCF reportedly approved funds for a full project development phase, which is expected to be completed under 12 months.

In preparation for the takeoff of the project the Gaborone Declaration for Sustainability in Africa will hold multi-stakeholder workshops in Mmadinare and Bobonong for fulfillment of the requirements. Ends