27 Jan 2026

Recently, at the Ministry of Lands and Agriculture in Gaborone, journalists put down their notebooks, not to chase breaking news, but to sharpen a different kind of skill: how to tell Botswana’s nutrition story with accuracy, depth and impact. 

The occasion was a Scaling Up Nutrition (SUN) Civil Society Media Training on Nutrition Reporting, bringing together media practitioners, civil society leaders, and development partners under one roof. 

While the setting was formal, in the conference room, the conversations were anything but routine. They centred on a question that increasingly shapes Botswana’s future: how food systems, health and development intersect in everyday lives of Batswana. 

In his opening remarks, Ministry of Lands and Agriculture nutritionist, Mr Baeng Ntime welcomed participants with a clear message that ‘nutrition is not a side issue but it is central to national development’. 

“Everyone has the right to food and good nutrition,” Mr Ntime said, echoing the founding principle of the global Scaling Up Nutrition Movement. 

The movement now unites more than 60 countries, including Botswana which joined in 2015, around a shared goal of ending malnutrition in all its forms. 

Mr Ntime informed reporters that from childhood undernutrition and micronutrient deficiencies to the rising burden of overweight, obesity and diet-related non-communicable diseases, malnutrition remains a complex challenge. And the complexity, Mr Ntime emphasised, demands informed reporting.

“Nutrition is not only a health issue but a development priority,” he said, pointing to Botswana’s efforts to integrate nutrition into agriculture and food systems policies. 

These efforts, Mr Ntime said, were aligned with Vision 2036, the Botswana Economic Transformation Plan, and the forthcoming National Development Plan 12, signaling political commitment at the highest level. He highlighted that policies and strategies alone were not enough, saying that was where the media came in. 

“The media plays a vital role in bridging government, civil society and communities. It ensures that nutrition remains visible, understood, and prioritised,” Mr Ntime noted. 

Sharing same sentiments, Food Bank Botswana country director, Mr Kingston Mmolawa expanded on the theme, describing the training as both timely and strategic.

Despite progress in food availability and social protection, he said, Botswana continued to face persistent nutrition challenges linked to how food is produced, distributed, accessed and consumed. 

“Our food systems shape our health outcomes. From what is grown and sold, to what families can afford and choose to eat, nutrition is woven into daily life,” Mr Mmolawa explained. 

For journalists in the room, the message was clear that their reporting will shape how those discussions are to be understood by the public. 

“Your work makes policy debates accessible and holds all of us accountable,” Mr Mmolawa told participants, describing the training as an investment in long-term collaboration between the media and civil society. 

As discussions unfolded, one idea consistently resurfaced that nutrition stories are everywhere, hidden in agriculture, health, education, social protection and even the economy. 

Reporters were encouraged to ask hard questions, challenge assumptions and continue reporting beyond events and workshops. “Because in the end, nutrition is not just about what is on the plate. It is about equity, opportunity and the future health of the nation,” said Mr Mmolawa. 

Meanwhile, the training also served as a curtain-raiser to a major regional event. In March Botswana will host the Scaling Up Nutrition Eastern and Southern Africa Civil Society Network Regional Meeting in Gaborone.

The gathering will bring together civil society representatives from 14 countries across Eastern and Southern Africa, alongside delegates from West and Central Africa. 

Under the theme: Strengthening Accountable Food Systems for Nutrition Security and Health,” the meeting is expected to spotlight shared regional challenges and practical solutions, placing Botswana at the center of important continental conversations. BOPA