12 Aug 2026

Government recognises indigenous knowledge as it holds immense potential to anchor Botswana’s economic transformation.

This was said by Assistant Minister of Communications and Innovation, Mr Shawn Ntlhaile, during the final national stakeholder validation consultative engagement at the Ave Maria conference facility on Monday.

The meeting was considering the consolidated draft final Indigenous Knowledge Systems (IKS) Policy after comments from the last consultative engagement held in January this year.

Mr Ntlhaile said the systems encompassed the knowledge, technologies, skills, practices and beliefs that had enabled communities to sustain their livelihoods within their natural environments over generations.

“It is therefore, important that we harness, protect and promote this knowledge as Botswana continues its journey towards a knowledge-based economy. Traditional or indigenous Knowledge has the potential to support economic diversification, particularly in rural areas through the commercialisation of local knowledge, skills and technologies,” he said.

He said value chains that were rooted in traditional knowledge could be developed with supported innovation and strengthened linkages among traditional knowledge-based enterprises.

Mr Ntlhaile said in 2022 Parliament passed the Access and Benefit Sharing Act which provided a legal framework for the sharing of indigenous knowledge and enabled local communities to derive livelihoods from that knowledge.

“The act creates a conducive environment for biodiversity conservation and recognises the importance of conserving biodiversity, regulating access to genetic resources and associated traditional knowledge, and ensuring the fair and equitable sharing of benefits arising from their utilisation,” he added.

Mr Ntlhaile said government was committed to promoting training and capacity building in indigenous knowledge skills and technologies through the revision of the National Rural Development Policy.

He said through cultural mapping, communities would be supported to manage resources in their areas and to protect their indigenous knowledge including through appropriate intellectual property mechanisms.

Assistant Minister Ntlhaile said traditional knowledge could strengthen national health security and stimulate rural economies as well as create employment opportunities.

He highlighted that it had great potential to support the development of alternative raw materials for industrial production and promote the sustainable harvesting and processing of natural resources.  

He added that traditional Knowledge values had also played a critical role in maintaining social cohesion and sustaining nationhood over time.

“Through research, development and innovation, traditional knowledge can revitalise key sectors of the economy. Symbiotic partnerships between traditional knowledge holders and scientists can support the establishment of a vibrant pharmaceutical industry, strengthen SMMEs, preserve biodiversity, protect ecological integrity and revive rural economies through industry and trade” he said.

For his part, Ministry of Communications and Innovation permanent secretary, Mr Cecil Masiga said the engagement testament of the critical value that government placed on the wisdom, innovations and practices that had shaped communities and a nation overtime.

Mr Masiga said traditional knowledge had been the pillar of lives for many years and past generations had leveraged it to sustain various ecosystems such as health, cultural identity and social cohesion.

He said despite its enduring legacy traditional knowledge remained susceptible to biopiracy, misappropriation and remained marginalised in the formal legal and developmental frameworks.

“As a result, government through this policy intends to leverage traditional knowledge as a strategic intellectual asset for social and economic development. Among others, the policy will help to create a conducive environment for ethical Traditional Knowledge beneficiation and safeguarding. Hence, the draft policy marks another critical milestone by Government to integrate Traditional Knowledge into the development planning process,” he said.

Mr Masiga said the policy complimented other national frameworks that supported preservation of culture, promote efficient natural resource management, preserving biodiversity and ecological integrity as well as ethical traditional knowledge beneficiation. ENDS