To improve access to information, in 2021 the United Nations in Botswana facilitated the production of public information messages about (1) COVID-19 risk, and (2) sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) in accessible formats for people with disabilities, including those who are blind and visually impaired.

The SDGs were also translated into braille and local languages, enabling more inclusive participation in the work towards attaining the SDG targets. The Government developed and approved standard service packages for marginalized and potentially vulnerable groups such as sex workers, men who have sex with men, adolescent girls and young women. It also ratified the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.

Internally, however, more needs to be done. This includes capacity development for staff on disability inclusion, as well as improving the accessibility of United Nations offices and ensuring that external venues are also selected with accessibility in mind. United Nations procurement processes also need to be more accessible to the blind and visually impaired.

One of the key developments in Botswana in 2021 was the Government’s ratification of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.

With an HIV prevalence of 20.3 per cent, Botswana is ranked among the top four countries affected by HIV in the world. Building on the extension of HIV treatment to foreign residents in 2019 – a major development in the fight against HIV/AIDS, achieved through collaboration and advocacy by the UNCT and other partners – Botswana is making good strides towards the 95–95–95 targets, with 94 per cent of the population knowing its HIV status, 92 per cent of those diagnosed receiving treatment, and 91 per cent of those being treated reaching viral suppression (91 per cent).

On 29 November 2021, the Court of Appeal upheld the ruling of June 2019 that same-sex activity between consenting adults should be decriminalized in Botswana. This was another key milestone on the journey towards recognizing the rights of all people living in Botswana.

The COVID-19 pandemic led to an escalation of incidence of gender-based violence (GBV) and violence against children. Key developments in 2021 include special courts of law set up dedicated to GBV and violence against children cases, as well as collaboration by the United Nations with civil society organizations (CSOs) to support survivors of GBV at the Botswana GBV Prevention & Support Centre. The United Nations also conducted a Gender Score Card Assessment in 2021 and was commended on a strong gender analysis, with detailed sex-disaggregated data included in the Common County Analysis (CCA). Also commendable is that the UNSDCF 2022–2026 developed during 2021 has a specific outcome addressing gender equality, to ensure these issues are consistently kept at the forefront of the United Nations work, while at the same time ensuring gender is mainstreamed through the other four UNSDCF outcomes. The United Nations maintained strong partnerships with the Government, especially through the Ministry of Nationality, Immigration and Gender Affairs (MNIG) and Local Government and Rural Development (MLGRD), CSOs and other development partners on gender equality. Some learning points from the Assessment included that the United Nations should strive to strengthen systems to ensure gender parity in staffing, as well as putting stronger mechanisms in place to ensure allocation of resources to Gender Equality and Women’s Empowerment and related data tracking.

Launched in 2021, Botswana rolled out the African YouthConnekt platform in partnership with the Ministry of Youth, Sports and Culture and the Botswana Digital Innovation Hub.

The YouthConnekt platform is assisting 36 youth entrepreneurs and start-ups through tailored entrepreneurship and leadership training and mentorship, with a dual focus on economic growth and social impact. It is also intended for more than 300 youth to benefit from digital spaces and dialogues, social change initiatives and linkages to potential markets, financing services, investors, mentors, and partners. It is anticipated that the YouthConnekt platform and its support services will increase youth job opportunities and start- up success rates; the initiative will continue in 2022.