Context
Skills development is a national priority in Botswana, both as an enabler of economic growth and as a mechanism to address high unemployment and skills shortages. Through Going Global Partnerships, we facilitate UK collaboration opportunities to enable Botswana’s TVET sector to respond to key challenges and support skills development. In the area of green skills, we have supported partners to enhance and promote sustainable agricultural practices to address the key impacts of climate change.
Project Overview
To build the capacity of Botswana’s TVET sector to adapt to the demands of a green economy, Duchy College and Outsourcery Services LLP, in the UK, partnered with four agricultural centres and brigades across Botswana – Barolong Vocational Training Centre, Shoshong Brigades, Serowe Brigades and Tshwaragano Brigades – to strengthen agricultural skills and promote sustainable farming practices. By enhancing curricula and fostering collaboration, the partnership aimed to empower the brigades to equip students with the skills to support a green transition.
In the initial project phase, a baseline analysis was carried out to understand the current curriculum and to identify needs across 19 brigades in Botswana. This revealed significant variation in the understanding of green skills and sustainability, and the diverse ambitions of individual brigades.
It was, therefore, agreed to take the project forward as four individual mentoring programmes, with tailored workshops. By working individually to support each brigade, the partnership could encourage thinking about how sustainable agricultural practices could be localised to each specific context. The mentoring sessions also provided opportunities to consider other areas, such as entrepreneurship.
Each partner identified a lead champion from their teaching staff, tasked with developing individual action plans around the areas of farm regeneration, resource efficiency, environmental protection and social measures.
‘Farming is the backbone of Botswana’s economy. Empowering agricultural colleges with the enhanced knowledge and understanding will help to improve sustainable agricultural practices and support the farmers and agricultural specialists of the future.’ Dr Robin Jackson, Director of The Rural Leadership School, Duchy College
‘Agriculture is essential for Botswana’s national food security and economic stability. By learning more about sustainable practices and instilling this into our curriculum, we are building a future where agriculture can thrive sustainably.’ Ministry of Education representative, Botswana
Impact
Through the partnership, the four brigades successfully identified methods, priorities and opportunities for embedding green skills, contextualised to geographical area and types of production. These included regenerative and conservation practices, to help make farmers and growers more resilient and profitable.
The workshops not only fostered professional growth and exchange of creative ideas about environmentally friendly agricultural practices and improved food production, but also encouraged internal knowledge exchange between participants, laying the foundation for a peer group to share progress, celebrate achievements and work together to find solutions to challenges. This will support the partners’ continued contribution to the greening of the agricultural sector in response to the impacts of climate change.
For the UK partners, gaining new knowledge on tropical agricultural processes is informing their own professional development, and they are keen to explore further collaboration opportunities in this area.
‘From uncertain beginnings and numerous challenges, my new colleagues in Botswana have grown in confidence, developed a passion for change and created plans for implementation. I hope we can continue to support them on their journey and witness their achievements.’ Dr Robin Jackson, Director of The Rural Leadership School, Duchy College
‘The skills acquired by TVET lecturers in greening agriculture will go a long way to enhance and ensure best practices in colleges, which will eventually improve efficient food production for our economy and sustainable farming.’ Mr Lesolame, Ministry of Education and Skills Development