The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) Representative to Botswana, Ambassador Carla Mucavi, has paid a courtesy farewell visit to the Ministry of Health, marking the close of her diplomatic tour of duty in the country. The meeting took place earlier today and highlighted years of collaboration between FAO and Botswana’s health sector in strengthening food and nutrition systems. Ambassador Mucavi was received by the Acting Director of Health Services, Dr Oratile Mfokeng-Selei, who represented the Minister of Health during the engagement. The visit provided an opportunity to reflect on progress made in advancing public health and nutrition outcomes. It also reinforced the importance of continued partnership in addressing food security and health challenges.
Dr Mfokeng-Selei expressed gratitude to Ambassador Mucavi for the consistent support that FAO has provided to the Ministry of Health over the years. She emphasized that this support has played a meaningful role in helping Botswana advance towards key global and national development frameworks. These include the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, particularly Goal 1 on No Poverty, Goal 2 on Zero Hunger and Goal 3 on Good Health and Well-being. She also highlighted alignment with the African Union Agenda 2063 and Botswana’s National Vision 2036. According to her, these frameworks provide a long-term roadmap for improving quality of life and reducing inequality across the country.
A major highlight of the collaboration between FAO and the Ministry of Health has been the financial and technical support provided for the development of Botswana’s first Food and Nutrition Policy. The support, valued at approximately USD 128,000, enabled the drafting of a comprehensive policy and its costed implementation plan. The policy was developed in close partnership with the Ministry of Lands and Agriculture, ensuring alignment with national food security priorities. This joint approach reflects the recognition that nutrition and agriculture are deeply interconnected sectors. The policy is designed to provide a coordinated national response to malnutrition and food insecurity.
The Food and Nutrition Policy is considered a critical tool in addressing multiple forms of malnutrition and strengthening public health outcomes in Botswana. It is intended to guide sustainable interventions that improve access to nutritious food while promoting healthier dietary practices across communities. Officials noted that effective implementation of the policy will contribute to reducing stunting, undernutrition and diet related non communicable diseases. It also supports broader national development by improving human capital and productivity. The policy framework is expected to strengthen coordination between sectors and improve long term planning for food and nutrition security.
During the farewell visit, Ambassador Mucavi expressed appreciation to the Ministry of Health for its cooperation and support throughout her tenure in Botswana. She noted that the success of FAO initiatives in the country was made possible through strong institutional collaboration and openness from government partners. She acknowledged the progress achieved in strengthening food and nutrition systems and reaffirmed the importance of sustaining these gains beyond her departure. Her tour of duty officially comes to an end this month, closing a period marked by strengthened partnerships and policy development. The engagement concluded with a shared commitment to continue advancing food security and public health priorities for the benefit of all citizens.
