Botswana President Duma Boko has directed Cabinet to set aside and allocate funding to strengthen the country’s response to Gender-Based Violence (GBV), placing greater emphasis on prevention, survivor support and access to essential services. The development was revealed by the Minister of Youth and Gender Affairs, Honourable Lesego Chombo, while presenting Government’s response to a Parliamentary Motion on GBV. The Motion, tabled by Tati East Member of Parliament Honourable T. Furniture, called on Government to establish a Special Fund dedicated to GBV prevention, survivor support and legal assistance. While Government supports the intention behind the Motion, it maintains that funding for GBV interventions already exists across several ministries and organisations. The latest decision therefore focuses on strengthening and properly funding existing structures rather than creating another funding mechanism.
Honourable Chombo explained that Government recognises the urgent need to strengthen Botswana’s response to gender-based violence and improve the services available to survivors. She told Parliament that various ministries and organisations are already receiving or allocating funding towards GBV-related programmes and support services. Establishing an additional Special Fund at this stage could duplicate structures that already exist or are currently being developed. Government’s position is that available resources should instead be directed towards identified gaps and programmes that can deliver direct and measurable benefits. This approach aims to improve coordination, reduce duplication and ensure that funding reaches areas where it can have the greatest impact.
Botswana’s GBV response involves a wide network of stakeholders working across different areas of prevention, protection and support. Government ministries form part of the Inter-Ministerial Committee on GBV, while civil society organisations, faith-based organisations, Dikgosi, local community leaders, development partners, creatives, the media and the private sector are also involved. The involvement of these groups recognises that gender-based violence affects communities in ways that require more than a government-only response. Prevention efforts need public awareness, community participation, education, survivor support and stronger access to justice. Bringing these stakeholders together under a coordinated national framework can help ensure that interventions reach people across Botswana and address the different factors contributing to GBV.
Government is also developing comprehensive legislation aimed at strengthening Botswana’s legal response to gender-based violence. According to Honourable Chombo, the proposed legislation is expected to be presented to Parliament during the November sitting. The law is expected to focus on prevention, the protection of victims and survivors and improved funding for counselling, health services and legal assistance. Strong legislation can provide clearer responsibilities for institutions while strengthening the mechanisms available to protect people experiencing violence. The planned legislation will therefore form an important part of the government’s broader effort to create a more comprehensive and coordinated response to GBV.
Financial support is already reaching organisations that provide services directly to survivors of gender-based violence. During the 2025/2026 financial year, Government provided P7,010,674.51 to the Botswana Gender Based Violence Prevention and Support Centre and P1,760,051.00 to Women Against Rape. In the current financial year, the Botswana Gender Based Violence Prevention and Support Centre has received P8,360,037.53. These allocations demonstrate that Government is already using public funds to support organisations involved in survivor assistance and GBV prevention. Maintaining and strengthening this funding will be important as demand for counselling, referrals, protection and other support services continues to require a coordinated institutional response.
Additional support services have been prioritised under National Development Plan 12 as part of the government’s wider development and GBV response. These include safe havens and GBV One-Stop Service Centres designed to bring multiple support services together in one location. Survivors will be able to access medical care, counselling, police assistance and legal support through these centres. The model is intended to reduce the burden placed on survivors who may otherwise have to travel between different institutions and repeatedly explain their experiences. Providing multiple services in one place could make the process less stressful while also improving coordination between healthcare professionals, law enforcement officers, counsellors and legal service providers.
Economic independence is another key element of the government’s response because financial vulnerability can make it harder for women to leave abusive environments or rebuild their lives after experiencing violence. The Women’s Economic Empowerment Programme is being reviewed to improve women’s access to business support, skills training, finance and income-generating opportunities. These interventions are intended to help women strengthen their financial independence and create sustainable sources of income. Economic empowerment can also support women who need to establish new livelihoods after leaving abusive relationships. By including economic opportunities in the GBV response, Government is addressing some of the practical challenges that can affect survivors and limit their ability to seek safety.
Government has also allocated a further P200 million to the Creative Industry Fund, with part of the funding expected to support initiatives that address social issues linked to GBV. Film, music, theatre, visual art and digital content can be used to challenge harmful behaviour and promote respectful relationships. Creative projects can reach large audiences and provide accessible ways of discussing issues such as violence, consent, harmful gender norms and healthy relationships. Including the creative sector in GBV prevention also gives Government and its partners additional platforms for public education and awareness. The funding could therefore support campaigns and projects that contribute to longer-term changes in attitudes and behaviour.
Cabinet has approved the structure and responsibilities of the Inter-Ministerial Committee on GBV, which has developed a national action plan covering a broad range of interventions. The plan addresses prevention, survivor protection, access to justice, healthcare and counselling, education, economic empowerment, public awareness, research and accountability. It also brings Government, civil society, development partners and communities into a coordinated response. Such coordination is important because GBV cases often require assistance from several institutions, including healthcare providers, police, social workers, counsellors and legal services. A national plan with defined areas of responsibility can help ensure that these institutions work towards shared objectives rather than operating separately.
Honourable Chombo explained that Government first identified the gaps in the existing response, determined what needed to be done and assigned responsibilities to the relevant stakeholders. The interventions are now being costed so that funding can be directed towards clearly identified priorities and measurable actions. This approach is intended to make sure that public resources support programmes with clear objectives and defined outcomes. It also creates an opportunity for Government to monitor implementation and identify areas where additional resources or adjustments may be required. Effective monitoring will be important to ensure that the increased funding produces practical improvements for survivors and contributes to stronger GBV prevention across the country.
The decision to strengthen existing funding arrangements rather than establish a new Special Fund reflects Government’s current approach to tackling gender-based violence in Botswana. The focus is on properly financing, coordinating and implementing programmes that are already operating or being developed. Cabinet’s funding direction, planned GBV legislation, One-Stop Service Centres, safe havens, economic empowerment initiatives and public awareness programmes create a broad framework for addressing the issue. The success of this strategy will ultimately depend on effective implementation, adequate resources and consistent coordination between Government and its partners. Botswana’s strengthened financial commitment provides an opportunity to turn existing plans into practical services that protect survivors, prevent violence and improve access to justice and support.
