Botswana Tech Summit: In his speech His Honour The Minister of Finance and The Vice President of the Republic of Botswana said, “We are gathered here not just to talk about bits and bytes, but to anchor a national transformation around digital innovation, to build a Botswana where technology is not peripheral, but foundational to everything we do. Let me take a moment to applaud Thrive360 for creating this forward-thinking platform that brings together leaders from across government, academia, the private sector, civil society, and the international community. Your commitment to building a homegrown ecosystem of innovation is commendable and necessary. This platform comes at a pivotal time in our national discourse, following the launch of the Botswana Economic Transformation Programme, which signals a major shift in our developmental approach. We are moving deliberately from an extractive economy to a productive one, from commodity-led growth to technology-led diversification. And this summit gives us a unique opportunity to explore how we can use digital tools, data, and innovation to achieve this transformation.”
Technology.
People. Development.
This theme is more than pillars of the agenda, it represents the foundation upon which Botswana is building its digital future. We meet at a pivotal moment in our nation’s journey. Botswana has not
only witnessed a peaceful transition of governments, a testament to our democratic maturity — but we are also navigating an equally significant shift: a transformation from a diamond-led economy to one driven by innovation, knowledge, and digital opportunity.
The world around us is changing rapidly, and we have a choice — to watch from the sidelines or to lead from the front. I believe, and I know many of you do too, that now is the time to transform our economy through technology.
Our first pillar, Technology, is about harnessing the power of technology to transform the marketplace. By investing in digital infrastructure, cloud services, and AI capabilities, we aim to position Botswana as a thriving digital hub on the African continent — and beyond.
The second pillar, People, reminds us that technology means nothing without human potential. This summit is not just about tools and trends; it’s about people — equipping our workforce with emerging skills, fostering a culture of innovation, and driving productivity & wellbeing across all sectors of the economy.
Finally, Development speaks to our commitment to sustainable, inclusive growth. We must establish strong governance frameworks and forward-thinking policies to build a future-ready digital ecosystem. This summit is not just a conference — it’s a call to action. A platform to share, learn, and collaborate as we shape a Botswana that thrives in the digital age.
UNESCO has been at the forefront of shaping a human-centred vision for AI. In 2021, Member States adopted the Recommendation on the Ethics of Artificial Intelligence — the first global standard-setting instrument on the subject. This Recommendation is grounded in four core values:
1.Respect for human rights and dignity
2.Promotion of fairness and inclusion
- Ensuring environmental and social sustainability
4.Promotion of human oversight and accountability
One of UNESCO’s most impactful contributions in this space is the Readiness Assessment Methodology (RAM) Toolkit. The RAM provides Member States with a structured way to evaluate their preparedness to implement AI ethically and effectively. It assesses legal frameworks, institutional readiness, infrastructure, skills, data governance, and ethical safeguards.
This is not a ranking exercise — it is a collaborative diagnostic tool. It identifies strengths to be built upon and gaps that need targeted action, empowering countries to develop fit-for-purpose national AI strategies.
Botswana has taken commendable steps in engaging with the RAM process, signaling a clear commitment to an inclusive and ethical AI future. Some key findings from our national assessment include:
Policy and Legal Foundations: Botswana has made progress in developing ICT policies and digital transformation strategies, but AI-specific legislation and ethical guidelines remain areas for further development.
Skills and Capacity: There is strong potential within our higher education and innovation ecosystems, particularly in STEM and research institutions. However, there is a need to accelerate AI literacy for policymakers, educators, and the wider public to ensure inclusive participation in AI governance.
Data Infrastructure: Botswana is advancing in its data governance frameworks, but there is a need for greater interoperability, open data practices, and stronger privacy safeguards aligned with global ethical standards.
Multi-Stakeholder Engagement: The RAM highlighted Botswana’s collaborative spirit — government, academia, private sector, and civil society have shown willingness to work together, but coordination mechanisms can be further strengthened.
