In a significant step toward reshaping Botswana’s youth development architecture, the Ministry of Youth and Gender Affairs, in partnership with UNICEF Botswana, convened an Online Mass Validation exercise to present revised models for the Youth Development Fund (YDF) and the Botswana National Service Programme (BNSP), also known as Tirelo Sechaba.
The revised models were informed by months of rigorous consultations and research conducted by Genesis Analytics on behalf of the Ministry.
The validation sessions attracted a combined viewership of over 700 young people, reflecting a strong appetite among Botswana’s youth to actively participate in shaping policies and programmes that directly affect their futures.
A Legacy Worth Building On — And Reforming
Over the past sixteen years, the Youth Development Fund has been a cornerstone of youth economic empowerment, creating 24,747 jobs and disbursing approximately P1.26 billion. The programme proved pivotal in dismantling financial barriers for young people without collateral, driving asset acquisition, stimulating production growth, and ensuring widespread reach across all 31 districts of the country.
The BNSP has equally operated at considerable scale, placing over 10,000 participants annually across government ministries, parastatals, and NGOs at a national cost exceeding P100 million per year. Yet despite this substantial investment in both programmes, youth unemployment remains persistently high, a sobering indicator that scale alone has not translated into lasting economic inclusion.
Confronting the Gaps
The consultations were equally candid about the shortcomings of the YDF. A 6.6% repayment rate raises serious questions about the programme’s long-term financial sustainability. Compounding this are structural weaknesses including the absence of risk profiling, over-reliance on manual processes, prevailing political interference, and a notable lack of non-financial support for beneficiaries. These gaps have collectively limited the programme’s ability to create the self-sustaining entrepreneurial ecosystem it was designed to foster.
For the BNSP, the challenge is equally clear. The restructuring process is firmly focused on transforming the programme from a placement exercise into a credible launchpad, one that delivers recognised work experience, certified skills development, and real transition pathways into sustainable employment.
Aligning With the National Vision
In a recent interview on Botswana Television, newly appointed Permanent Secretary Ms. Natasha Rampa and Ministry Director Mr. Nkoloi Nkoloi emphasised the urgency of realigning both programmes with Botswana’s broader national agenda. They stressed that the YDF and BNSP must be repositioned to support the objectives of the Botswana Economic Transformation Programme, the National Development Plan 12, and Vision 2036, Botswana’s blueprint for attaining high-income nation status.
What the Youth Are Calling For
The validation process was not merely consultative in formality, the voices of young Batswana carried clear and specific weight. Key proposals put forward for the YDF included raising the eligible age ceiling from 35 to 39 years, and adopting either a public-private partnership or a hybrid co-financing model to strengthen financial sustainability. Participants also called for a more diversified sectoral approach, urging that support be spread equitably across industries rather than concentrated in agriculture.
Perhaps most compellingly, young entrepreneurs strongly advocated for an export-oriented YDF, one that goes beyond domestic markets and equips beneficiaries with the tools, networks, and market access needed to trade beyond the Southern African Customs Union (SACU) region.
The Road Ahead
The Online Mass Validation marks a defining moment in the evolution of Botswana’s youth development programmes. With the foundation of evidence-based reform now firmly in place, the Ministry of Youth and Gender Affairs, together with its partners, faces the critical task of translating validated proposals into decisive policy action. The appetite for change is evident. The expectation from over 700 young Batswana who participated is unambiguous: they are not asking to be recipients of development; they are ready to be drivers of it.