Botswana

Green Energy Transition for Sustainable Agriculture

Project completed

Organisation

National Development Bank of Botswana (NDB)

Website

Support area

Adaptation to climate change
Mitigation of greenhouse gas emissions

Funding

850000 €

Project duration

Oct, 2022 – May, 2025

Objective: Initiate a funding scheme for small and medium sized off-grid farmers and horticultural producers

Most of Botswana’s farms are situated in off-grid areas. The use of renewable energy in these areas is limited as the upfront cost of the renewable energy equipment is high. Diesel generators are most common for farming enterprises, but they have a negative impact on the cost of production as well as the environment and public health. Also, Botswana’s climate is arid to semi-arid with highly erratic rainfall. Extreme weather events such as drought, storms and floods have been more persistent. The National Development Bank (NDB) of Botswana initiated a funding program for small and medium-sized farmers to mitigate greenhouse gas emissions and adapt to the consequences of climate change through renewable energy solutions such as solar power and water efficient irrigation practices. Also, controlled farming environments improved water and energy efficiency, for example through shade netting. A preference was given to women and youth led enterprises.

A woman wearing a sun protective hat and a bandana scarf is standing in a field in Botswana, touching an apple on an apple tree.

A woman and a man are standing on a farm in Botswana, observing green plants growing under a shade net.

Various individuals, both men and women in formal business attire, are standing in a field in Botswana, examining a solar panel.

Farmer Alan P. Boshwaen, a bald man wearing a khaki shirt and blue jeans, is sitting on a small bench along a path through his farm, which is covered by a shade net.

In an indoor farm in Botswana, an innovative watering system demonstrates how smallholder farming enterprises are implementing new farming solutions.

An aerial photograph captures solar panels on a farm in Botswana, viewed from above.

An aerial view shows a farm in Botswana with fields covered by shade nets.

Capacity development

IKI Small Grants supports NDB in their organisational capacity development through:

Closing identified gaps, such as implementing necessary environmental and social frameworks that meet Green Climate Fund standards (e.g. gender policy) to enable access to global climate finance.
Supporting the Bank in measuring the climate impact of the projects financed
Development of an assessment scheme for the current project based on the overall environmental impact

Ketumile Direng is responsible for mobilising resources and project management at Botswana’s National Development Bank. © NDB

Links

From diesel to solar – Botswana’s farms go green

Project videos

About the organisation

The National Development Bank (NDB) was established under an act of parliament in 1963. The Bank is owned by the Government of Botswana and operates under the control of a Board of Directors appointed by the Minister of Finance and Development Planning. As a Development Financial Institution, NDB is viable and self-sustaining and continues to contribute immensely to the growth of the local economy. Its mission is to provide sustainable, innovative financial products and services for the development of the entire agricultural value chain through partnerships.

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