Gaborone, Botswana, 27 October 2026 – The UN Economic Commission for Africa (ECA) and the Government of Botswana have strengthened their cooperation on sustainable health financing and economic transformation, with a focus on improving the efficiency of health expenditure, advancing Universal Health Coverage (UHC) and linking investment in health to broader national development priorities.
During high-level engagements in Gaborone, an ECA delegation led by Chief of Staff Aboubakri Diaw held discussions with Botswana’s Vice President and Minister of Finance, H.E. Ndaba Nkosinathi Gaolathe; Minister of International Relations, H.E. Phenyo Butale; and Assistant Minister of Health, Hon. Lawrence Ookeditse. The mission was undertaken in coordination with the United Nations Resident Coordinator in Botswana, Ms Wenyan Yang.
A key outcome of the engagement was the agreement to establish a Joint Technical Working Group, chaired by the Ministry of Finance and co-chaired by the Ministry of Health, with ECA providing technical support. A 100-day action plan will guide priority measures to strengthen health financing and accelerate progress towards UHC.
In discussions with Vice President Gaolathe, participants highlighted the importance of aligning health financing reforms with Botswana's broader economic diversification agenda, including efforts to reduce dependence on diamond revenues and strengthen investment in human capital.
Botswana has made significant progress in expanding access to publicly financed healthcare and protecting households from high out-of-pocket health expenditure. However, growing fiscal pressures, rising healthcare costs and changing health needs underscore the importance of making health financing more sustainable and ensuring that available resources deliver better health outcomes.
Engagements with Assistant Minister of Health Lawrence Ookeditse focused on strengthening primary healthcare, advancing National Health Insurance (NHI), improving public financial management and resource allocation, and expanding the use of digital systems to support more efficient healthcare delivery.
Discussions also highlighted the need to strengthen procurement, improve expenditure monitoring and ensure that health resources are directed towards priority services and population needs.
ECA will support Botswana's reform priorities through economic analysis, public finance expertise, data harmonisation, scenario modelling and evidence-based policy assessments. This technical cooperation will help strengthen the link between health investment, service delivery and broader economic development.
In discussions with Minister of International Relations Phenyo Butale, the delegation also explored opportunities for cooperation in human capital development, digital transformation, health logistics and other areas supporting economic diversification and sustainable growth.
Mr Diaw underscored the importance of country-led reforms, strong institutional coordination and measurable results in translating health financing commitments into improved services and development outcomes.
The delegation also exchanged views with UN Resident Coordinator Wenyan Yang on aligning ECA's technical assistance with the United Nations Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework in Botswana and strengthening coordination across the UN Country Team.
Ms Yang highlighted the importance of coordinated UN support, peer learning and leveraging the comparative strengths of UN entities to advance Botswana's national development priorities.
The mission forms part of ECA's Africa-wide Investing in Health initiative, which supports member States in strengthening domestic health financing, improving expenditure efficiency, and advancing sustainable, equitable health systems.
Through technical cooperation and evidence-based policy support, the initiative seeks to position investment in health not only as a social priority, but also as a driver of productivity, economic resilience and sustainable development.
For Botswana, the partnership provides an opportunity to build on existing reforms, strengthen institutional coordination and advance a more efficient, equitable and sustainable health financing system while supporting the country's wider economic transformation agenda.
Media Contact
Bedson Nyoni
Senior Information Management Assistant
United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (ECA)
Subregional Office for Southern Africa
Email: nyonib@un.org
Issued by:
Communications Section
Economic Commission for Africa
PO Box 3001
Addis Ababa
Ethiopia
Tel: +251 11 551 5826
E-mail: eca-info@un.org
