The government of Botswana has reaffirmed its steadfast commitment to the Southern African Science Service Centre for Climate Change and Adaptive Land Management (SASSCAL), identifying it as a cornerstone for addressing the region’s mounting environmental challenges.
SASSCAL, established in 2012 as a joint initiative between Angola, Botswana, Namibia, South Africa, Zambia, and Germany serves as a collaborative hub for climate research and sustainable land management.
Addressing SASSCAL’s ministerial Meeting in Gaborone this week, Minister of Environment and Tourism Wynter Mmolotsi noted that the institution’s mandate is deeply integrated into Botswana’s core policy frameworks. These include Vision 2036, the Nationally Determined Contributions (NDC-2024), the National Adaptation Plan (NAP), and the Climate Change Response Policy of 2021.
“Botswana’s semi-arid climate, acute water scarcity, and land degradation make SASSCAL’s work critical to our national development,” Mmolotsi stated. “As one of the world’s lowest greenhouse gas emitters, Botswana prioritizes adaptation. SASSCAL provides the scientific foundation required to build that resilience.”
The Minister highlighted the “tangible and substantial” local impact of the SASSCAL 2.0 programme (2023–2026). This €10 million German-funded initiative currently supports 13 research projects in Botswana, with a total regional programme value of approximately P34 million.
Mmolotsi also celebrated the human capital gains from the partnership. “Three Batswana students from the first cohort of the SASSCAL Graduate Studies Programme (SGSP-IWRM) in Namibia have successfully completed their doctoral degrees and are now directly contributing to our national water security efforts,” he said.
Looking ahead, the government is collaborating with SASSCAL to establish a Centre of Excellence (CoE) focused on biodiversity and ecosystem health. While the Botswana government will provide the land and operational support, the Federal Republic of Germany has pledged funding for its construction.
Botswana, currently serving as the Council Chair, committed to accelerating treaty ratification and maintaining consistent financial contributions to SASSCAL’s operational budget.
“We will work tirelessly to build consensus on critical issues and champion SASSCAL’s visibility and impact across the region,” Mmolotsi concluded.
