Schedule

Rationale

The mission of development finance institutions (DFIs), or interchangeably referred to as development banks, as special policy institutions, have not changed since they were mostly created more than 50 years ago, i.e., to provide access to finance and technical assistance to strategic, unserved and priority projects deemed necessary for a country’s sustainable economic development. But while their mission remained the same, their organizational structures, both in governance and management, as well as approaches to development lending, have evolved amidst the changing times.

Against this backdrop, board members and chief executives of DFIs have to be ever vigilant and innovative and to work closely together to strike a balance for their institutions’ mission fulfillment and sustainability into the future.

It is in this context that ADFIAP is organizing this year’s CEO Forum XI for its member-DFIs’ governance and management leaders to: (a) share and learn from each other their practices, challenges and ideas on governing and leading their respective institutions; and, (b) provide their thoughts and perspectives on future trends in governance and management of DFIs.

Forum Structure

The conference is organized in a way that will allow delegates to learn from each others’ experiences through speaker presentations of best practices and challenges on the theme and through personal interaction among delegates and speakers and among delegates themselves.

Panel speakers for each session will take turns to share the experiences of their respective institutions and countries. Each session will be facilitated by a Session Chair who will introduce the session and the panelists, and to be capped by a Q&A. Speakers will be sourced from among the attending members’ delegates, from ADFIAP international partners and contacts as well as from recommendations received.

Brief on Botswana

About Botswana

Formerly the British protectorate of Bechuanaland, Botswana adopted its new name upon independence in 1966. Almost five decades of uninterrupted civilian leadership, progressive social policies, and significant capital investment have created one of the most dynamic economies in Africa. Mineral extraction, principally diamond mining, dominates economic activity, though tourism is a growing sector due to the country’s conservation practices and extensive nature preserves. Botswana has maintained one of the world’s highest economic growth rates since independence in 1966. Through fiscal discipline and sound management, Botswana has transformed itself from one of the poorest countries in the world to a middle-income country with a per capita GDP of $13,300 in 2008. Two major investment services rank Botswana as the best credit risk in Africa. Diamond mining has fuelled much of the expansion and currently accounts for more than one-third of GDP and for 70-80% of export earnings. Tourism, financial services, subsistence farming, and cattle raising are other key sectors. On the downside, the government must deal with high rates of unemployment and poverty. Unemployment officially was 23.8% in 2004, and 20% in 2013.

Botswana Economic Outlook

Real GDP for the first quarter of 201 5 was P 22,068,1 million compared to P22, 364.5 million registered in the fourth quarter of 2014, recording a 1.3% decrease.

Year on year, the Botswana economic growth was 4.3% in first quarter of 201 5 compared to 3.6% accrued in the same quarter in 2014. The economy grew by 3.4% in the second quarter of 2014 increasing to 5.4% and 5.3% in the third and fourth quarters of 2014 respectively. At industry level, most of the increase was attributed to General Government, Trade, Hotels and Restaurants, and Finance and Business Services sectors which increased by 5.6%, 6.1% and 5.4% respectively.

All the other sectors recorded positive growth rates of at least 1.0% during the review period except Water and Electricity and Agriculture which recorded negative growth rates of 1.7% and 7% respectively. Significant improvement was recorded in water and electricity sector which declined by 1.7% during the quarter under review compared to 236.4% during the fourth quarter of 2014. The improvement was attributed to increase in local electricity production by 63.2% while imported electricity decreased by 16.8%. Mining remains the largest contributing sector to GDP during the first quarter of 201 5 at 22.2%, followed by Trade, Hotels and Restaurants at 15.8%, general Government at 15.0% and Finance and Business services at 1 2.4%. The rest of the sectors accounted for less than 7% of GDP each. The above trend have been prevailing for the past two years with the mining sector accounting for 22.9% of GDP in 2014 compared to 21.9% in 2013, followed by Trade, Hotels & Restaurants and General Government at 15.6% and 14.9% respectively. The mining sector grew by 1.2% in the first quarter of 201 5 compared to 10.0% during the same quarter last year. The slow growth of the mining sector was attributed to decline in diamond production by 2.5%. Copper/nickel production increased by 14.9% year on year.

Best Time to Visit Botswana

The months between April and November, when large number of animals migrate towards the waterways of the Okavango Delta, is best time to go. Temperatures in November are general hot, (15 – 39 Degrees) so you are advised to pack light weight suits and clothing.

November and December – the calving months – are an excellent time to witness nature’s own timetable of regeneration. The rainy season, from January to March, sees the migration of large numbers of game into the summer grazing areas, while the delta comes alive with sounds of hundreds of bird species.

In March and April thousands of zebras and other animals migrate towards the Savuti area of Chobe National Park. Summers (particularly from December through to February) can become exceptionally hot, and rain may make some roads muddy and impassable.

During the rainy summer season, animals in many game areas disperse, while in the dry winter season they congregate around water sources, making for good game viewing. This does not mean, however, that game viewing is impossible during the summer season.

Security

Botswana boasts one of Africa’s and World’s most secure and safe countries, with low, stable rates of various crimes and well trained law enforcement equipped with the latest crime prevention strategies and equipment. The country has either no or very little exposure to terrorism, cybercrime, money laundering and others. This is mainly due to the country’s political stability, low levels of corruption, stable inflation and investor protection. Botswana is a very safe, politically stable country, if you are travelling on an organized trip and staying at lodges and camps, safety problems are very rare. Like anywhere in the world, most crime occurs in the cities and safety precautions are advised.

About Gaborone

Gaborone, most popularly known as Gabs City, is the capital city of Botswana. Located in the South- East district of the country it is home to approximately 400, 000 inhabitants and was named after Kgosi Gaborone, leader of the Batlokwa people. The direct translation of Gaborone is ‘it does not fit badly.’ Gaborone is surrounded by Ramotswa to the southeast, Mogoditshane to the northwest, Mochudi to the east, and Tlokweng. Suburbs in Gaborone include Broadhurst, The Village, Phakalane, Ditimamodimo, Gaborone North.

Gaborone gained its City status in 1986. Gaborone was built around the ‘main mall’ as well as the ‘African Mall’ which are the very first establishments to be built in Gaborone. The Main Mall is just east of Government Enclave on Independence Avenue. It is a large open pedestrian mall where Batswana get to sell their locally produced products to the public seven days a week. This is where you would find office buildings as well on either side of the mall which house banking institutions such as Barclays Bank as well as Standard Chartered Bank. Also found in the Main Mall is exquisite accommodation in the form of Cresta President Hotel. Although the City has continued to grow, the Main Mall represents a wealth of history as to where Gaborone came from.

The African Mall, is situated a few blocks up on Independence Avenue and is as rich with history as The Main Mall. The shops and restaurants of the African Mall form a square around a central car park. The African Mall is home to stores such as Timber Trading, for the finest in textiles, as well as Medina Meat Market. Furthermore there is a great network of Thai restaurants and good old fashioned tailor stores and florists. The newer malls and shopping complexes are Riverwalk, Gamecity, Sebele Centre, Airport Junction, Northgate Mall, Railpark Mall, SouthRing Complex, Molapo Crossing, Mowana Mall.

The business hub of Gaborone, popularly known as the CBD which is located between 2 major roads, A1 leading to Francistown and A12 to Molepolole is a newly developed area with a hotel, modern offices financial institutions, residential structures, malls, and fitness centres, Variety of restaurants, entertainment centres. The Monument of the Three Chiefs is situated in the CBD and is a popular tourist attraction. It is also the venue where CEDA, as part of providing a richly Botswana experience proposes to host a cultural event, against the backdrop of the Statues of the Three Chiefs who went to Great Britain in the 1 960s to seek independence for the country.