[{"bbox": [96, 152, 1135, 260], "category": "Text", "text": "(1) the Cooperation Facility (EUR 1 400 000) targeting capacity development of Government institutions, dialogues in areas of strategic interest, strategic communication and public diplomacy activities towards the wider public and specialised audiences to raise awareness of the EU-Botswana partnership, as well as peer-to-peer knowledge exchanges, and"}, {"bbox": [96, 270, 1135, 405], "category": "Text", "text": "(2) the Support to Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) (EUR 1 000 000) aiming at strengthening CSOs role as actors of governance representing different groups, including those in more vulnerable situations, in the areas of public advocacy, transparency and democratic governance. It will also strengthen platforms for dialogue and exchanges in priority areas for the EU, including gender, environment and climate change, human rights and youth engagement."}, {"bbox": [96, 416, 1054, 443], "category": "Text", "text": "In response to each of the two components two respective main outcomes are expected from this Action:"}, {"bbox": [134, 443, 1135, 522], "category": "List-item", "text": "(1) the successful implementation of the Government's National Development Plan through the support of sound development programmes and ad hoc activities financed from the NDICI-Global Europe and other EU sources, as well as the implementation of the Strategic Communication and Public Diplomacy And,"}, {"bbox": [134, 522, 1135, 577], "category": "List-item", "text": "(2) the support to civil society to strengthen capacity and maintain CSO's important role in the space of civic participation, democratic governance and implementation of country's development agenda."}, {"bbox": [96, 601, 1135, 656], "category": "Text", "text": "The Action is fully aligned with sections 3.1 and 3.2 of the Multi-annual Indicative Programme (MIP) 2021-2027 measures in support of civil society and cooperation facility and its objectives."}, {"bbox": [96, 666, 1135, 774], "category": "Text", "text": "This action will include among other things funding for technical assistance, capacity development and institutional strengthening measures, strategic communication, research and studies, training, events and workshops, and other related activities. All the activities will mainstream gender and apply a human rights based approach."}, {"bbox": [85, 814, 323, 846], "category": "Section-header", "text": "## 2 RATIONALE"}, {"bbox": [85, 880, 235, 907], "category": "Section-header", "text": "### 2.1 Context"}, {"bbox": [96, 925, 1135, 1030], "category": "Text", "text": "Botswana is a landlocked country with a small population of 2.29 million people (2017 est.). Botswana transitioned from being one of Africa's poorest countries at independence to being an upper middle-income country within a few decades. In 2019, Gross Domestic Product (GDP) per capita stood at USD 7,203 as per World Bank Open Data Source."}, {"bbox": [96, 1058, 1135, 1166], "category": "Text", "text": "Poverty levels have also been drastically reduced since independence, although income inequality remains high. Botswana's success was largely built on the prudent investment of the proceeds from its natural resources (mainly diamonds) realising people's human rights by investing on education, health and infrastructure, an effective macro-economic management and a history of stable democracy, political stability and comparatively low corruption."}, {"bbox": [96, 1191, 1135, 1325], "category": "Text", "text": "Despite these achievements, Botswana still faces substantial structural challenges. The economy is vulnerable to external shocks due to its overreliance on one single and finite commodity. In addition, the economy is dominated by the public sector, accounting for 14.5% GDP and 53.2% of formal employment.¹ At the same time, despite high social spending, poverty and inequality remain a challenge, in particular for women being more affected by poverty and unemployment, and are more prevalent in the informal economy."}, {"bbox": [96, 1350, 1135, 1431], "category": "Text", "text": "Botswana is a stable presidential democracy with a multi-party system\nRule of law is strong in Botswana: the judiciary is independent and of generally high quality, but the system has a significant backlog."}, {"bbox": [96, 1455, 1135, 1536], "category": "Text", "text": "The country is a strong supporter of the multilateral order and is likeminded on many files with the EU at the international level. Botswana and the EU share similar priorities and interests which makes alignment of the MIP to national priorities a seamless task."}, {"bbox": [85, 1634, 611, 1662], "category": "Footnote", "text": "¹ 2018 Statistic Botswana Formal Sector Employmentt Survey"}, {"bbox": [1038, 1680, 1144, 1705], "category": "Page-footer", "text": "Page 4 of 18"}]