Research and Consultancy

Supply- Driven Research

In the next five years, BIDPA will focus on these research areas; Macroeconomics and Development; Trade, Industry and Private Sector; Human & Social Development; Environment, Agriculture & Natural Resources; Governance & Administration which will provide the basis for specific supply-driven research topics and projects. Focus on these areas is aimed at supporting the accomplishment of National Priorities and address topics on the National Development Agenda.Below are some of the recent studies undertaken by Bidpa

Policy Briefs

Kebakile, Pinkie G. (2022) Understanding the Firm-Level Export Diversification Characteristics in Botswana

This policy brief unravels interesting insights pertaining to firm-level export diversification characteristics in Botswana, which is an approach that views export diversification at the micro-level. The following are the key highlights from the Policy Brief;

Exporters whose export porfolios are varied in terms of products and export markets, commonly reffered to as multi-product multi-destination exporters in the literature fetch high export values, which is a prerequisite for sustained economic growth in the country.

The growth and diversification of Botswana’s export bundle is undermined by the exporters’ inability to break into new export markets.

The main policy messsae is therefore that to transisition from an upper-mmidle income status to a high-income status by 2036, the country needs to nurture and develop the multi-product, multi-destination exporters. Tageted interventions aimed at developing these exporters are therefore called for.

Omotoye, Marumo (2022) Barriers to Effective Whistle-blowing in Botswana: Lessons from the construction industry

Adopting Botswana’s construction industry as a case study, this Policy Brief examines key barriers to effective whistle-blowing in Botswana. Data were drawn from 117 construction firms and interviews with regulators of this sector. Despite the enactment of the Whistle-blowing Act 2016, the study finds the following key barriers to effective whistle-blowing: (i) fear of retaliation or punishment, (ii) fear of job loss, (iii) absence of organisational whistle-blowing policies, (iv) lack of incentive to report, (v) lack of education on whistle-blowing, and (vi) insufficient action and follow-up on disclosures by authorities. From a policy perspective, there is a need to strengthen the existing legal protection offered to whistle-blowers, their families, and associates to ensure they are not subject to harm, retaliation or victimisation. There is also a need to increase levels of education and awareness on whistle-blowing in general, and the Whistle-blowing Act 2016.

Blackie, Israel R. (2021) Resolving Human-Wildlife Conflict in Botswana Through Social Protection.

This policy brief is based on a national tracer survey covering 66 villages following mixed methods (qualitative and quantitative) approach to ascertain the magnitude and social impacts of human- wildlife conflict (HWC) on victims and their families. This analysis also seeks to assess the relevance and effectiveness of the ex-gratia compensation scheme to victims of wild animals’ attack which was introduced in 2015. Local people exposed to life threatening wildlife attacks express fear and animosity towards wild animals and feel rejected and disappointed from a fragmented government service delivery system. The study proposes various policy implications aimed at better assisting victims of HWC as well as enlisting local communities’ support in the sustainable conservation of Botswana’s biodiversity.

Working Papers
Samboma, Thabile (2022) Child Sexual Abuse in Botswana: An Evaluation of the Effectiveness of Child Protection Institutions in selected villages
Child Sexual Abuse (CSA) in Botswana is a big social problem with proven lifelong effects in the victims. Botswana has established various child protection institutions and amended child protection laws to ensure that children are safe from all harm. However, despite this development, Botswana Child Sexual Abuse cases are still rising. This study provides the first attempt to evaluate the effectiveness of child protection institutions in Botswana. A case study method was used in Old Naledi and Letlhakeng through an in-depth interview with 22 participants. The findings revealed that there is (i) the absence of a national child legislation strategy (ii) poor coordination of child protection institutions (iii) weak child legislation framework (iv) lack of capacity (v) inadequate financed child protection (vi) lack of systematic data collection (vii) lack of evidence -based research (viii) decline in family structure (iv) lack of public awareness. All these combined hinder the effectiveness of child protection institutions in Botswana. The study recommends the following; reviewing the Children’s Act of 2009, developing a national child protection strategy, strengthening coordination of child protection institutions, increasing resource allocation, creating a centralised database on CSA and strengthening evidence-based research on child sexual abuse in Botswana.

Blackie, Israel R. (2022) Ex Gratia Payments for Loss of Life Due to Wild Animal Attack in Botswana: Implications for practice and policies
Ex- gratia paymentis paid only to families of human-wildlife conflict (HWC) victims who get killed by wildlife, and not to victims who are injured by wild animals regardless of the severity of the injury, even if it results in permanent disability. This study was carried out to assess the relevance and effectiveness of the ex-gratia payment to victims of wild animals’ attack. Participants included traditional leadership (chiefs), government officials, wildlife NGOs, victims and their caretakers. Local people exposed to life-threatening wildlife attacks express fear and animosity towards wild animals and feel left out and disappointed by a fragmented government service delivery system. Delays in processing ex- gratia payment militates against the effectiveness of the ex-gratia scheme. Payment of ex gratia process needs to be re-engineered to improve its effectiveness to serve its noble objectives. This study recommends establishment of an Ex-Gratia Scheme or Ex Gratia Tribunal where all HWC injuries or death incidents can be effectively dealt with. Most importantly, compensation should consider healthcare and rehabilitation, loss of reasonable income and associated disability care because of being attacked by the wild animals.

Blackie, Israel R. (2022) The Social Impact Analysis of the Human-Wildlife Conflict on Victims and their Families in Botswana

The period between 2009 and 2019 has witnessed an unprecedented increase in the number of human- wildlife conflicts (HWC) resulting in people being injured and/or killed by the wildlife in Botswana. This national tracer study guided by constructivism approach covered 66 HWC victims and their families in over 65 villages. The study utilised mixed methods approach to ascertain the magnitude and social impacts of HWC on victims and their families’ following injuries and loss of life from the wildlife. The results of the study indicate that the advent of HWC is transforming rural communities’ livelihoods from being agriculturally based, to being dependent on a costly government aided destitute program. The study also found that victims of HWC experience recurring headaches, itching and other pains which are symptomatic of bacterial infections from claws and the mouth of predators that gets injected deep into the body when animals bite people. The study recommends that government should ensure development of a comprehensive medical health care and effective therapeutic rehabilitation policy to facilitate psycho-social adjustment of HWC survivors. Collaborative research between wildlife veterinarians, medical practitioners and allied health service providers is urgently required to guide development of comprehensive medical health care and effective rehabilitation post-traumatic wildlife attack.

Journal Articles

Mookodi, Lillian (2021): Decomposition Analysis of the Gini Coefficient of Consumer Expenditures in Botswana, Development Southern Africa

Using the 2009/10 Botswana Core Welfare Indicator Survey (BCWIS) and 2015/16 Botswana Multi-Topic Household Survey (BMTHS) datasets, this article discusses inequality in food and non-food expenses in Botswana using the Lerman & Yitzhaki [1984. A note in the calculation and interpretation of the Gini Index. Economics Letters 15, 363–8] inequality decomposition method. The main aim is to investigate how aggregate consumption inequality translates into inequality within each spending component, in order to better understand the distribution of resources held, as well as the population’s living standards, and to make recommendations on re-distributive government policies.

The means, standard errors, and confidence intervals for the component Gini coefficients estimates are also calculated using a simple bootstrap method. The average Gini coefficient of consumption expenditure within the groups increased from 0.498 to 0.533 between 2009/10 and 2015/16, according to the findings. This increase in total expenditure inequality may be due to the increased burden of non-food spending in the household budget, which is more unequal than food spending. Food and clothes & footwear have lower Gini coefficients than other goods since they are considered necessities. Finally, this article suggests several policy options for reducing consumption expenditure inequality.

JOURNAL ARTICLES

1. Mookodi, Lillian (2021): Decomposition Analysis of the Gini Coefficient of Consumer Expenditures in Botswana, Development Southern Africa. DOI: 1080/0376835X.2021.1912587

2. Molefhi, Koketso. (2021) The Impact of Macroeconomic Variables in Capital Market Development in Botswana’s Economy. African Journal of Economic Review, Vol.9(2) pp.204-222

3. Samboma, Thabile A. (2021) Leaving No One Behind: Intellectual disability during COVID-19 in Africa. International Social Work, Vol.64(2) pp.265-269

4. Samboma, Thabile A. (2021) Project Implementation in Local Authorities: The Botswana context. Journal of Public Affairs. https://doi.org/10.1002/pa.2610

5. Samboma, Thabile A. (2020) Vulnerability of Children in Botswana During COVID-19. International Social Work, Vol.63(6) pp.807-810

6. Omotoye, A.M.T. (2020) Perspectives on Gender and Corruption in Botswana: Lessons and Implications for Anti-Corruption Policy. African Journal of Public Administration and Management, Vol. XXVII, No. 2, pp. 25-43.

7. Seleka, Tebogo B. and Lekobane, Khaufelo R. (2020) Targeting Effectiveness of Social Transfer Programs in Botswana: Means-tested versus Categorical and Self-selected Instruments. Social Development Issues, 42(1) 2020

8. Seleka, Tebogo B. and Dlamini, Thula S. (2020) Competitiveness of ACP Sugar Exports in the Global Market. The International Trade Journal, vol. 34(2), pp. 247-277

9. Gaodirelwe, Ikanyeng; Motsholapheko, M. R. and Masunga, G. S. (2020)
Community Perceptions of Wildlife Management Strategies and Subsistence Poaching in the Okavango Delta, Botswana. Human Dimensions of Wildlife:An International Journal. https://doi.org/10.1080/10871209.2020.1727589

10. Lekobane, K. R. and Roelen, Keetie (2020) Leaving No One Behind: Multidimensional Child Poverty in Botswana. Child Indicators Research. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12187-020-09744-

11. Seleka, Tebogo B. and David Mmopelwa (2020) Effects of Input Subsidies on Cropland Allocation and Diversification in Botswana’s Subsistence Economy. Agrekon. https://doi.org/10.1080/03031853.2020.1758175

Below are some of the recent supply-driven projects BIDPA has embarked on;

1. Financial Inclusion and its impact on Employment Creation in Botswana
2. Education & Labour Market Activity of Women in Botswana
3. Challenges of Project Implementation in Local Government; The Case of the Francistown City Council and Kweneng District Councils
4. The Impact of Macroeconomic Variables on Capital Market Development in Botswana’s Economy
5. Structural Transformation & Fiscal Policy in Botswana
6. Unemployment in the SADC Region
7. Consumption Inequality on Botswana; The decomposition of the Gini coefficient of consumer expenditures
8. The impact of Infrastructure on Economic Growth in Botswana
9. The Impact of Business Regulatory Quality on Private Sector Investment in Botswana
10. Impacts of Access to ICTs on Employment Status in Botswana
11. Gender and Corruption in Botswana; Perceptions, Participation and Considerations for Anti-Corruption Policy
12. Youth Employment in Botswana; Comparative Analysis of 2009/10 and 2015/16

Demand-Driven research

BIDPA provides consultancy and advisory services to government ministries, departments, parastatal and other clients through tendering for research projects.In recent years, BIDPA has carried out a number of demand-driven projects and below are some of the key projects;