The Government of Botswana (GoB) recognises that digitalisation is key to move the country towards a Knowledge-Based Economy (KBE) and transition to a high-income status by 2036. The COVID-19 pandemic has also highlighted the need to accelerate this digital transformation in order to provide services to citizens in a safe manner and boost the economic recovery through innovation and entrepreneurship. For this purpose, the GoB, in July 2020, adopted the Botswana Digital Transformation Strategy (SmartBots) with a view to guide digital transformation across all sectors of the economy. 
The main objectives of the strategy are to: 
•    Connect the country so that no one is left behind. 
•    Provide knowledge and tools to compete and build a knowledge workforce through an overhaul of the education system. 
•    Digitize the Public Service through the development of e-government services which are accessible, integrated, seamless and trusted leveraging digital technologies. 
•    Co-create data-driven products and services. 
•    Build an innovation ecosystem for digital start-ups and entrepreneurships. 

Botswana’s digital transformation requires improved governance that involves a coordinated approach of the actors and stakeholders, structures, processes and implementation of interventions and initiatives. Due to the limited coordination and cooperation among ministries and departments, the current structure is failing to unlock the digital transformation benefits in the public sector. To this end, the SmartBots team has identified key issues in implementing the Strategy that require external assistance. These key issues include: 
•    Stagnant regulatory and policy environment; 
•    Limited digital connectivity and emerging technology infrastructure due to fragmented infrastructure deployment and limited funding; 
•    Lack of coordination and prioritisation of strategic digital initiatives/projects; 
•    Slow and uncoordinated innovation ecosystem; 
•    Change management; 
•    Lack of quality data for monitoring and evaluation of government programmes and projects. 

Based on the analysis of past and current assessments, policy documents, data, three stakeholder workshops (with approximately 20 participants each), interviews and validation exercise, a number of gaps were identified. The gaps are clustered around six (6) themes: 

1. Governance framework and the strategic focus; 
2. Legal and regulatory framework (including standards); 
3. Service production and delivery ecosystems; 
4. Human resources – skills and capacities related to the digital transformation; 
5. Infrastructure, and; 
6. Economic growth, jobs, and diversification. 

Based on the stakeholder consultation, the situation and gap analysis, a number of policy-relevant recommendations are outlined for consideration in the upcoming EU – Botswana collaboration in the context of the MIP 2021-2027. The recommendations are provided with respect to gaps identified, with specific interventions at the national and regional levels, alongside actions that could be taken by the international donor community. The recommendations include the need to: 
•    Review/update existent policies and regulations – for example policies on cybersecurity, data protection and consumer protection; establish and apply principles of regulatory assessment, impact assessments (including on human rights and gender equality) and digitisation-ready legislation. 
•    Establish relevant Interoperability (IOP) framework guidelines and tools. 
•    Conduct a skills assessment of the digital ecosystem (also covering related ecosystems – innovation, entrepreneurship, business and policy (government)). 
•    Establish a clear plan to ensure that the basic but essential digital (and ICT) infrastructure are accessible, affordable, reliable and of quality standards. 
•    Make industry the center of innovation in Botswana to help refocus attention on innovation and digital entrepreneurship that goes over and beyond the Botswana Digital and Innovation Hub (BDIH). 

The EU support in the implementation of SmartBots strategy aims at assisting the successful digital transformation of the Public Sector, the private sector and the society at large. The recommendations are all aligned to the national priorities of Botswana (including Vision 2036 and SmartBots Strategy), the NDICI-Global Europe and the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). 
The Overall Objective (Impact) is to:
Contribute to Botswana’s digital transformation.
The Specific Objectives (Outcomes) are:
SO1:  Improved legal, regulatory, institutional and governance frameworks for open and people centred digital transition. 
SO2: Improved citizens’ access to a transparent and inclusive digital public service. 

SO3: Strengthened digital innovation and entrepreneurship ecosystems, with a specific focus on women, and youth