10/04/2026
10 April 2026
The Permanent Okavango River Basin Commission (OKACOM) today had the honour of hosting the new Ambassador of the Republic of Angola to Botswana His excellency Ambassador Sandro de Oliveira during a courtesy visit to its Secretariat.
The visit provided an opportunity to engage on shared priorities in the sustainable management and development of the Okavango River Basin, strengthening cooperation among the basin’s riparian states. Discussions highlighted the importance of transboundary collaboration, environmental sustainability, and regional integration for the benefit of communities in the CORB. The engagement also presented an opportunity for the Executive secretary to share benefits to communities in the CORB, through community-based livelihood projects; With the support of the UNDP-GEF and EU Projects support to Strategic Action Plan Implementation, several livelihoods' interventions have been carried out including:
Conservation Agriculture Practices in communities in the basin
Climate Smart Horticulture Produce with links to high-end tourist market (19Farmers supported in Botswana)
Community Fisheries Management plans with tools, equipment (boats) andcapacity development;
Community Tourism campsites as alternative livelihoods and private sectorpartnership arrangement – The Sikerete Campsite in Namibia;
Non-timber forest sustainable resource harvesting by communities including bee keeping
His excellency Ambassador Sandro de Oliveira acknowledged the good work that OKACOM has done and the more that needs to be done. He reiterated the Angolan embassy ‘s commitment for continued support to OKACOM. The OKACOM Executive Secretary indicated that he looks forward to continued support from the Republic of Angola in advancing the Commission’s mandate and fostering peaceful and sustainable use of the Okavango Basin’s shared water resources.
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