European Union in Botswana

31/08/2026

Small company? Big opportunities!

EU-SADC Economic Partnership Agreement: 10 years of concrete business opportunities for local companies!

How? We break it down in the video!

28/08/2026

📢 EXTRA! EXTRA! READ ALL ABOUT IT!

The European Union Ambassador to Botswana and SADC, Petra Pereyra's farewell. Do not miss this must-read on the Botswana Guardian.

As her four- year tour of duty in Bot­swana draws to a close, European Union Ambas­sador to Bot­swana and Spe­cial Rep­res­ent­at­ive to SADC, Petra Pereyra, reflects on a ten­ure marked by his­toric mile­stones, grass­roots engage­ment, and...

28/08/2026

🚀 The Partnership: Delivering on Four Pillars 🏛️

From economic growth to digital security, from climate action to people-centred progress. Our collaboration with the African Union (AU) stands on four strong foundations:
✅ - Investing in trade, infrastructure, and job opportunities.
✅ - Working together on global challenges.
✅ & Security - Building safety and stability together
✅ - Towards safer, legal, and better managed migration for people.

EU Delegation to the African Union
European External Action Service - EEAS

27/08/2026

SADC Bids Farewell to European Union Ambassador Pereyra After Four Years of Strengthened Partnership

On 26 August 2026, the SADC Secretariat honoured H.E. Petra Pereyra, outgoing EU Ambassador to Botswana and SADC, at a farewell ceremony marking the conclusion of her four-year tenure.

In his remarks, SADC Executive Secretary H.E. Elias M. Magosi praised Ambassador Pereyra’s leadership and dedication, highlighting her role in deepening EU-SADC cooperation—particularly in regional integration, economic growth, peace, security, trade, infrastructure, and climate resilience.

A key achievement under her tenure was to pass to full implementation of the secured €196 million under the 2021–2027 Multiannual Indicative Programme—a significant increase from the previous €150 million—supporting critical regional development initiatives.

Ambassador Pereyra thanked H.E. Elias Magosi and SADC Secretariat team for the excellent collaboration over the past four years. Reflecting on the strong EU-SADC partnership, she said: "Together with our teams and Member States, we have achieved much. Our collaboration with SADC embodies a shared vision—regional integration as a driver of peace, stability, and prosperity in our respective continents.”

She also underscored the impact of the European Union’s Global Gateway Strategy, which has advanced investments in key sectors across Southern Africa, including trade and transport, safe digital boost, peace and security, sustainable infrastructure and green energy transition.

The European Union remains committed to further strengthening ties with SADC in pursuit of sustainable development and unlocking the full economic potential of the region, Ambassador said.

26/08/2026

Ambassador Petra Pereyra had a farewell courtesy call with His Excellency Advocate Duma Gideon Boko, President of the Republic of Botswana on 25 August.

For 45 years already the European Union is proud to count Botswana as a trusted partner and a valued friend, and we look forward to continuing this shared journey the years ahead. Botswana can also count on the Europe Union also to stay the course and to remain a reliable and predictable partner in a world that is increasingly turbulent and uncertain, Ambassador Pereyra said.

Botswana and the European Union share not only the same values, but we are also aligned in priorities and ambition to unlock Botswana’s full economic potential. In line with this, Ambassador referred to several transformational programmes the EU is supporting Botswana’s green energy transition and digital transformation, as well as economic diversification and job creation in eco-tourism and horticulture sectors. In addition to boosting conservation and livelihoods as part of our EUR 33 million NaturAfrica programme, the EU is also engaged in areas of democracy and human rights, research and academic mobility and collaboration with education institutions, while Botswana products have access to the European market free of tariffs and quota thanks to the SADC Economic Partnership Agreement.

The real transformation of this remarkable country is in the hands of, hearts and minds of all Batswana. The European Union remains your trusted friend in accompanying this change for the betterment of lives of the people of Botswana.Our mission remains clear: together with Botswana and our partners, we will continue working – not toward quick fixes or deals – but long-term partnerships for a future defined by opportunity, shared prosperity, stability and lasting peace. Ambassador Pereyra reaffirmed the EU’s commitment to strengthening the EU’s partnership with Botswana for today, and the years to come.

Ambassador Pereyra also congratulated the Government and people of Botswana ahead the 60 years of independence celebrated in late September. This anniversary is a powerful testament to the Botswana’s remarkable track-record and reputation of stability, democracy, rule of law and good governance, Ambassador said. While it serves as an inspiring model on the African continent and worldwide, it also sets the standard high for staying the course and building on an exemplary basis despite the economic headwinds that the country is currently facing.

For the Ambassador, it has been a huge honour and privilege to have served the European Union, its institutions and citizens in this beautiful country and the SADC region. She expressed her sincere gratitude to His Excellency, and the Government of Botswana, for the trust in the partnership with the European Union and the openness and sincerity of exchanges, and the excellent collaboration over the past four years.

"I know already that although I will soon leave Botswana, Botswana will never leave me or my family", Ambassador Pereyra concluded. 🇪🇺 🇧🇼

📸: BW Presidency

25/08/2026

💡The European Union is co-funding this cutting-edge initiative by Botswana Digital & Innovation Hub under the "EU Support to Digital Transformation in Botswana" programme, in collaboration with Embassy of Finland in Pretoria - Suomen suurlähetystö Pretoriassa, delivered by Expertise France, Finnish Institute of Public Management Ltd and ESTDEV-Estonian Centre for International Development.

🌍 Why it matters? Boosting digital innovation, skills & growth in Botswana—because the future is digital.

𝐂𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐢𝐧𝐧𝐨𝐯𝐚𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐬, 𝐝𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐥𝐨𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐬, 𝐜𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐞𝐬, 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐛𝐥𝐞𝐦-𝐬𝐨𝐥𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐬!
The 𝐍𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐎𝐩𝐞𝐧 𝐃𝐚𝐭𝐚 𝐈𝐧𝐧𝐨𝐯𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐞𝐧𝐠𝐞 𝟐 is here! 🇧🇼
This is your opportunity to turn data into solutions that matter for your community. Form a team, identify a challenge, build an innovative solution using available datasets, and pitch your idea … all in just 3 days!

💡 Choose from four key sectors:
❤️ Health
🌾Agriculture
🌍 Tourism & Cultural Heritage
⚡ Energy & Environment

📅 11–13 September 2026
📍 BDIH, Gaborone
👥 Teams of 3–5 participants

𝐂𝐥𝐢𝐜𝐤 𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐞 𝐓𝐨 𝐀𝐩𝐩𝐥𝐲 👉 https://www.encurtador.dev/redirecionamento/l1nq.com/a7he6a8

⏰ 𝐀𝐩𝐩𝐥𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬 𝐜𝐥𝐨𝐬𝐞: 𝟐𝟖 𝐀𝐮𝐠𝐮𝐬𝐭 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟔 𝐚𝐭 𝟏𝟕:𝟎𝟎 𝐂𝐀𝐓

Whether you're passionate about technology, data, community development, or solving real-world challenges, this is where your ideas meet opportunity.

👉 Apply now and turn data into solutions that matter.

25/08/2026

📢 CALL FOR PROPOSALS: VISUAL ARTS GRANT

🎨 Art historians, curators, researchers, critics, and archivists across Sub-Saharan Africa are invited to apply for a major new funding opportunity.

Applications are still open for Work Package 4, Lot 2: Collaborative Research & Critical Discourse under the Connect & Create Component of the Africa-Europe Partnerships for Culture programme.

The hard deadline for applications is 31 August 2026 at 23:59 CAT.

The grant supports teams undertaking collaborative research and critical discourse projects that generate and publish knowledge about visual arts. The goal is to fund rigorous enquiry into visual arts practices, histories, and ecosystems so African practitioners are rightly recognised as the global intellectual leaders they are.

⚠️ Please note: The call aims to fund teams conducting rigorous research and producing published critical work (not for artistic creation, capacity-building, or project documentation).

This grant supports team-based collaborative research projects by art historians, researchers, curators, critics, archivists and visual arts professionals. Particular attention will be given to emerging scholars, women, non-binary persons, and persons with disabilities.

🚨 Applicants are strongly advised to read the FULL call document for complete guidelines and eligibility criteria before applying.

Learn more and apply through the Goethe-Institut Johannesburg portal (GAP Portal) at https://www.goethe.de/.../wp4-lot-2-visual-arts-collabo.html

📧 Have Questions?
General Inquiries: [email protected]
Technical Support (GAP Portal): [email protected]

25/08/2026

The Ambassador of the European Union to Botswana and SADC, Petra Pereyra, paid a farewell courtesy call on the Minister of International Relations, Honourable Dr Phenyo Butale.

Ambassador Pereyra reflected on the solid EU-Botswana partneship, highlighting shared values-democracy, peace, and sustainable development and reaffirmed the European Union's unwavering commitment to supporting Botswana’s economic diversification and reform agenda.

Honourable Minister Butale commended Ambassador Pereyra for her dedication and deepening the bilateral relations between the European Union and Botswana.

European External Action Service - EEAS
European Commission
Council of the European Union
BWgovernment

24/08/2026

As one of the world's most open economies, the European Union uses trade to create opportunity.

Reduced or zero tariffs help businesses in 65 developing countries, including Botswana, access the world's largest single market, the EU.

Learn more about how rules-based trade creates lasting partnerships and shared opportunities here: https://www.eeas.europa.eu/.../eu-reliable-partner.

European External Action Service - EEAS

21/08/2026

It was a real pleasure for the European Union Ambassador to Botswana and SADC, Petra Pereyra to participate in the launch of the new European Union co-financed project at the heart of one of Africa's most iconic landscapes-the Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park.

The strong engagement of all stakeholders and witnessing the first activities already rolled out in the field is truly encouraging under this NaturAfrica Global Gateway project.The immediate priority is to restore the operational integrity of the park itself – strengthening management capacity, infrastructure and surveillance. Subsequently, it is equally important to lay the groundwork for deeper community engagement.These processes ensure community development initiatives are evidence-based, locally relevant and integrated in the park’s long term management framework. As we all are aware, conservation that does not benefit communities is conservation that will not last.

A very big thanks to all the involved partners, notably the Ministry of Environment and Tourism, African Parks and IUCN for organising this great event and thank you in advance for the transformational impact we will generate!