BONELA

20/05/2026

Service Alert: Our office landline is temporarily unavailable. We're actively working to restore it. In the meantime, please contact us via email at [email protected] or call our mobile line at 71340800. We’ll share an update once service is back. Thank you for your patience, and we apologize for the inconvenience.

18/05/2026

𝐁𝐎𝐍𝐄𝐋𝐀 𝐏𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐢𝐜𝐢𝐩𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐢𝐧 𝐍𝐀𝐑𝐃𝐈 𝐌𝐨𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫’𝐬 𝐃𝐚𝐲 𝐆𝐁𝐕 𝐀𝐰𝐚𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐞𝐬𝐬 𝐒𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧 ||

BONELA joined the National Agricultural Research and Development Institute (NARDI) in commemorating Mother’s Day through an informative discussion focused on Gender-Based Violence (GBV) and women empowerment.

Opening the session, NARDI Human Resources Director encouraged women to continue supporting and nurturing one another both at home and in the workplace.

Psychosocial Practitioner and Botho Speaks founder highlighted that GBV has existed for generations and continues to affect women in different forms. She urged women to stand together, speak out against abuse, support the girl child and make use of available GBV support services such as shelters and counselling centres.

BONELA Legal Officer defined GBV and explained that GBV remains one of the most common human rights violations in Botswana. She further outlined the legal protections available, reporting procedures and challenges survivors often face when pursuing cases.

NARDI Director of Food Science and Technology noted that society must address the root causes of GBV, particularly the patriarchal systems, while ensuring that boys and men are included in prevention efforts.

Closing the event, NARDI Executive Director of Research and Development was grateful for the informative session and urged for continued engagement on GBV within workplaces and communities.

14/05/2026

08/05/2026

BONELA joins the nation, the people of Botswana, and the international community in mourning the passing of former President Festus Gontebanye Mogae, a distinguished statesman whose leadership and commitment to public health left a lasting legacy.

During his tenure, President Mogae played a pivotal role in Botswana’s response to the /AIDS epidemic, championing bold and progressive interventions at a time when the crisis threatened the country’s future. His leadership in expanding access to HIV treatment, prevention, and care transformed countless lives and positioned Botswana as a global example in the fight against HIV/AIDS.

BONELA honours his remarkable contribution, visionary leadership, and unwavering dedication to the wellbeing and dignity of the people of Botswana.
May his soul rest in eternal peace.

05/05/2026

𝐀𝐈 & 𝐇𝐞𝐚𝐥𝐭𝐡 𝐄𝐪𝐮𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐌𝐚𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐜𝐥𝐚𝐬𝐬 -𝐒𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐨𝐫 𝐀𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐀𝐝𝐯𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐈𝐧𝐜𝐥𝐮𝐬𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐈𝐧𝐧𝐨𝐯𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐢𝐧 𝐁𝐨𝐭𝐬𝐰𝐚𝐧𝐚 & 𝐒𝐀𝐃𝐂 ||

Background & Rationale

The SADC region, including Botswana, faces a complex health landscape marked by a high burden of communicable diseases (HIV, TB, malaria) alongside rising non-communicable diseases (mental health, diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, cancers). Ongoing challenges such as outbreaks, malnutrition, workforce shortages, inequitable access, and climate-related pressures continue to strain health systems.

Artificial Intelligence (AI) offers a powerful opportunity to strengthen health systems and improve access to care. However, unequal access to AI tools—driven by connectivity gaps, high costs, low digital literacy, and fragmented data systems—risks excluding frontline workers and innovators, potentially reinforcing existing inequalities

Botswana is well-positioned to lead in inclusive and ethical AI for health, aligned with Vision 2036 and the Botswana Economic Transformation Programme (BETP).

This Masterclass aims to:

Build practical understanding of AI for health equity
Address access barriers for the health workforce
Catalyze inclusive, locally relevant AI-driven solutions
It forms part of the pipeline leading to:

Startup World Cup Botswana Regional 2026
Innovation & Capital Investment Week (ICIW) 2026
Goal

To convene a multi-sector audience and deliver an accessible, practical Masterclass that builds foundational AI knowledge and enables participants to translate health challenges into inclusive, AI-driven solutions and entrepreneurship opportunities.

Objective

To provide a practical, interactive learning experience that equips participants with tools and frameworks to apply AI in advancing health equity within real-world constraints.

High-Level Agenda
Welcome & Introductions
TDI Overview & ICIW 2026 Context
AI in Health: Fundamentals & Opportunities
Ethics, Equity & Access in AI
AI Tools, Use Cases & Practical Applications
AI for Health Entrepreneurship-
Q&A Discussion
Call to Action: Advancing Governance, Accountability & Equitable Access to AI – A Community Perspective
Target Audience:
A multi-sector audience including innovators, health professionals, CHWs, CSOs, and policymakers.
Strategic Partners
Thrive Development Initiative (TDI) – Lead convener
Umemba Health (USA) – Technical lead
Quantum Minds – AI partner
BONELA – Human rights partner

Registration Link : 77c436fa-5d4b-421e-b658-32098b1c5e4d@06ee10c2-e973-419f-af83-33bad6ee04ea" rel="ugc" target="_blank">https://events.teams.microsoft.com/event/77c436fa-5d4b-421e-b658-32098b1c5e4d@06ee10c2-e973-419f-af83-33bad6ee04ea

27/04/2026

Botswana Marang Fund partners came together for a planning and review meeting with representatives from Botswana Trans Initiative (BTI), Friends of Diversity (FOD), Le****ns, G**s, and Bisexuals of Botswana (LEGABIBO), and Pilot Mathambo Centre for Men’s Health (PMCFMH). The meeting focused on strategic litigation and movement building, including country priorities, leadership and coordination arrangements, planning for priority matters on hate crimes and marital equality, and safeguarding and protection planning for backlash, alongside advocacy and communications. Partners also worked through safe space programming, weighing budget and sustainability realities and refining options across physical, virtual, and hybrid models, anchored in minimum safeguarding standards. The final session reviewed programme implementation and finance, including workplan progress, Year 2 planning, disbursements, budget utilisation, forecasting, compliance, and reporting actions for the next cycle. A shared country safe space approach and strategic direction to inform the country workplan was agreed, including capacity building priorities and stronger collaboration across partners.

24/04/2026

𝐁𝐎𝐍𝐄𝐋𝐀 𝐖𝐀𝐒 𝐇𝐎𝐍𝐎𝐑𝐄𝐃 𝐓𝐎 𝐄𝐍𝐆𝐀𝐆𝐄 𝐖𝐈𝐓𝐇 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐏𝐈𝐓𝐒𝐄𝐍𝐆 𝐂𝐎𝐌𝐌𝐔𝐍𝐈𝐓𝐘 𝐎𝐍 𝐌𝐎𝐍𝐓𝐇 𝐎𝐅 𝐘𝐎𝐔𝐓𝐇 𝐀𝐆𝐀𝐈𝐍𝐒𝐓 𝐀𝐈𝐃𝐒 ||

This week, BONELA was honored to engage with the Pitseng community on Youth Month Against AIDS during a meaningful outreach under the theme: “Overcoming Disruption, Transforming the HIV/AIDS Response.”

The session brought together key stakeholders, including the Botswana Police Service, MYSC Officers, Traditional Leadership, Gender Office, School Heads, and the District AIDS Coordinator (Moshupa);highlighting the power of collaboration in strengthening our HIV response.

We extend our appreciation to the POT Support Group for organizing this impactful event and creating a platform for open dialogue, awareness, and community empowerment.

Together with the community, we reflected on progress made, ongoing challenges, and the critical role young people play in:
🔹 Ending stigma and discrimination
🔹 Promoting testing and treatment adherence
🔹 Advocating for accessible, youth-friendly services
🔹 Advancing human rights in the HIV response

At BONELA, we remain committed to working with communities and partners to ensure no one is left behind.

23/04/2026

𝐀𝐓𝐓𝐎𝐑𝐍𝐄𝐘 𝐆𝐄𝐍𝐄𝐑𝐀𝐋 𝐓𝐎 𝐃𝐄𝐋𝐄𝐓𝐄 𝐏𝐑𝐎𝐕𝐈𝐒𝐈𝐎𝐍𝐒 𝐎𝐅 𝐒𝐄𝐂𝐓𝐈𝐎𝐍 𝟏𝟔𝟒 𝐎𝐅 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐏𝐄𝐍𝐀𝐋 𝐂𝐎𝐃𝐄 ||

The recent move by the Attorney General to delete provisions of Section 164 of the Penal Code is a significant step towards the legal, public health and human rights framework in Botswana.

Section 164 has historically been associated with the criminalisation of consensual same-sex relations. Its removal, or amendment, signals a potentially important shift in Botswana’s legal framework. One that aligns more closely with constitutional principles of dignity, privacy, and equality. From a human rights perspective, this development may be viewed as a positive and necessary step toward eliminating discriminatory laws that disproportionately affect LGBTQ+ individuals.

For BONELA, whose mandate intersects public health and human rights, the implications are particularly significant. Criminalisation has long been recognised as a barrier to effective HIV prevention, testing, and treatment efforts. Laws that stigmatise and marginalise key populations often drive them away from essential health services, undermining national and global public health goals. In this regard, the removal of such provisions could strengthen Botswana’s response to HIV by fostering a more inclusive and accessible healthcare environment.

Furthermore, legal reform alone is not sufficient. Decriminalisation must be accompanied by broader efforts to address stigma, discrimination, and structural barriers that persist in society and within institutions. BONELA may wish to emphasise the need for public education, policy alignment and continued protection of vulnerable communities.

In conclusion, while the removal of Section 164 provisions may represent progress toward a more equitable legal system, it also presents an opportunity and responsibility for continued advocacy. BONELA positions itself as a constructive voice, supporting reforms that advance human rights and public health while ensuring that such changes are implemented transparently, inclusively and effectively.