Botswana has long been regarded as one of Africa’s more stable democracies, with a multiparty system, peaceful elections and, in October 2024, its first transfer of power to an opposition party since independence. Yet the enabling environment for civil society remains uneven. While the Constitution protects fundamental freedoms and CSOs can operate within a formal legal framework, civic actors still face practical restrictions, administrative burdens and limited access to redress.

Civil society organisations report challenges linked to the Public Order Act, which requires prior permission for demonstrations, as well as surveillance and interference by security agencies. The registration system is centralised and often cumbersome, and some legal requirements create barriers for marginalised groups and smaller organisations. Access to sustainable resources is also a major concern: Botswana’s upper-middle-income status has reduced donor support, while domestic funding remains limited and concentrated in areas such as health.

The 2024 political transition created expectations of greater openness, but participation in key national processes remains selective and weakly institutionalised. Civil society has raised concerns about the lack of meaningful consultation in constitutional reform processes, limited access to timely public information, and the absence of feedback mechanisms showing how CSO input is used. Despite these constraints, CSOs continue to promote human rights, accountability, inclusion and civic education, while Botswana’s relatively open digital environment offers important space for advocacy.

Network Member:
Botswana Council of
Non-Governmental Organisations