At the W Summit in Gaborone, Botswana, De Beers declared their planned efforts to support female entrepreneurs in the poorest areas of Botswana. This three-year investment, which is scheduled to launch in 2018, is in partnership with two powerful organizations, the United Nations (UN) Women and Botswana’s Ministry of Nationality, immigration, and Gender Affairs. Together, the collaboration plans to invest 8 million BWP to improve the entrepreneurial environment for women in these disadvantaged places. These improvements include empowering working women of Botswana with knowledge in marketing, life skills, an learning about business management in order for future economic growth.
“Botswana has achieved a huge amount of development through prudent use of diamond revenues, but challenges remain and programs such as these can have a real and lasting positive impact,” explained CEO of De Beers Group Bruce Cleaver. “Advancing women’s economic empowerment in two of the most disadvantaged areas of Botswana will not only support the women micro-entrepreneurs that participate in the programs, but also their communities through increased employment opportunities and skills development.”
De Beers’ empowering partnership will focus in the Okavango Delta and Kweneng District. In Okavango Delta, De Beers and UN Women will work with Adore Little Children Botswana to develop permaculture-focused economic programs. For the Kweneng District, both groups will help the economic development of smaller communities.
