News Date : 28 April, 2026
BUAN and Chobe District Council Sign Historic MoU to Advance Agricultural Transformation, Youth Empowerment and Sustainable Development
Botswana University of Agriculture and Natural Resources (BUAN) and Chobe District Council (CHDC) have today formalised a strategic partnership through the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) at the Council Chambers in Kasane, marking a major step toward strengthening collaboration for socio-economic transformation in the Chobe District. The agreement creates a formal framework for cooperation between the two institutions based on equality, mutual benefit, and a shared responsibility to address development priorities in agriculture, natural resources, tourism, and youth empowerment, while reinforcing BUAN’s commitment to becoming an impactful university that directly serves the people of Botswana.
Speaking at the signing ceremony, BUAN Vice Chancellor Professor Ketlhatlogile Mosepele described the occasion as a significant milestone in the university’s journey to build meaningful partnerships that extend beyond academic spaces and contribute directly to national development. He emphasized that universities should not exist in “ivory towers,” but must actively engage with society, ensuring that research, knowledge, and innovation are translated into practical solutions that improve livelihoods and strengthen communities. He noted that BUAN’s visit to Chobe in 2025 was part of this broader vision to develop lasting partnerships and explore opportunities for collaboration, and today’s signing represents the realization of that commitment.
Professor Mosepele highlighted that knowledge remains one of the strongest catalysts for socio-economic transformation and reiterated that BUAN, as a publicly funded institution, has a responsibility to ensure that Batswana receive a return on investment through impactful work. He explained that the university’s strategic focus on transforming the agricultural sector and optimizing natural resources management aligns with Botswana’s national development agenda and the President’s call for agricultural transformation and economic diversification. He stated that Chobe District, with its unique economic and environmental significance, presents an ideal environment for this partnership to thrive.
The Chobe District is Botswana’s premier tourism hub and a globally significant wildlife hotspot, home to the highest population of elephants in the world and one of the country’s most important conservation landscapes. It also serves as a major gateway for international trade through the Kasane Border and the Kazungula Bridge, while Pandamatenga remains Botswana’s premier breadbasket and a key contributor to national food security. These characteristics position the district as a strategic centre for agricultural innovation, sustainable tourism development, and natural resources management, making the partnership between BUAN and CHDC both timely and necessary.
The objectives of the MoU are to create a framework for cooperation that promotes efficient and effective collaboration between the two institutions while supporting smart and innovative farming systems, wildlife and forestry development, sustainable tourism practices, and stronger student learning through practical research and community engagement. The agreement specifically provides for cooperation in agricultural research and innovation, wildlife and forest conservation initiatives, community-based tourism development, and capacity building through technical exchange and professional support. It also encourages joint participation in conferences, seminars, workshops, and collaborative projects that benefit the district and align with national priorities.
Under the terms of the agreement, BUAN will in provide technical expertise and professional support for council-led initiatives, share relevant research findings and technological innovations, engage students and academic staff in joint development projects, and provide opportunities for student attachment within council facilities. Both institutions will jointly establish a coordination structure through a Joint Technical Committee and sub-committees to oversee implementation, identify priority projects, allocate resources, monitor progress, and ensure continuous feedback and improvement.
Professor Mosepele further explained that the signing of this MoU is part of BUAN’s broader strategic drive to establish a permanent and meaningful footprint in the Chobe District. Since February 2025, the university has engaged extensively with local stakeholders, including the Pandamatenga Commercial Farmers Association, Motswedi wa Temo Farmers Association, Pandamatenga Subsistence Farmers Association, Chobe East Marketing Agricultural Management Association, as well as community-based organisations such as CECT and Paleka Trust, and NGOs including WildCru and KAZA. These engagements have already resulted in strategic partnerships, including a previously signed MoU with the Pandamatenga Commercial Farmers Association, with additional collaborations expected to follow.
As part of its long-term commitment to the district, BUAN has also secured a 5-hectare plot in Kazungula for the development of a satellite campus that will primarily focus on delivering vocational programmes. The campus is envisioned as a practical demonstration of BUAN’s commitment to inclusivity and sustainability by bringing education closer to communities and ensuring that young people, particularly out-of-school and unemployed youth, have access to skills development opportunities that can transform their lives. These programmes will be designed along the agricultural and natural resources value chain, from primary production to service sectors, with the goal of strengthening entrepreneurship, improving employability, and supporting national economic growth.
The Vice Chancellor stressed that youth empowerment remains central to BUAN’s vision because young people are the foundation of Botswana’s future. He stated that the most meaningful and lasting impact the university can create is through transforming youth and equipping them to become active participants in the economy. By investing in practical vocational training and retooling unemployed youth, BUAN seeks to contribute to a future where the people of Chobe are not only beneficiaries of development but active drivers of it.
In addition to vocational training, BUAN has initiated discussions with development partners and donors to establish a Centre of Wildlife Excellence at the future Kasane Campus, with a specific focus on elephant management. Given that Botswana has the highest elephant population in the world and BUAN has strong academic expertise in elephant studies, the university aims to position itself as a leader in wildlife management and conservation research. Professor Mosepele noted that despite Botswana’s global significance in wildlife conservation, the country has not yet fully shaped the international narrative on elephant management. The Centre of Wildlife Excellence is intended to change this by making Kasane a hub for policy influence, research excellence, and specialized training in wildlife management.
Concluding his address, Professor Mosepele called on both institutions to seize the opportunity presented by the MoU and use it as a bridge between academia and society, where knowledge transfer, innovation, and collaboration become tools for sustainable development. He emphasized that this partnership should serve as a practical instrument for securing the present and future of communities in the district and ensuring that development remains inclusive and impactful.
He reaffirmed BUAN’s readiness, commitment, and long-term presence in Chobe, stating that the university is prepared to walk alongside the Chobe District Council in building a stronger, more sustainable, and economically empowered future. The signing of this Memorandum of Understanding therefore represents not only the beginning of formal cooperation, but also the strengthening of a shared vision for lasting transformation in Chobe and Botswana as a whole.