USAID Partners with Local Council to Assess NGOs in the Okavango Delta

Ambassador Miller discusses the USAID initiative and its community-rooted approach with YALI Fellow, Monametsi Sokwe.
Ambassador Miller discusses the USAID initiative and its community-rooted approach with Ngamiland Council of Non-Governmental Organisations' Director and YALI Fellow, Monametsi Sokwe.

For Immediate Release

Thursday, July 14, 2016
Sara Sullivan, USAID Communications Advisor
7233 0886

U.S. Ambassador to Botswana Earl Miller presided at the launch of a mapping exercise in Maun that will identify, categorize, and gauge the capacity of non-profit and local organizations in the Okavango Delta.

The U.S. government has enjoyed a long partnership with the Government of Botswana to protect the Okavango Delta and has invested more than $40 million US dollars on conservation, watershed and resource management in the region.

The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) is funding the Ngamiland Council of Non-Governmental Organisations (NCONGO) to do the targeted mapping exercise, which will determine the ability of environmental NGOs and community-based organizations to promote transparent, sustainable management and oversight of the Delta. Current policies and procedures will also be reviewed.  

The U.S. Embassy in Botswana and USAID, along with NCONGO and other involved partners, celebrated the launch of the capacity mapping activity on July 14, 2016 with a program and lunch at Cresta Riley’s Hotel in Maun.

“The exercise we are launching now is a key piece of the puzzle we must complete to protect and conserve the Okavango Delta,” stated Ambassador Earl Miller in his keynote address at the launch. “We are pleased that this work will result in much-needed information crucial to the protection of one of the most valuable environmental treasures in the world.”

A carefully selected and distinguished project implementation team consisting of experts from various institutions will help ensure the goals of the project are achieved. Once completed, the work will greatly aid environmental programming and help give the Delta its best chance to flourish far into the future.

 

For further details, please contact: USAID Strategic Communications Advisor Sara Sullivan 7233 0886 or U.S. Embassy Information Specialist Ephraim Keoreng at Keoreng ET@state.gov or 395-3982 ext. 2419.

Please note that pictures and additional information will be available on our Facebook page www.facebook.com/u.s.embassygaborone after the event.