WELCOME TO NORTH WEST DISTRICT:THE EPITOME OF BOTSWANA’S TOURISM INDUSTRY

1. WELCOME TO NORTH WEST DISTRICT:THE EPITOME OF BOTSWANA’S TOURISM INDUSTRY Figure 1: Council Headquarters, Maun

2. DISTRICTS & URBAN COUNCILS- THE ORIGINS Districts and Urban Councils were established under the Local Government’s Townships and Districts Councils’ Acts Caps: 40.01 and 40.02 respectively. The Acts set out to promote decentralization by dividing the country into districts and urban councils for the purposes of effective administration and development coordination.

3. ORIGINS CONT……… The district and Urban councils operate under a two tier system of government consisting of the political wing, which is made of political elected representatives, and the management, which is the advisory body consisting of the civil service.

4. WHERE ARE WE ? • Maun; the Headquarters of North West District Council

5. NWD BACKGROUND INFORMATION The NWD lies in the North Western part of Botswana and is one of the largest districts with a total surface area of 109 130 square kilometers. It consists of two Sub- districts of Okavango and Maun Administrative Authority. Two dominant physical features characterize the district. The eastern part is mainly flat land covered with the Kgalagadi sands while the western part is predominantly wetland that constitute the Okavango delta. These two dominant features do not only play a significant role in determining the terrain found here but also influence the settlement pattern of both the people and the wildlife in the district.

6. North West District- The epitome of Botswana’s Tourism Industry ( We are home to the only inland delta in Southern Africa, the jewel of the Kalahari and the winner of the 2010 Destination Stewardship award –That is the Okavango Delta. The delta provides a source of employment for many in various Safari Camps and game reserves. The District is also blessed with an abundance of wildlife including fish and is home to most of the tourism attractions. These involve historical sites such as Gchwiihaba and the famous Tsodilo Hills, to mention but a few, where ancient people used to stay and have left behind rock paintings that tell their untold stories.

7. Okavango Delta

8. Full council meeting on progress

9. DISTRICT/ URBAN COUNCILS CONT…. The district and urban councils have their headquarters in major villages, cities and towns respectively. The councils are also empowered, through the same policy, to further decentralize functions by establishing Sub-Districts, Administrative Authorities and Service Centers. This is done to promote a culture of being closer to the people and to enhance political representation.

10. BACKGROUND CONT….. Travelling in the district is not only difficult but also dangerous because of the human wildlife cohabitation. The district has only one major tarred road that stretches for about 600 kilometers from Phudududu in the eastern part to Mohembo in the western part and from Shorobe in the northern part to Kuke in the southern part. The rest of the areas in the district are accessed through gravel, earth, air and river routes.

11. Traveling in the delta can be a challenge

12. One of the main tarred road cut off by floods

13. Game viewing forms major activities in our district

14. WILDLIFE OUR PRIDE

15. NWDC STRATEGIC FOUNDATIONS OUR MANDATE: • Provision of basic infrastructure, Social services and promotion of Economic development through programmes and projects. OUR VISION • An organization of excellence in provision of social services for improved quality of life.

16. OUR MISSION: NWDC is committed to improving the quality of lives for all through effective and efficient delivery of basic infrastructure and social services in partnership with stake holders. Construction of a culvert in one of the flooded areas Construction of a culvert in one of the flooded villages

17. Areas of Economic Comparative Advantage (LED) • Communication and linkages Ngamiland district has international, national and district transportation linkages. The district has air linkages from Maun airport to Gaborone, Johannesburg in South Africa, Windhoek in Namibia and Victoria falls in Zimbabwe. • Maun airport is being upgraded to accommodate large planes of Boeing status which will allow international flights to land directly in Maun. • Maun airport also offers air taxi services into the Okavango delta and to other protected areas within Ngamiland.

18. NATURAL RESOURCES • The existence of veldt products in the district for consumptive, craft and medicinal purposes if used sustainably has opportunities for potential investments and the development of small scale craft industries in the district. • The existence of natural scenic and historic sites such as the Okavango Delta (a world heritage site under RAMSAR convention), the Moremi Game Reserve, the Makgadikgadi Pans, Tsodilo Hill and others offer opportunities for greater investments in the tourism industries as well as employment and economic diversification in the district

19. NATURAL RESOURCES CONT………. • Ngamiland District is endowed with abundance of surface water of the Okavango River. The abundance of water presents opportunities for commercial activities such as fishing and recreational water activities • The abundance of water from the Okavango River, offers greater opportunities for the development of agriculture through irrigation schemes as well as water for livestock.

20. Cultural Tourism • Ngamiland district is one of Botswana’s most ethnically diverse districts. The district has rich and diversified culture emanating from about 12 different ethnic groups found in the area.

21. TWINNING PROGRAM BETWEEN NWDC & HULTSFRED MUNICIPALITY PARTNERSHIP CONCEPTION PHASE: • Hultsfred Municipality familiarization tour to NWDC –Feb 2011 • NWDC makes a return tour to Hultsfred –May 2011.

22. DEVELOPMENTAL ISSUES EXPLORED DURING THE VISITS PROBLEM IDENTIFICATION- ENVIRONMENTAL CLIMATE SURVEY • Local Democracy/Governance • Post Colonial productivity deficiency syndrome • Loss of confidence • Negative Work Ethics- Work as punishment • Dependence syndrome • Gender inequalities • Lack of development • Poor project/program management skills • Poor marketing skills • High level of unemployment • Environmental Management- Sustainable development

23. ISSUES CONT………….. • Low level of industrialization- Ruralization of the country • Low level of manufacturing • Over exportation of raw materials DEVELOPMENTAL GAPS IDENTIFIED That there existed, in the NWD, a high level of poverty and unemployment precipitated by low level of development and a lack of business skills. INTERVENTION STRATEGIES • Enhance Local governance • Mind set change and confidence building • Promote industrialization and manufacturing • Promote raw material processing and export of goods • Capacity building in project/program management, marketing skills and environmental management • Promote development and implementation of effective LED Strategies

24. Program Inception Phase • Submissions on Project proposals • Signing of Letter of Intent and a draft of Memorandum of Understanding between the two parties. • The Memorandum of Understanding shall remain in force for a period of five years.

25. Signing of Letter of Intent and consideration of a draft of Memorandum of Understanding

26. THANK YOU THANK YOU