Since 2015, UNICEF country offices in Eastern and Southern Africa have been producing annual budget briefs on public investment in children. The budget briefs serve several purposes, including: (i) analysing budget allocations to sectors that are important for children; (ii) assessing the efficiency, effectiveness, equity and adequacy of public spending; and (iii) informing advocacy, through key messages for policy and financing changes.

In Botswana, UNICEF partners with the Ministry of Finance and Economic Development (MFED) and line ministries to explore the extent to which the public budget addresses the needs of children. In 2018, this collaboration resulted in publication of four budget briefs on national trends, education, health and social protection. This marked a significant increase from the year of 2017 when only two budget briefs on social protection and education were published. Budget briefs are developed in a participatory manner, involving planning and budgeting departments of the respective social sector ministries.

The Government is committed to improved child-responsive financial planning and reporting as considered in the joint UNICEF work plans with respective ministries. In 2019, UNICEF and MFED agreed to align preparation of the budget briefs to the national budget cycle and to share key findings with ministerial staff during formulation of annual spending proposals in June-August. For the first time, an in-depth analysis of public investment in HIV/AIDS prevention will be jointly developed with support of the National AIDS and Health Promotion Agency (NAHPA).

UNICEF Botswana is therefore seeking to contract the services of an institution to develop Botswana’s thematic budget briefs based on the 2019/20 budget data.