Botswana National Comission for Unesco

26/08/2026

🎨 KFIT DIGITAL CREATIVITY LAB III | TWO-DAY VALIDATION WORKSHOP CONCLUDES

The Botswana National Commission for UNESCO has successfully concluded the two-day UNESCO–Korea Funds-in-Trust (KFIT) Digital Creativity Lab III Cultural and Creative Industries Digital Mapping Tool Validation Workshop.

Over the two days, stakeholders worked together to interrogate, test and refine Botswana’s CCI digital mapping tool, ensuring that it is technically sound, inclusive and responsive to the realities of creatives across the country.

The validated tool will provide the foundation for generating reliable data on who our creatives are, where they operate, what they do, the challenges they face and the opportunities presented by the digital environment. Importantly, this evidence will inform the project’s next interventions in skills development, digital and market readiness, market access and policy dialogue.

We extend our sincere appreciation to UNESCO and the Republic of Korea for making this intervention possible, and to Statistics Botswana, the Ministry of Sport and Arts, the University of Botswana and the National Arts Council of Botswana, together with representatives of the creative sector and all stakeholders who contributed their expertise and perspectives over the two days.

The conclusion of the workshop is not the end of the mapping journey — it marks an important step towards building an evidence-driven, inclusive and competitive creative economy capable of contributing meaningfully to Botswana’s economic transformation.

A mapping tool shaped with Botswana, for Botswana, and with our creative community at its centre. 🇧🇼

26/08/2026

UNESCO Botswana National Commission

24/08/2026

📢 UPCOMING KFIT DIGITAL CREATIVITY LAB III TECHNICAL ORIENTATION WORKSHOPS

Following the successful Introductory Stakeholder Meeting held on 13 August 2026, the Botswana National Commission for UNESCO will host the KFIT Digital Creativity Lab III Technical Orientation Workshops on:

📅 26 August 2026
🕣 08:30–12:30
📍 https://teams.microsoft.com/meet/358063974767718?p=hY9VQ974rqa7pTEQWs

The workshops will bring together the technical implementation team and key institutional partners to validate the national digital mapping tool for Botswana’s Cultural and Creative Industries.

Participants will review pilot findings, strengthen accessibility and data-collection arrangements, clarify institutional responsibilities and agree on national mobilisation and district outreach. The workshops will also consider how the evidence generated can inform capacity-building, market access and cultural policy interventions.

This important engagement marks another step towards building a more inclusive, evidence-based and competitive creative sector in Botswana.

19/08/2026

A glimpse into the launch of the UNESCO - KFIT Digital Creativity L...

13/08/2026

KFIT DIGITAL CREATIVITY LAB III | THE JOURNEY CONTINUES

The UNESCO KFIT Digital Creativity Lab III Project Introductory Stakeholder Workshop has been successfully concluded!

Our sincere appreciation goes to UNESCO ROSA for making this important engagement possible, and to the Ministry of Sport and Arts, University of Botswana, Statistics Botswana and National Arts Council of Botswana for their invaluable support as key project stakeholders.

The strong participation of senior Government leadership, including the Chairman of the House of Chiefs, Permanent Secretary and Deputy Permanent Secretaries, CEOs and Directors, demonstrates the commitment towards transforming Botswana’s Cultural and Creative Industries (CCI).

But this project belongs to a much wider ecosystem — most importantly, Botswana’s creatives themselves.

Thank you to everyone who joined us in person and online. The introductory meeting is concluded; now the real work begins!

Together, we look forward to building a transformed, empowered and competitive CCI sector.

13/08/2026

Introductory Meeting

12/08/2026

10/08/2026

STRENGTHENING BOTSWANA’S CREATIVE ECONOMY | UNESCO-KFIT DIGITAL CREATIVITY LAB III

Another important step in Botswana’s journey towards building a stronger, more competitive and sustainable Cultural and Creative Industries (CCI) ecosystem is underway!

The Botswana National Commission for UNESCO, in collaboration with UNESCO Regional Office for Southern Africa (ROSA), will host a High-Level Project Inception Meeting for the UNESCO Korea Funds-in-Trust (KFIT) Digital Creativity Lab III Project.

📅 Thursday, 13 August 2026
⏰ 08:00 – 12:00
📍 Cresta Lodge, Gaborone
💻 Creatives and other interested stakeholders are invited to join ONLINE via the Botswana National Commission for UNESCO page.

The high-level meeting will bring together executives from key Government Ministries, Agencies and institutions whose mandates influence Botswana’s creative economy. The objective is simple but important: to build greater coordination and collective ownership of the work required to create an environment in which Botswana’s creatives can thrive.

🎨 WHAT IS THE KFIT DIGITAL CREATIVITY LAB III?
Supported by the Republic of Korea, the 24-month UNESCO initiative is being implemented in only three beneficiary countries — Botswana, Cameroon and Pakistan.

In Botswana, the project builds on the country’s implementation of the UNESCO 2005 Convention on the Protection and Promotion of the Diversity of Cultural Expressions, particularly the findings of Botswana’s 2024 Quadrennial Periodic Report (QPR) and subsequent consultations with the creative sector.

The project focuses on three interconnected areas:

🔹 CCI Mapping & Data Development — building reliable data to better understand Botswana’s creative economy and inform policy, planning and investment.

🔹 Digital Skills & Market Access — strengthening the capacity of creatives to use digital platforms, access markets, commercialise their work and build sustainable creative enterprises.

🔹 Policy Dialogue & Institutional Strengthening — bringing Government, creatives, academia, the private sector and civil society together to address barriers and strengthen the environment within which the creative sector operates.

🤝 THIS IS A WHOLE-OF-ECOSYSTEM EFFORT

Meaningful transformation of Botswana’s creative economy cannot be achieved by one institution alone. It requires Government, creatives, academia, industry, regulators and development partners to work together.

The KFIT Digital Creativity Lab III Project therefore represents another step in an ongoing journey — turning dialogue and recommendations into practical interventions that can create lasting change for Botswana’s creative sector.

🎥 CREATIVES, THIS CONVERSATION IS ABOUT YOUR INDUSTRY. BE PART OF IT!

Join the proceedings LIVE ONLINE from 08:00 to 12:00 on Thursday, 13 August 2026 through the Botswana National Commission for UNESCO page and hear how this new UNESCO–Botswana collaboration seeks to contribute towards a more data-driven, digitally capable, competitive and economically sustainable creative economy.

🇧🇼 From creativity to opportunity. From talent to sustainable livelihoods.

05/08/2026

UNESCO/Japan Young Researchers’ Fellowships Programme
application for the Cycle 2026 is now open.

Deadline for Candidate Submission: 30 September 2026

Cycle 2026 at a glance
Key information
Details
Fellowships available: 10
Fellowship grant: Up to US$10,000
Duration: No less than 3 months and no more than 9 months
Host country: Japan
Fellowship period in Japan: From February 2027 onwards, to be completed: no later than December 2027.
Application deadline 30 September 2026, midnight Paris time
Submission channel Through National Commissions for UNESCO

For detailed information on the fellowship visit the web page
Cycle 2026 at a glance Key information Details Fellowships available 10 Fellowship grant Up to US$10,000 Duration No less than 3 months and no more than 9 months Host country Japan Fellowship period in Japan From February 2027 onwards, to be completed no later than December 2027. Application deadline 30 September 2026, midnight Paris time Submission channel Through National Commissions for UNESCO Cycle 2026 at a glance Key information Details Fellowships available 10 Fellowship grant Up to US$10,000 Duration No less than 3 months and no more than 9 months Host country Japan Fellowship period in Japan From February 2027 onwards, to be completed no later than December 2027. Application deadline 30 September 2026, midnight Paris time Submission channel Through National Commissions for UNESCO.

Cycle 2026 at a glance Key information Details Fellowships available 10 Fellowship grant Up to US$10,000 Duration No less than 3 months and no more than 9 months Host country Japan Fellowship period in Japan From February 2027 onwards, to be completed no later than December 2027. Application deadline 30 September 2026, midnight Paris time Submission channel Through National Commissions for UNESCO

Cycle 2026 at a glance Key information Details Fellowships available 10 Fellowship grant Up to US$10,000 Duration No less than 3 months and no more than 9 months Host country Japan Fellowship period in Japan From February 2027 onwards, to be completed no later than December 2027. Application deadline 30 September 2026, midnight Paris time Submission channel Through National Commissions for UNESCO.

For more details visit the UNESCO/Japan Young Researchers’ Fellowships Programme website.
You can also contact Botswana NATCOM at 3961095/3958172/