Absa, UNICEF highlight private sector role in social development
Laone Choeunyane | Wednesday December 17, 2025 06:00
The two recently signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) that builds on the relationship already established between the organisations. Officials said the move brings together Absa’s citizenship focus areas—education, entrepreneurship, financial inclusion, and sustainability—with UNICEF’s long-standing advocacy for child protection, care, and empowerment. Both institutions view the partnership as a practical framework for addressing national development priorities while aligning with global standards for responsible and child-sensitive business practices. “This partnership embodies our commitment to purposeful impact for children, their families, and their broader communities across Botswana,” said Keabetswe Pheko-Moshagane, Managing Director of Absa Bank Botswana.
“UNICEF has provided a platform for us to deepen our role as a purpose-led bank.” The two-year partnership reinforces the two’s shared commitment to safeguarding children’s rights, advancing workplace equity, and strengthening community well-being across the country. The agreement was signed during a ceremony at Absa Bank Botswana Head Office. The central feature of the agreement is its emphasis on integrating child-focused principles into Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) frameworks; a growing expectation within global business. It also promotes workplace policies that support families, elevate gender equity, and encourage business environments that are safe and responsive to the needs of young people. By leveraging their combined expertise, the partners aim to deliver initiatives that are not only effective but sustainable.
Acting Representative of UNICEF Botswana, Dr. Kimanzi Muthengi, hailed the MoU as “a promise to invest in the potential of children, to strengthen education and skills development, and to ensure that young people are equipped to thrive.
” With children and youth (0-24) comprising 53% of Botswana’s population, he emphasized that “integrating child-focused principles into ESG practices... are not just moral imperatives; it is smart business.” Priorities include expanding quality education and digital learning, youth financial literacy, and equity initiatives. “When children are given the tools to learn, grow, and dream, they become the innovators, entrepreneurs, and changemakers of tomorrow,” Muthengi added. The partnership builds on Absa’s involvement in platforms such as the CEO Council for Children’s Rights and its financial literacy programmes, which have already equipped more than 800 women and young people with essential skills. With provisions for possible extension, the two-year pact reflects a long-term vision for expanding impact and deepening support for families, communities, and Botswana’s national development agenda.