NDB unveils 2025–2030 strategy
Staff Writer | Wednesday February 25, 2026 06:20
The new initiative seeks to position the institution as a leading regional hybrid bank that merges the developmental mandate of a Development Finance Institution (DFI) with the capabilities of a commercial bank. NDB CEO, Ogone Madisa, said the new strategy reaffirms the Bank’s role as a catalyst for sustainable economic development. She added the plan sharpens the Bank’s focus on agriculture value chains, green finance, infrastructure, and other high-impact sectors critical to advancing Botswana’s economic diversification agenda. “This strategy reflects our commitment to empowering businesses, transforming communities, and delivering measurable impact,” she said when speaking at the launch of the strategy on Thursday. “We are building a stronger, more agile, and customer-focused institution that supports Botswana’s economic transformation.”
The move comes a time when the statutory bank is looking to transform its business model into a sustainable green hybrid DFI and commercial bank over the next five years. Key priorities include accelerating digitalisation to improve operational efficiency and enhance customer experience, strengthening governance frameworks, investing in talent and institutional culture, and mobilising strategic partnerships alongside diversified funding sources to scale impact. Officials said in order to drive implementation of the 2025–2030 Strategy, the Bank will introduce innovative and differentiated financial products, deepen strategic partnerships to broaden its reach, and embed Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) principles across its operations. Growth in green finance, agricultural financing, and regional expansion will form central pillars of the strategy, alongside a strong emphasis on financial sustainability and operational excellence. At the core of the strategy is a renewed commitment to customer centricity. NDB aims to serve commercially viable start-ups, small and medium enterprises (SMEs), corporates, and emerging farmers with responsive and tailored financial solutions.
The strategy aligns closely with national priorities, reinforcing the Bank’s role in promoting economic diversification, food security, job creation, and sustainable development Acting Minister of Lands and Agriculture, Dr Edwin Dikoloti, underscored the broader developmental role of modern finance institutions, stating that they must go beyond providing funding to catalysing transformation. He told the gathering that DFIs should bridge gaps where markets are hesitant, unlock opportunities where risks are perceived to be high, and ensure that strategic sectors are not left behind.
Dikoloti emphasised that the success of the strategy would not be measured solely by financial performance, but also by its ability to empower citizens, expand economic opportunities, and build resilience amid global uncertainty. “This strategy represents audacious thinking, the kind that builds economies brick by brick, idea by idea, innovation by innovation. It recognises that funding must move beyond subsistence. Green finance is no longer optional but essential. Agriculture, manufacturing, tourism, energy and mining, financial services, digital innovation, and social infrastructure are interconnected drivers of prosperity,” he said. By embracing this evolution, Botswana is positioning itself not only to finance development but also to shape it mobilising capital, crowding in investment, and creating ecosystems where entrepreneurs can thrive. The strategy signals a decisive shift toward a private sector-led and export-driven economy anchored on diversification, inclusivity, and sustainability.