Applications stopped for women�s fund � Batshu

Nnasaretha Kgamanyane | Thursday February 1, 2018 16:22

 

In order to improve the situation of women in Botswana, in 1998 the government adopted the National Gender Programme, which intensified and strengthened the Women Economic Empowerment Programme as a gender integration model.

According to Batshu, the suspension of receipt of applications was instilled last year.  He said the ministry was desirous to resume receipt of new applications as soon as funding is availed for the 270 already approved applicants plus the new ones.

“Since the 2015 review, a total of 4,478 business proposals were received as at January 2017.  From these, 1,000 were approved for funding and 3,478 declined due to depletion of resources.  Of the 1,000 proposals approved, 730 are continuously being funded from available funds.  A total of 270, which require about P58,300,000 remain unfunded due to depletion of resources.  The ministry in this regard is mobilising funds for support,” he said.

He explained that besides approved projects awaiting funding, there is no backlog. He noted that the 3,478 declined applicants were accordingly informed that they would not be funded due to lack of funds.  He also expressed a great concern over the youth whose businesses fail due to negligence.