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Absa, UNICEF highlight private sector role in social development

Keabetswe Pheko Moshagane.PIC.KENNEDY RAMOKONE
Keabetswe Pheko Moshagane.PIC.KENNEDY RAMOKONE

Absa Bank Botswana and UNICEF Botswana have a struck a strategic partnership that will see the two entities working towards promoting workplace policies that enable equity while marking a significant step in the growing role of the private sector in social development.

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.

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