| Overview : The Government of Botswana in collaboration with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) are implementing a project called “Promoting production and utilization of Biogas from Agro-waste in South-Eastern Botswana (Biogas Project)”. This follows the realization that waste has not been acknowledged as a recyclable economic commodity in Botswana. The reuse of waste to generate energy is an opportunity that Botswana must tap into for future use. Several waste streams are available at several agro-industrial facilities which can be utilized for generation of energy. Some of the agro-waste for consideration in bio-gas production include chicken manure, cow dung and goat/sheep droppings. Despite this immense potential presented by the abundance of livestock manure, agricultural/animal waste and other forms of biomass in the country, generation of energy from this waste remains a challenge. The Biogas project seeks to facilitate low-carbon investments and public-private partnerships in the production and utilization of biogas from agro-waste in the districts of South-eastern Botswana. It has been realized that there are no suitable demonstration projects for technology penetration as the current use of biogas in Botswana is limited to small-scale applications and there is no institutional biogas plant operating at either an abattoir or a landfill. Also, there is insufficient knowledge among various stakeholders (Government, private companies, farmers, communities, women, consumers about the benefits of biogas and the available technologies. The project therefore, will assist Government of Botswana in addressing this challenges through three project components: - Institutional strengthening and capacity development
- Facilitation and establishment of biogas plants
- Setting up of utilization and knowledge platforms.
Botswana having ratified the United Nations Framework on Climate Change Convention (UNFCCC) has the obligation to promote production of green energy and reduce on the Green House Gases (GHGs) emissions. Though Botswana is a minor emitter of greenhouse gases (GHGs), the country as other countries is negatively impacted by climate change, efforts should be made to reduce on the emissions. The outcomes of the project will include the implementation of effective waste-management policies and guidelines with operational regulations; capacity to design and develop biogas projects in South-Eastern Botswana; first best practice public-private partnership established; reduction in greenhouse gas emissions (direct and indirect) of 1.65 million tCO2e; and increased incomes through the use of small-scale biogas and bio-fertilizer, especially for women. The Project is implemented by Botswana Institute of Technology, Research and Innovation (BITRI) with United Nations Development Programme overseeing the quality assurance of the project. The Small-sized biogas digesters range from 4-300 m3 and are operated by households, small-scale agro-business, and small-scale livestock producers with dairy and or beef, schools and other institutions; Medium-sized biogas digesters range from 300-5,000 m3 and are operated by agro-industry in partnership with Councils and additional interested stakeholders; The Biogas Project is seeking a local consultant to assist in collecting data and analyzing it to identify potential beneficiaries of small scale digesters for biogas production in South Eastern Botswana. Once selected, the bidder will populate the developed matrix with information on the potential beneficiaries of the 1000 biogas digesters. This will be used to roll out the project target and diffuse the technology to ordinary Batswana. | 
