| Overview : The Government of Botswana is seeking to build national law reform capacity to ensure law reform processes are nationally led and support the achievement of national strategic priorities. In 2010, Cabinet approved the establishment of a Law Reform Division at the Attorney General’s Chambers. In October 2017, Cabinet decided to proceed with the establishment of a Law Reform Unit under the Legislative Drafting Division at the Attorney General’s Chambers. The Law Reform Unit is essential for the realisation of Government’s large and complex law reform projects which underpin the National Development Plan 11 (NDP 11) and achievement of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and, as such, its establishment is a Government priority. The Government of Botswana and UNDP is implementing the “Support to the Fulfillment of Human Rights, Access to Justice and Empowerment of Youth and Women Project” (2018-2021) (the Project). The objective of the Project is to provide advisory and technical support to the Government to strengthen and enhance its capacity to respect, protect and fulfil human rights, enhance the accessibility of the justice system and empower youth and women. The expected outcomes of the Project are more effective human rights mechanisms and domestication of human rights and a justice system that fosters inclusive growth and development and provides opportunities for youth and women to participate in this inclusive growth. The Project is guided by the Government’s national development priorities and goals as articulated in Vision 2036, NDP 11, SDGs, United Nations Sustainable Development Framework (UNSDF) (2017-2021) and the UNDP Country Programme Document (CPD) (2017-2021). Under the auspices of the Project, the Attorney General’s Chambers has requested UNDP to provide technical support to establish the Law Reform Unit. The establishment of a Law Reform Unit with capacity to conduct high quality, nationally-led law reform processes will contribute to: - Ensuring that Botswana’s laws are modern, complete and reflect Botswana’s unique legal context and national policy objectives;
- Improved capacities to plan for delivery, identify and resolve implementation challenges and account for the delivery of quality interventions to deepen democracy outcomes and strengthen governance institutions (UNSDF 2.4);
- Realisation of NDP11 and SDG 16 targets related to effective, accountable and transparent institutions and responsive, inclusive, participatory and representative decision-making; and
- Creating an enabling environment for sustainable economic growth through sound legal frameworks that are necessary to achieve a range of other NDP11 and SDG targets.
A Law Reform Strategy, with an implementation plan, was developed and adopted in March 2020. The Technical Adviser (Law Reform Unit) will spearhead the implementation of the Law Reform Strategy to establish the Law Reform Unit within the Legislative Drafting Division of the Attorney General’s Chambers. The Technical Adviser (Law Reform Unit) will also provide technical advice to build institutional and staff capacity and strengthen networks. The Technical Adviser (Law Reform Unit) will report to the Attorney General and the UNDP Resident Representative in close coordination with the UNDP Governance Specialist. The Technical Adviser will work 120 days over an 12 month period, on the basis of an agreed workplan and deliverables. The Technical Adviser will work on site in Botswana for a period of 30 days per quarter, over the 12 month period. |
