BOSTON, Jan 23 – The Legatum Center for Development and Entrepreneurship at the MIT Sloan School of Management has announced a strategic five-year collaboration with the Government of Botswana to foster economic diversification and innovation.
The partnership aims to position Botswana as a model for growth markets across Africa.
The initiative will include the establishment of a fellowship for African entrepreneurs, acceleration of Botswana’s digital transformation through artificial intelligence, and the introduction of an MIT Sandbox program to encourage local entrepreneurship.
Botswana will also participate in the MIT Regional Entrepreneurship Acceleration Program (REAP), among other joint activities designed to drive economic transformation.
Dina H. Sherif, Executive Director of the Legatum Center, highlighted the initiative’s potential impact: “This collaboration with Botswana represents an opportunity not just for Botswana, but for Africa as a whole. Together, we aim to foster a culture of innovation and entrepreneurship to transition the nation from reliance on natural mineral resources to a knowledge-based economy.”
The Legatum Center, renowned for its efforts to advance sustainable prosperity in emerging markets, has supported over 326 Student Fellows from 57 countries. These fellows have created 286 ventures, with 75% still operational, generating over 17,000 direct jobs and serving more than 17 million customers globally.
Botswana’s Permanent Secretary for the Ministry of Entrepreneurship, Kabelo A. Ebineng, emphasized the collaboration’s alignment with Botswana’s aspirations of becoming a high-income country driven by innovation.
“This partnership will develop robust ecosystems that enhance value chains, encourage regional integration, and boost global competitiveness,” he said.
The collaboration builds on a Memorandum of Understanding signed in April 2024, during a delegation visit to MIT by Botswana’s representatives.
This initiative underscores the role of innovation and technology in achieving sustainable development goals and advancing inclusive economic prosperity across Africa.
Through this partnership, MIT Sloan and Botswana aim to set a precedent for leveraging technology and innovation to create lasting economic impact, both locally and across the African continent.
